| A green card, formally known as United States | | | | resident. Many of these applications are |
| Permanent Resident Card. It's name was | | | | severely backlogged and is dependent on the |
| popularized in World War II when Form I-151 | | | | type of relative and nationality of the |
| or the Alien Registration Receipt Card was | | | | applicant. A petition for a brother or sister |
| printed on green paper. In 1977, the form was | | | | can last up to ten years of waiting, |
| printed on papers of various colors but | | | | depending on their nationality. |
| nonetheless, the name green card remained. As | | | | |
| of 2006, the green card is mostly | | | | Diversity Lottery |
| yellowish-white where the only green feature | | | | |
| is the lettering at the back portion. | | | | The purpose of this method is to increase |
| | | | immigration of countries with low |
| There are several ways on how to get a green | | | | representation over the past decades. There |
| card. Most of the categories have an annual | | | | are 50,000 slots alloted for it and the |
| quota or limit. The overall limit per year is | | | | "lottery winners" are randomly selected from |
| 700,000. But there is no limit for immediate | | | | the computers. It is important to understand |
| relatives which compose of spouses and minor | | | | that being selected in the lottery does not |
| children of US citizens and parents of adult | | | | guarantee a green card. The requirements are |
| US citizens. | | | | strict and applicants should meet the |
| | | | educational or professional requirements. |
| Matrimonial Method | | | | |
| | | | Employer Sponsorship |
| This is one of the easy step in getting a | | | | |
| green card. This means that an individual, | | | | The employer petitions a highly skilled |
| male or female, marries a permanent citizen | | | | worker such as an outstanding professor, a |
| of the United States of America. After | | | | multinational executive or manager, a |
| marriage, there will be some necessary | | | | professional holding an advanced degree or a |
| paperwork with some appeals and hearings. An | | | | person with exceptional ability. |
| applicant will have to fill out the Form | | | | |
| I-130. | | | | Immigrant Investor Visa |
| | | | |
| Immediate Relatives | | | | Wealthy foreigners who can invest at least $1 |
| | | | million in a commercial enterprise and employ |
| This method is processed through a petition | | | | 10 workers directly, or at least $500,000 who |
| of a close relative who could either be a | | | | will invest in a "targeted employment area" |
| spouse, child over 21, parent, brother or | | | | and can employ 10 workers directly or |
| sister who is a citizen of the United States | | | | indirectly. |
| or a spouse or parent who is a US permanent | | | | |