| Permanent Residency. Permanent residency is | | | | preference. A second criteria includes the country |
| often referred to as having a Green Card. There | | | | of the relative's origin. Economically poor countries |
| are two primary categories of immigration: | | | | such as China and India tend to have the longest |
| Immigrant status and Non-immigrant status. | | | | waiting periods. |
| Immigrant status allows permanent residency in | | | | Employment Immigration Green Card. Aliens |
| the United States. Non-immigrant status provides | | | | seeking permanent residency in the United States |
| an authorization to aliens for temporary residency | | | | for employment purposes must fit into one of |
| that expires upon the occurrence of a specific | | | | five categories. The first category is "Priority |
| event. | | | | Workers" which includes Intra-Company |
| A Permanent Resident is commonly referred to | | | | Transferees of Managers and Executives, |
| as a "Green Card" holder. Permanent residents | | | | Outstanding Professors and Researchers and |
| have many rights which include the following: | | | | Aliens of Extraordinary Ability in the Sciences, |
| The right to live in the United States permanently; | | | | Arts, Education, Business and Athletics. The |
| The right to reenter the United States after | | | | second employment category is "Aliens of |
| traveling out of the country abroad; | | | | Exceptional Ability in the Sciences, Arts or |
| The right to apply for U.S. Citizenship after | | | | Business" which includes Professionals with |
| continuously living as a Permanent Resident in the | | | | advanced degrees. The third category includes |
| United States for five (5) years | | | | "Professionals with Bachelors Degrees not |
| The right to employment in any work that is legal; | | | | qualifying in the 2nd Preference, skilled workers, |
| There are four main categories for green card | | | | and unskilled workers in special needs professions. |
| permanent residency and even more | | | | The fourth category is very narrow |
| subcategories under each main category. The | | | | encompassing "Religious Workers" who are here |
| main green card categories include Family | | | | to carrying out their religious mission. Finally, the |
| Sponsored Immigration, Employment Immigration, | | | | last category is based on economic development |
| DV Lottery, and Asylum and Refugee status. | | | | and includes individuals who invest one million |
| Family Sponsored Immigration Green Card. Foreign | | | | dollars ($1,000,000.00)in a new "commercial |
| family members of U.S. citizens and permanent | | | | enterprise" or in a "troubled business" or those |
| residents may qualify for an immigrant visa. | | | | who invest Five Hundred Thousand Dollars |
| However, the United States sets strict limitations | | | | ($500,000.00) in a "new commercial enterprise" or |
| on the number of immigrant visas allowed each | | | | "troubled business" in a "targeted employment |
| year. The closer the relative is the higher that | | | | area." |
| person falls on the priority scale for obtaining an | | | | DV Lottery Green Card. 55,000 immigrant visas |
| immigrant visa. Immediate family members of U.S. | | | | each year are available to those winning a Visa |
| citizens are given the highest priority. Foreign | | | | Lottery. The number of lottery visas are |
| parents, children under the age of 18, and | | | | apportioned to countries that have fewer visa |
| spouses fall outside of the quota system and | | | | applicants. To apply, an immigrant must fill out a |
| usually qualify quickly for an immigrant visa. | | | | number of forms detailing their background with |
| Extended family members of United States | | | | the INS. Each year lottery contestants are drawn |
| citizens and family members of permanent | | | | and notified if they have won. A winning alien may |
| residents may also qualify. However, the waiting | | | | make application for an immigrant visa. |
| period may be much longer. In some cases, the | | | | Refugee/Asylum Status. Refugee and Asylum |
| wait for a visa may exceed 10 years. The priority | | | | status allows foreigners fearing persecution to |
| list for family sponsored immigration is as follows: | | | | seek refugee status in this country. Foreigners |
| (1) F-1 - Unmarried Sons or Daughters of U.S. | | | | outside of the United States may seek refugee |
| Citizens over the age of 21; (2) F2-A -Spouses | | | | status. Foreigners already in the United States |
| and unmarried Children of Permanent Residents | | | | may seek asylum to prevent deportation. After |
| under the age of 21; (3) F2-B -Unmarried Sons or | | | | approval of Refugee or asylum status, the alien is |
| Daughters of Permanent Residents over the age | | | | allowed to enter or remain in the United States |
| of 21; (4) F-3 -Married Sons or Daughters of U.S. | | | | and may seek an adjustment of their status to |
| Citizens over the age of 21; (5) F-4 - Brothers | | | | one of permanent residency after one year. |
| and Sisters of U.S. Citizens. | | | | For legal assistance Call (952) 746-2153. |
| The relationship is only one criteria in determining | | | | |