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WHAT IS A GREEN CARD (and the conditions to adjust my status)?

According to the USCIS website, a "Green Card (also known as Lawful Permanent Residence - 'LPR') 
gives you official immigration status in the United States.

An immigrant is a foreign national who has been granted the privilege of living and working permanently in the United States (see section up above - What is a Visa).

As indicated above, you must go through a multi-step process to become an immigrant. In most cases, 
USCIS must first approve an immigrant petition for you, usually filed by an employer or relative. Then, an immigrant visa number must be available to you, even if you are already in the United States. After that, if you are already in the United States, you may apply to adjust to Permanent Resident Status (Green Card)."

Here are the following chooses according to  the USCIS, which you can apply to adjust your status:

 

  • Base on an Immigrant Petition;

  • Based on being the spouse or child;

  • Based on admission as the fiance(e) of a U.S. Citizen and subsequent marriage to that citizen;

  • Based on asylum status;

  • Based on refugee status;

  • Based on citizenship or nationality;

  • Applying to change the date on which your permanent residence began; and

  • Based on continuous residence since before January 1, 1972

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