The chart below provides a list of the primary avenues for obtaining U.S. Permanent Residency (“Green Card” status) (also known as “Immigrant Classifications and Visas”). The chart is divided into three main groupings: (1) “General Family-Based Immigration” concerns the general types of family relationships which U.S. immigration law recognizes as providing a right to file a petition for permanent residency of the respective family members, and which is available for all nationalities; (2) “Employment-Based Immigration” concerns the general types of employment relationships, investments, or occupations which U.S. immigration law recognizes as providing a right to file a petition for permanent residency; and (3) “Other Immigrant Channels” concerns various miscellaneous avenues of petitioning for U.S. permanent residency.
It is important to note that in deciding which avenue to proceed that processing times are critical. For example, many categories are subject to severe backlogs of many years which may render the category useless. For this purpose, one should consult the Visa bulletin.
Disclaimer: note that this list may not be exhaustive of all of the avenues for seeking U.S. permanent residency which are available. It is providing for general reference purposes only.
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| General Family-Based Immigration | Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens |
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| Spouses of US citizens |
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| Children (unmarried under 21 years of age) US citizens |
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| Parents of U.S. Citizens (A USC must be over the age of 21 to petition for his/her parent). |
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| First Preference |
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| Unmarried sons or daughters over 21 years of age of USC |
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| Second Preference |
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| Spouses Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) |
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| Children of Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) |
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| Unmarried sons or daughters over 21 years of age of LPR |
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| Third Preference |
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| Married children of US Citizen. |
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| Fourth Preference |
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| Siblings of adult USC |
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| Employment-Based Immigration | EB-1: First Preference |
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| Individuals with “Extraordinary Ability” |
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| Outstanding Professors and Researchers |
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| Multinational Executives and Managers |
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| EB-2: Second Preference |
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| Professionals with advanced degrees (including Special: Physicians in Underserved Areas) |
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| Persons with exceptional ability |
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| EB-3: Third Preference |
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| Professionals and Skilled workers |
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| Oher Workers |
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| EB-4: Fourth Preference |
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| Special Religious workers |
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| SK: Certain Retired International Organization Employees, and family members |
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| SK-1: Certain Retired International Organization Employees |
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| SK-2: Spouse of SK-1 |
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| SK-3: Certain Unmarried Sons or Daughters of an International Organization Employee |
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| SK-4: Certain Spouses of a deceased International Organization Employee |
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| EB-5: Fifth Preference |
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| Employment creation Investors |
| Other Immigrant Channels | A-1 or A-2 adjustment based on compelling reasons | U.S. Immigration law provides for 50 visas per year for A-1 or A-2 nonimmigrants to adjust status to U.S. permanent residents if they are no longer maintaining status and can show compelling reasons demonstrating the he or she is unable to return to the country represented by the respective government, and that the admission would be in the national interest, and the individual would not otherwise be inadmissible. |
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| Adoption (Internationa) | Permanent residency for children who are adopted. | |
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| Asylum |
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| Note: Iraqi Exemption to Asylee Adjustment Cap |
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| Country-Specific Adjustments |
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| Certain Cubans (CAA) |
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| Certain Haitians (HRIFA) |
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| Certain Hmongs |
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| Certain Iraqis, under Iraqi Exemption to Asylee Adjustment Cap |
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| Certain Nicaraguans and Central Americans: NACARA 202 and NACARA 203 |
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| Certain Syrian Asylees and Refugees |
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| Certain Nationals of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos |
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| Diversity Lottery |
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| To apply for visa lottery, applicants must be a native of a qualifying country who meet standards of training or education |
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| Habitual (ResidenceMicronesia) |
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| Relates to individuals from Micronesia |
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| SD: Immigrant Religious Workers | (Check whether same as EB4) |
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| Private (Immigration) Bills | Special laws which Congress passed on behalf of particular individuals. |
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| Refugee Resettlement | Provisions for refugees under refugee resettlement. |
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| Registry | Permanent Resident Status possible after continuous residence in U.S. since January 1, 1972 |
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| SB-1 Returning Residents | Provisions for individuals who had U.S. permanent residency but left the U.S. for extended time. |
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| VAWA: Victims of Abuse | Battered immigrants spouses or children of US citizens |
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| Amnesty (Expired) | Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) (now expired) |
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| Immigration through Immigration Court Order | Under certain circumstances, an Immigration Court or other court exercising power of Immigration Court may grant U.S. Permanent residency. |
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| Immigration through the Legal Immigration Family Equity Act (LIFE) | Special provisions for spouses of Lawful permanent residents and family members under LIFE (key benefits were only available for petitions filed during certain time period) |
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| Other “Special Immigrants” |
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