How to Successfully Get a U.S Green Card

Ahmed MontasserFebruary 8, 2020

0 3 minutes read

Getting a Green Card has always been known to be a very tedious process, and in every tedious process comes very complicated paperwork and mechanics. However, this is only a myth that every green card dreamer fears.

Getting a green card is a process to go through with “enough” know-how and guidance. It’s not a one-man game, but a team effort even when you’re the only one applying for the legal residency. This way, the process can become easier despite the long wait.

Let this guide be your first-ever partner:

Make Sure You’re Eligible

This step might be the easiest way, that’s why it’s the most neglected. You must know that skipping this step will attract possible hiccups along the way and worse, big disappointments.

Reason for Not Being Eligible

You carry a communicable disease (with the availability of a waiver)
You have a physical or mental condition that may affect other people (with the availability of a waiver)
Drug abuse/addiction (without the availability of a waiver)
Drug trafficking history (without the availability of a waiver)
Record of grave crimes (with the availability of waiver)
Criminal convictions (with the availability of a waiver)
US Immigration Laws Violation (with the availability of waiver)
You are financially unstable (without the availability of a waiver)
Nazi crimes participation (without the availability of a waiver)

Simply assessing yourself can give you the answer to the question. Now, if you are unsure about something, you can always ask someone with the right expertise. Attending a general check-up to ensure you’re not carrying any communicable disease is a necessity. Make sure that you acquire the paperwork to support your claims in the future.

Some of these grounds have the availability of waiver, meaning that with the right requirements, you can be permitted against ineligibility.

Fact-Check Documents

You are always liable for what you claim to be, including the paperwork that you submit for your application.

Be sure that you always fact-check the papers that you submit to avoid being questioned for wrong information.

Doing otherwise can decrease your chances of receiving a green card. This step is not that hard to do, but a lot of applicants have been rejected solely for this reason. Some even miss filling up a question in plain sight. Double-checking/fact-checking can easily get rid of these unfortunate mistakes.

Make Use of Your Non-Immigrant Status

If you’re already working in the United States as a non-immigrant worker, you have the biggest chance to land a green card.

How do you transform your non-immigrant status into a green card? Well, it’s actually very simple.

Requiring only two steps, you can receive a green card in a year or in 6 months.

Step 1: file an immigrant petition to USCIS

Step 2a: Adjust your status

Once your petition has been approved by USCIS, you can choose to adjust your status. Adjusting your status means changing your non-immigrant status to a permanent resident by filing an I-485 form with USCIS

You can only do this if you’re currently in the US.

The process can take up to 6 months.

Step 2b. If you’re not in the US, you can apply for an immigrant visa

First, you need to file a DS-260 before attending an interview at a US embassy.

The process can take up to a year.

Click here to learn more about the process.

Stay Away from Frauds

When you’re in need, expect to have fraudsters offering their help only for their advantage.

Make sure that you’re dealing with real legal professionals in the process of acquiring a green card. Otherwise, you might end up losing a lot of cash and coming up with no green card at all in the end.

How do you spot a fraudster?

Firstly, search the internet for their name. If nothing comes up in relation to what they claim to be, back away.
Ask around. Your opinion may not be enough. Look for individuals with experience with acquiring a green card to judge the situation.
Be aware of phone scams. Here’s one guarantee: If you’re contacted FIRST by the “agent,” say no. You look for the immigration agent/lawyer and not the other way around.
Be Aware of Requirements and Follow Instructions

It doesn’t matter how well-organized your papers are or if you meet all the requirements, missing one instruction can cause you your legal residency.

Take for example applicants who bind their papers through stapling, fastening, or the like. Now, that’s going to be an instant rejection. When you are asked to file your papers, you’ll be instructed to arrange them in a manner that the destination office will be able to sort them with zero hassle. Stapling is doing the opposite, and so does fastening.