Overview of Getting a Green Card without Marriage You can access a Green Card through employment, investment, refugee status, and much more. Each pathway to a Green Card has unique requirements, but they all feature the same privileges to live and work in the USA.
Contents
- 1 Do you have to be married to get a green card in the US?
- 2 What is the fastest visa to get a green card?
- 3 Who is most likely to get a green card?
- 4 How much is the green card fee?
- 5 How hard is it to get a green card?
- 6 What is the easiest way to immigrate to USA?
- 7 How long can you stay in America without a green card?
Do you have to be married to get a green card in the US?
Family-Based Green Card – You can also gain a green card through your family relationships in the U.S. Although the first thing that might come to your mind is “marriage,” there are other types of family relationships that would also qualify. For example, you could be eligible for a family-based green card if:
- You are an unmarried child of a U.S. citizen that’s under 21 years of age; or
- You are an orphan adopted, in the U.S or abroad, by a U.S. citizen; or
- You are a parent of a U.S. citizen that is over 21 years of age
As you can see, getting a green card in USA without marriage is a very viable option for many family members! Although the process is complicated and can be lengthy, VisaNation attorneys have over a decade of experience and are here to help you. Get started today ! Increase Your Green Card Approval Chances with VisaNation Start Now
What is the fastest visa to get a green card?
Corporate-Based Green Cards – Receive your Green Card in as little as two years by utilizing the EB-1C visa. This is the quickest and most direct path to a Green Card for qualified individuals. The EB-1C visa is available to executives and managers of multinational companies who are being transferred to the United States.
To qualify, you must have been employed outside of the United States for at least one year within the three years preceding your application. In addition, you must be coming to work for a branch, affiliate, or subsidiary of your current employer. If you meet these qualifications, you may be eligible for an EB-1C visa.
The process for applying for an EB-1C visa is relatively simple. First, you will need to file a petition with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Along with your petition, you will need to submit evidence that you meet the qualifications listed above.
How many months do you need to get a green card in the US?
How Long Does it Take to Get a Green Card? – It takes 7 to 33 months to process a Green Card application. The Green Card processing time depends on the type of Green Card you are applying for, the location of the processing office and other factors.
Family Preference Green Cards processing takes from 1 to 10 years depending on the wait time and yearly caps. Employment Based Green Cards processing could be from 1 year for visas that have a low demand to 4 or 6 years for visas with very high demand.
Who is most likely to get a green card?
Close relatives of U.S. citizens and current green card holders may apply for family-based green cards of their own. Eligible family members include spouses, children, parents, and siblings (as well as the spouses and children of those spouses, adult children, and siblings).
Also included in this category are widows and widowers who were married to a U.S. citizen at the time the citizen died. Like spouses of living U.S. citizens and current green card holders who apply for a marriage-based green card, widows and widowers must prove that their marriage was authentic in order to receive a green card.
Many extended family members — cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents — do not qualify. They may apply for a permanent resident card only if they, too, have a closer relative who is a U.S. citizen or current green card holder (or qualify for one of the other types of green cards below).
How much is the green card fee?
Green Card Costs –
| Mandatory Government Fees for Green Cards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fee Type | Cost (to Applicant Living in the U.S.) | Cost (to Applicant Living Abroad) |
| Family Sponsorship Form ( I-130 ) | $535 | $535 |
| Green Card Application Form ( I-485 ) | $1140 | Not required |
| Financial Support Form ( I-864 ) | $0 | $120 |
| Work Permit Application Form ( I-765 ) (optional) | $0 | Not required |
| Travel Permit Application Form ( I-131 ) (optional) | $0 | Not required |
| Biometrics (Fingerprints & Photo) | $85 | $0 |
| State Department Processing | Not required | $325 |
| USCIS Immigrant Fee | Not required | $220 |
| Medical Examination | *Varies | *Varies |
| Total | $1760 | $1200 |
The most common cost for a medical exam is around $200, but this amount can vary significantly by provider, Boundless customers have reported prices ranging from $100 to $500. Our detailed guide to preparing for the medical exam has more information.
Who are eligible for green card in USA?
To apply for a Green Card, you must be eligible under one of the categories listed below. Once you find the category that may fit your situation, click on the link provided to get information on eligibility requirements, how to apply, and whether your family members can also apply with you.
| You may be eligible to apply as a | If you are the |
|---|---|
| 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 relative of a U.S. citizen or relative of a lawful permanent resident 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 |
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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)
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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
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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.
Are a Cuban native or citizen, or Are the spouse or child of a Cuban native or citizen
You may be eligible to register for a Green Card if you have resided continuously in the U.S. since before Jan.1, 1972.
How can I bring my girlfriend to America?
Immigrant Visa for a Spouse or Fiancé(e) of a U.S. Citizen Same-sex spouses of U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs), along with their minor children, are now eligible for the same immigration benefits as opposite-sex spouses. Consular officers at U.S.
Immigrant visa for a Spouse of a U.S. Citizen (IR1 or CR1) – An immigrant Petition for Alien Relative, Form I-130 is required., Nonimmigrant visa for spouse (K-3) – It is important to note that application for the nonimmigrant visa for spouse (K-3) who married a U.S. citizen must be filed and the visa must be issued in the country where the marriage took place. After the visa process has been completed, and the visa is issued, the spouse can travel to the United States to wait for the processing of the immigrant visa case. Two petitions are required: Petition for Alien Relative, Form I-130, and Petition for Alien Fiancé(e), Form I-129F.,
If you are a U.S. citizen, you may bring your fiancé(e) to the United States to marry and live here, with a nonimmigrant visa for a fiancé(e) (K-1). An I-129F fiancé(e) petition is required., : Immigrant Visa for a Spouse or Fiancé(e) of a U.S. Citizen
How to get green card faster than 90 days?
In General – You may ask USCIS to expedite adjudication of a benefit request (such as an application or petition) for an immigration benefit. USCIS:
Considers all expedite requests on a case-by-case basis; May require additional documentation to support a request; and Has the sole discretion to decide whether to accommodate a request.
Because granting an expedite request means that USCIS would adjudicate the requestor’s benefit ahead of others who filed earlier, we carefully weigh the urgency and merit of each expedite request. We may consider an expedite request if it meets one or more of the following criteria or circumstances:
Severe financial loss to a company or person, provided that the need for urgent action is not the result of the petitioner’s or applicant’s failure to:
Timely file the benefit request, or Timely respond to any requests for additional evidence;
A company can demonstrate that it would suffer a severe financial loss if it is at risk of failing, losing a critical contract, or having to lay off other employees. For example, a medical office may suffer severe financial loss if a gap in a doctor’s employment authorization would require the medical practice to lay off its medical assistants.
Job loss may be sufficient to establish severe financial loss for a person, depending on the individual circumstances. For example, the inability to travel for work that would result in job loss might warrant expedited treatment. The need to obtain employment authorization by itself, without evidence of other compelling factors, does not warrant expedited treatment.
In addition, severe financial loss may also be established where failure to expedite would result in a loss of critical public benefits or services.
Emergencies and urgent humanitarian reasons;
In the context of an expedite request, humanitarian reasons are those related to human welfare. Examples may include, but are not limited to, illness, disability, extreme living conditions, death in the family, or a critical need to travel to obtain medical treatment in a limited amount of time.
- An emergency may include an urgent need to expedite employment authorization for healthcare workers during a national emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Additionally, an expedite request may be considered under this criterion in instances where a vulnerable person’s safety may be compromised due to a breach of confidentiality if there is a delay in processing the benefit application.
A benefit requestor’s desire to travel for vacation does not, in general, meet the definition of an emergency.
Nonprofit organization (as designated by the Internal Revenue Service) whose request is in furtherance of the cultural or social interests of the United States;
A nonprofit organization seeking to expedite a beneficiary’s benefit request must demonstrate an urgent need to expedite the case based on the beneficiary’s specific role within the nonprofit in furthering cultural or social interests (as opposed to the organization’s role in furthering social or cultural interests).
Examples may include a medical professional urgently needed for medical research related to a specific social U.S. interest (such as the COVID-19 pandemic or other socially impactful research or project) or a university professor urgently needed to participate in a specific and imminent cultural program.
Another example is a religious organization that urgently needs a beneficiary’s specific services and skill set to continue a vital social outreach program. In such instances, the religious organization must articulate why the respective beneficiary is specifically needed, as opposed to pointing to a general shortage alone.
U.S. government interests (such cases identified as urgent by federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Labor, National Labor Relations Board, Equal Opportunity Commission, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, or other public safety or national security interests); or
U.S. government interests may include, but are not limited to, cases identified as urgent by other government agencies, including labor and employment agencies, and public safety or national security interests. For expedite requests made by a federal agency, involving other public safety or national security interests, the national interest need must be immediate and substantive.
If the need for the action is not immediate, expedited processing is not warranted. A substantive need does not mean that a delay would pose existential or irreversible consequences to the national interests but rather that the case at hand is of a scale or a uniqueness that requires immediate action to prevent real and serious harm to U.S.
interests. Expedite requests from government agencies (federal, state, or local) must be made by a senior-level official of that agency. If the request relates to employment authorization, the request must demonstrate that the need for a person to be employment-authorized is mission-critical and goes beyond a general need to retain a particular worker or person.
Clear USCIS error.
Not every circumstance that fits in one of these categories will result in expedited processing. For more information, see USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 1, Part A, Public Services, Chapter 5, Requests to Expedite Applications or Petitions, You can generally request expedited processing by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833) or by asking Emma after you have obtained a receipt notice.
(You can access Emma by clicking on the Ask Emma icon on the top right of this page). The USCIS Contact Center will not be able to refer the expedite request to the appropriate office without a receipt number. When you call to request expedited processing, the USCIS Contact Center creates and forwards a service request to the office with jurisdiction over your application or petition.
After receiving the service request, the reviewing office may request additional documentation to support expedited processing. A decision on an expedite request is not an approval or a denial of the underlying benefit request. The expedite decision simply informs the requestor whether USCIS will take the benefit request out of date order and issue a decision (approval or denial) faster than the normal processing time.
How long do you have to be married to get a green card?
After two years, you will need to file Form I-751 to remove the conditions of residence and to get a permanent green card. If you have already been married for two years when you are interviewed for your initial green card, that card will be permanent.
How hard is it to get a green card?
Get Professional Help – The application process for a Green Card can be complicated and confusing, and it is essential to get professional help. an immigration lawyer can help with your case by navigating the process, ensuring that you meet all the requirements, and avoiding mistakes that could delay or derail your application.
Can you stay in the US while waiting for green card?
The Difference Between Adjustment of Status and Consular Processing – There are two processes through which you may obtain a green card. You can apply for a green card through consular processing or adjustment of status (AOS). AOS is the process that allows you to apply for a green card from within the US.
- When you use AOS, you can remain in the US as you wait for your green card to be processed even if your visa expires.
- Conversely, consular processing requires you to apply for a green card while you’re outside the United States.
- When you use consular processing, you must remain outside the US until your green card is processed by the nearest US embassy/consulate.
Consular processing and adjustment of status have different application forms, costs, timelines and required supporting documents, but the green card eligibility requirements are similar. The consular process involves an interview with a US government embassy official in your country.
How long does a green card last?
Although some Permanent Resident Cards, commonly known as Green Cards, contain no expiration date, most are valid for 10 years. If you have been granted conditional permanent resident status, the card is valid for 2 years. It is important to keep your card up-to-date.
What is the easiest way to immigrate to USA?
Family-based Immigration – If you are an immediate relative of a US citizen, especially if married to a US citizen, it will be easier for you to immigrate to the US through family-based immigration as there are usually no limitations or delays.
How long can you stay in America without a green card?
How long can you stay in America without a Green Card? – The amount of time that you can stay in the USA without a Green Card will depend on which type of non-immigrant temporary resident visa you have and if you can renew it. It should be noted that citizens from over 40 countries who can participate in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) can stay in the United States up to 90 days without a US visa if they have been approved in advance through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA),
Otherwise, with a B-1/B-2 Visitor Visa, you could stay in America for up to 6 months during a 12-month time period, An H-1B Work Visa will allow you to live and work in the USA for up to 3 years ; it can be renewed for an additional 3 years; and there is an option to apply for a US Permanent Resident Green Card.
Full-time international students who will enroll in a full-time academic educational program (such as to attend a university) can receive a Student Visa to live in the USA for up to 5 years, depending on the duration of their study abroad program in the United States.
Can you get a green card in 4 months?
Posted by in Immigrants | Updated on May 25, 2023 – At a Glance: There are four types of green cards: family-based, marriage-based, employment-based, and returning resident immigrant visa. The processing times vary for each type, ranging from 7-33 months for family-based visas, 10-13 months for marriage-based green cards, 1-6 years for employment-based green cards, and no processing time for returning resident immigrant visas.
To expedite the process, understand the typical timeline, request expedited processing if eligible, and carefully prepare your application. There is a significant backlog for employment-based green cards, particularly for applicants from countries like China and India. Are you currently applying for a Green Card? And are you perhaps wondering – How long does it take to get a Green Card? What do you need to keep in mind? And are you guaranteed one? You’ve come to the right place.
Let us help you get the answer to how long does it take to get a Green Card and help you understand what is taking so long.
How to get a 2 year green card?
The Two (2) Year Green Card These 2-year green cards are issued when you get your residency based on a marriage that was less than two years old on the day you became a permanent resident. Your card will have an expiration date on the front that will show that it is no longer value once the 2 years have elapsed.
What is the fastest way to immigrate to America?
Family-based Immigration – If you are an immediate relative of a US citizen, especially if married to a US citizen, it will be easier for you to immigrate to the US through family-based immigration as there are usually no limitations or delays.
How much money do you need to invest in the US to get a green card?
1. Invest $ 1,050,000 To Get An EB-5 U.S. Green Card – An investor who can invest $ 1,050,000 into a business and employ 10 people can qualify for a green card under the EB-5 direct investment program. The investment must be made into a commercial enterprise and usually will need to remain there for a period of some 5 to 7 years.
Most Direct EB-5 investments are in franchises, hotels, restaurants, IT companies, retail chain stores, etc. It is important that the money used for this investment be traceable – the source and path of funds need to be documented and clean. Processing times vary depending on the birthplace of the investor.
Chinese, Indian, and Vietnamese investors can expect inordinate delays, but investors from other countries may be processed in about 24 to 36 months or even sooner. A key feature in the mix is that the investor, if in the United States, can apply for an adjustment of status, employment authorization, and a travel document at the same time as filing the I-526 petition.