Green Card Eligibility Categories In Detail

To apply for a Green Card, you must be eligible under one of the categories listed below.

Green Card through Family

An immediate relative of a U.S. citizen

Spouse of a U.S. citizen

Unmarried child under the age of 21 of a U.S. citizen

Parent of a U.S. citizen who is at least 21 years old

Other relatives of a U.S. citizen or relative of a lawful PR under the

family-based preference categories

Family member of a U.S. citizen, meaning you are the:

Unmarried son or daughter of a U.S. citizen and you are 21 years old or older

Married son or daughter of a U.S. citizen

Brother or sister of a U.S. citizen who is at least 21 years old

Family member of a lawful permanent resident, meaning you are the:

Spouse of a lawful permanent resident

Unmarried child under the age of 21 of a lawful permanent resident

Unmarried son or daughter of a lawful permanent resident 21 years old or older

Fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen or the fiancé(e)’s child

Person admitted to the U.S. as a fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen (K-1 nonimmigrant)

Person admitted to the U.S. as the child of a fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen (K-2 nonimmigrant)

Widow(er) of a U.S. citizen

Widow or widower of a U.S. citizen and you were married to your U.S. citizen spouse at the time your spouse died

VAWA self-petitioner– victim of battery or extreme cruelty

Abused spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident

Abused child (unmarried and under 21 years old) of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident

Abused parent of a U.S. citizen

Green Card through Employment

Immigrant worker

Are a first preference immigrant worker, meaning you:

Have extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics, or

Are an outstanding professor or researcher, or

Are a multinational manager or executive who meets certain criteria

Are a second preference immigrant worker, meaning you:

Are a member of a profession that requires an advanced degree, or

Have exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business, or

Are seeking a national interest waiver

Are a third preference immigrant worker, meaning you are:

A skilled worker (meaning your job requires a minimum of 2 years training or work experience), or

A professional (meaning your job requires at least a U.S. bachelor's degree or a foreign equivalent and you are a member of the profession), or

An unskilled worker (meaning you will perform unskilled labor requiring less than 2 years training or experience)

Physician National Interest Waiver

Are a physician who agrees to work full-time in clinical practice in a designated underserved area for a set period and also meets other eligibility requirements

Immigrant investor

Have invested or are actively in the process of investing at least $1 million (or $500,000 in a targeted employment area) in a new commercial enterprise in the U.S. which will create full-time positions for at least 10 qualifying employees.

Green Card as a Special Immigrant

Religious worker

Are members of a religious denomination coming to the U.S. to work for a nonprofit religious organization

Special Immigrant Juvenile

Are a juvenile who needs the protection of a juvenile court because you have been abused, abandoned or neglected by a parent.

Afghanistan or Iraq national

Were an Afghan or Iraqi translator or interpreter for the U.S. government;

Were an Iraqi employed by or for the U.S. government in Iraq on or after March 20, 2003, for at least one year; or

Were an Afghan employed by the U.S. government or International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

International broadcaster

Are coming to work in the U.S. as a media member for the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) or a USAGM grantee.

Employee of an international organization or family member or NATO-6 employee or family member

Are a retired officer or employee of an eligible international organization or NATO, or are an eligible family member of such an employee.

Green Card through Refugee or Asylee Status

Asylee

Were granted asylum status at least 1 year ago

Refugee

Were admitted as a refugee at least 1 year ago

Green Card for Human Trafficking and Crime Victims

Human trafficking victim

Currently have a T nonimmigrant visa

Crime victim

Currently have a U nonimmigrant visa

Green Card for Victims of Abuse

VAWA self-petitioner– victim of battery or extreme cruelty

The abused spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident

The abused child (unmarried and under 21 years old) of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident

The abused parent of a U.S. citizen

Special Immigrant Juvenile

Are a child who has been abused, abandoned, or neglected by your parent and you have SIJ status

An abused (victim of battery or extreme cruelty) spouse

or child under the Cuban Adjustment Act

The abused spouse or child of a Cuban native or citizen

An abused (victim of battery or extreme cruelty) spouse or

child under Haitian Refugee Immigrant Fairness Act (HRIFA)

The abused spouse or child of a lawful permanent resident who received his or her Green Card based on HRIFA

Green Card through Other Categories

Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF)

Are a Liberian national who has been continuously physically present in the United States since Nov. 20, 2014, or

Are the spouse, child under age 21, or unmarried son or daughter over the age of 21 of a qualifying Liberian national.

Diversity Immigrant Visa Program

Were selected for a diversity visa in the Department of State’s diversity visa lottery

Cuban Adjustment Act

Are a Cuban native or citizen, or

Are the spouse or child of a Cuban native or citizen

An abused (victim of battery or extreme cruelty) spouse or child under the Cuban Adjustment Act

Are the abused spouse or child of a Cuban native or citizen

Dependent status under the HRIFA

Are the spouse or child of a lawful permanent resident who received his or her Green Card based on the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (HRIFA)

An abused (victim of battery or extreme cruelty) spouse or child under HRIFA

Are the abused spouse or child of a lawful permanent resident who received his or her Green Card based on HRIFA

Lautenberg parolee

Were paroled into the U.S. as a Lautenberg parolee

American Indian born in Canada

Were born in Canada, possess at least 50% American Indian blood, and maintain your principal residence in the United States.

Person born in the United States to a foreign diplomat

Were born in the United States to a foreign diplomatic officer who was stationed in the U.S. when you were born.

Section 13 (diplomat)

Were stationed in the United States as a foreign diplomat or high ranking official and are unable to return home