Employment-Based Green Card

Each year, the United States makes a limited number of employer-sponsored Green Cards available. But an employer must prove that they cannot find enough skilled workers in the U.S. population.

Immigrant worker

You may be able to apply for a Green Card through an employer through one of the preference categories that the USCIS defines.

First-preference workers for a permanent visa

First-preference workers who may be Green Card eligible include:

• Science, arts, education, business, or athletic professionals with extraordinary ability
• Outstanding professors or researchers
• Multinational company managers or executives

Second-preference workers for a permanent visa

Second-preference immigrant workers who may be Green Card eligible include:

• Professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability. Or, the professional can provide evidence that their role is directly related to U.S. national interests

Third-preference workers for a permanent visa

Third preference immigrant workers who may be Green Card eligible include:

• Skilled workers – Requires at least two years of education, training, or experience
• Professional workers – Requires at least a bachelor’s degree or a foreign equivalent degree
• Unskilled workers – Requires fewer than two years of training or education

Physician National Interest Waiver

As a physician, you agree to meet eligibility requirements and work in an underserved area full time.

Immigrant investor

As an investor who applies for a Green Card, you must:

• Invest no less than the required minimum in a U.S. commercial enterprise
• Plan to create or preserve at least ten regular full-time jobs for U.S. workers

Also, your spouse and unmarried children under age 21 may be eligible to apply.

Special Immigrant Green Card

The special immigrant Green Card includes workers and non-workers with special or unique circumstances.

Some examples include:

• Religious workers for non-profit religious organizations
• Special immigrant juveniles who were abused, abandoned, or neglected by a parent
• Afghanistan or Iraq nationals who meet specific criteria

You can get details for special immigrant Green Card eligibility on the USCIS website.

Asylee or Refugee Green Card

You may be eligible to apply for an asylee or refugee Green Card if the following is true:

• Asylee – You were granted asylum at least one year ago.
• Refugee – You have been present in the U.S. for at least one year.

Human Trafficking and Crime Victim Green Card

Your eligibility to adjust your status and apply for a Green Card as a human trafficking or crime victim are based on requirements that the USCIS defines. Attorney Lisa Wogwu of San Antonio can help you determine if you are eligible.

• Human trafficking Green Card application – If you are a human trafficking victim, you must also be a T-1 nonimmigrant and meet USCIS requirements.
• Crime victim Green Card application – If you are a crime victim, you must also have U nonimmigrant status and meet USCIS requirements.

Green Card for Victims of Abuse

If you are a victim of abuse, you may be eligible to apply for a Green Card based on the criteria below:

• Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitionerAs a VAWA victim, you may qualify to apply for a green card if you are:
  • A U.S. citizen’s spouse, parent, or unmarried child under age 21
  • A lawful permanent resident’s spouse or unmarried child under age 21
• Special Immigrant JuvenileYou may qualify to apply if you have Special Immigrant Juvenile status and have been abused, abandoned, or neglected by your parent.

• A victim under the Cuban Adjustment ActYou may qualify if you are an abused spouse or child of a Cuban native or citizen.

• A victim under the Haitian Refugee Immigrant Fairness Act (HRIFA)If you are an abused spouse or child of a lawful permanent resident who received their Green Card based on HRIFA, you may be eligible to apply for a Green Card.

Other Categories for Green Card Eligibility

Other categories that may be Green Card eligible include:

• American Indian born in Canada
• Born in the United States to a foreign diplomat
• Cuban Adjustment Act spouse or child victim of abuse
• Diversity Immigrant Visa Program
• Green Card sponsorship
• HRIFA dependent status
• HRIFA spouse or child victim of abuse
• Indochinese Parole Adjustment Act of 2000
• Lautenberg parolee
• Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF)
• Section 13 (diplomat)

Green Card Registry

You may be eligible to register for a Green Card if you came to the U.S. before January 1, 1972, and continuously lived in the U.S. And you must meet other eligibility criteria defined by the USCIS.

Green Card Sponsorship

The USCIS allows U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to serve as Green Card sponsors. Based on your status as a citizen or permanent resident and other factors, the USCIS determines if you are eligible to sponsor a relative, employee, or special immigrant. But you must be willing to provide an Affidavit of Support and assume financial responsibility for the person you are sponsoring. Although the process can be lengthy and complicated, Wogwu Law of San Antonio can help you determine eligibility.

Consult with a San Antonio Green Card Lawyer

Green Card application or sponsorship can be time consuming and challenging to understand and navigate. But consulting with a San Antonio Green Card lawyer is the best way to know if you are eligible and ensure you are progressing through the application process.

At Wogwu Law, we will:

• Help you determine eligibility
• Ensure you have the necessary documents to apply
• Guide you in completing your application
• Help you avoid mistakes, delays, and denials
• Answer your questions and discuss your concerns

Call us or complete our contact form to schedule a Green Card consultation.