Green cards

A green card is lawful permanent residence. Most people reach it through a close relative or an employer, either by adjusting status here with Form I-485 or by interviewing at a U.S. consulate abroad. Which path is open depends on how you entered, your history and your category's place in the visa bulletin.

Who this is for

• Spouses, parents and children of U.S. citizens
• Relatives of permanent residents whose priority date is current
• Workers with an approved I-140 petition

How a case usually goes

1. Review of your entry, status history and any past problems
2. Petition (I-130 or I-140), or proof that one is approved
3. I-485 with medical exam, affidavit of support and, if wanted, work and travel permits
4. Biometrics, any request for evidence, and interview preparation

Documents to gather

• Passport and every I-94 or entry record
• Birth certificate, with a certified English translation
• Marriage and divorce certificates, if any
• The approved petition or its receipt notice
• Tax returns and pay stubs of the sponsor
• Police and court records for any arrest, even if dismissed

Watch out for

Leaving the country while an I-485 is pending, without advance parole, usually abandons the application.

General information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.