How to Get a Green Card in the USA: Eligibility, Forms, and Costs

To get a Green Card in the USA, you need to fit one of the eligibility categories set by federal immigration law, have the right petition filed on your behalf, submit your application with supporting documents and fees, pass a medical exam and background check, and attend an in-person interview. The four main pathways are a qualifying family relationship, an employer-sponsored job, refugee or asylee status, and the annual Diversity Visa lottery. How long the whole thing takes ranges from several months to more than a decade, driven mostly by which category you fall into and what country you were born in.

The Four Ways to Qualify

Every Green Card starts with an eligibility category. Pick the wrong one and nothing else matters, so this is where to start.

Through Family

If you are the spouse, unmarried child under 21, or parent of a U.S. citizen, you are an “immediate relative.” There is no annual cap on visas in this category, so a visa is available as soon as your petition is approved.¹

Other family relationships sit in numbered preference categories with annual limits: unmarried adult children of citizens, spouses and children of permanent residents, married adult children of citizens, and siblings of adult citizens.² Demand in these categories runs well ahead of supply, so applicants often wait years.

Through Employment

Employment-based Green Cards are capped at roughly 140,000 visas per year across five preference categories.³

EB-1 covers people with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, and multinational managers or executives. Many EB-1 applicants can self-petition without an employer sponsor.
EB-2 is for professionals with an advanced degree or individuals with exceptional ability. Under the National Interest Waiver, certain EB-2 applicants can skip employer sponsorship and labor certification.
EB-3 covers skilled workers with at least two years of training or experience, professionals with a bachelor’s degree, and other workers.
EB-4 is for special immigrants, including certain religious workers and translators who worked with the U.S. military.
EB-5 is for investors who put at least $1,050,000 into a new commercial enterprise that creates at least 10 full-time jobs. The minimum drops to $800,000 in a targeted employment area or rural location.⁴

Most EB-2 and EB-3 cases require the employer to first get a permanent labor certification (PERM) from the Department of Labor. The employer has to show that no qualified U.S. worker is available and that hiring the foreign worker will not undercut wages for similar American workers. The date DOL receives the PERM application becomes your priority date. Certification is valid for only 180 days, so the employer must file the I-140 petition with USCIS soon after.⁵

Through Refugee or Asylee Status

People admitted to the U.S. as refugees or granted asylum can apply for a Green Card after being physically present in the U.S. for one year.⁶ Refugees are processed abroad and admitted at a port of entry; asylees apply for protection after arriving in the U.S. or at the border.⁷

Through the Diversity Visa Lottery

The Diversity Visa Program makes up to 50,000 visas available each year to people from countries with historically low immigration to the U.S.⁸ Being selected does not guarantee a card. You also need at least a high school diploma or its equivalent, or two years of qualifying work experience in the last five years.⁹ Registration is open for about a month each fall, and there is no entry fee.

How the Wait Works: Priority Dates and the Visa Bulletin

If your category has annual limits, your priority date decides when you can move forward. For family cases, it’s the day USCIS receives the I-130 petition. For employment cases that require labor certification, it’s the day DOL receives the PERM application.⁵

Each month the Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin, listing cut-off dates by category and country. You can only move to the next step once your priority date falls before the cut-off shown for your category. A “C” next to your category means visas are currently available to everyone in that group.³ Applicants from India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines see the longest backlogs, sometimes stretching many years in the most oversubscribed categories.

What Can Disqualify You

Fitting an eligibility category is not enough on its own. Certain things in your background can make you inadmissible and block the card.¹⁰ The main grounds:

Health: communicable diseases of public health significance, missing required vaccinations, physical or mental disorders with a history of harmful behavior, and drug abuse or addiction.
Criminal: convictions or admissions of crimes involving moral turpitude, controlled substance violations, multiple offenses with aggregate sentences of five years or more, trafficking, money laundering, and similar serious offenses.
Security: involvement or suspected involvement in espionage, terrorism, or activities aimed at overthrowing the U.S. government.
Public charge: a finding that you are likely to become primarily dependent on the government for support.

Waivers exist for some of these grounds, but the waiver process adds time, cost, and uncertainty. Sort this out before you invest in filing fees and medical exams.

The Forms and Documents You Will File

The forms depend on your category, but the pattern is the same: someone files an initial petition proving you qualify, and then you (or USCIS, or a consulate) processes your Green Card application.

The Petition

For family cases, your U.S. citizen or permanent resident relative files Form I-130 to establish the qualifying relationship.¹¹ For most employment cases, the employer files Form I-140 to document the job offer and your qualifications, with limited exceptions for self-petitioners like EB-1 extraordinary ability applicants.¹²

The Green Card Application

If you are already in the U.S. and a visa is available, you file Form I-485 to adjust status. In some situations USCIS allows you to file the I-485 at the same time as the underlying petition, called concurrent filing.¹³ If you are outside the U.S., you complete Form DS-260, the online immigrant visa application, through the Department of State’s Consular Electronic Application Center.¹⁴

Both forms ask for detailed personal history: past addresses, employment, education, and any run-ins with law enforcement. All USCIS forms are free to download from the agency website in fillable PDF format.¹⁵

Civil Documents

You will need original or certified copies of birth certificates, marriage certificates, and any divorce or death records ending prior marriages.¹⁶ Anything not in English needs a certified translation with a signed statement from the translator. Certified copies from government agencies usually cost $10 to $35 each, and professional certified translations for immigration purposes generally run $20 to $50 per page for common languages. Rarer languages cost more. Records from abroad can take a while to obtain, so start early.

Medical Examination

Form I-693 reports the results of a medical exam done by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon. The exam screens for communicable diseases, verifies vaccinations, and checks for physical or mental conditions that could trigger a health-related inadmissibility finding.¹⁷ USCIS does not set the price, so it varies. Expect roughly $250 to $500 for the exam, plus additional charges for required vaccinations and any follow-up testing like a chest X-ray for a positive tuberculosis screening.

Affidavit of Support

Most family-based applicants and some employment-based applicants must submit Form I-864, a legally binding contract in which the sponsor promises to financially support the immigrant. The sponsor’s household income has to be at least 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. For 2026, a sponsor supporting a household of two (themselves and one immigrant) needs an annual income of at least $27,050 in the 48 contiguous states.¹⁸ If the primary sponsor falls short, a joint sponsor with enough income can co-sign a separate I-864.¹⁹ The obligation is enforceable and does not end until the immigrant becomes a citizen, earns 40 qualifying quarters of work, permanently leaves the U.S., or dies.

Work and Travel Authorization While Your Case Is Pending

If you filed Form I-485 inside the U.S. and want to work while you wait, file Form I-765 for an Employment Authorization Document. You can submit it with the I-485.²⁰

Travel is where people get burned. If you leave the U.S. while your I-485 is pending without first getting an advance parole document (Form I-131), USCIS will generally treat your application as abandoned.²¹ That is not something you can fix after the fact. If there is any chance you may need to travel internationally while your case is pending, file the advance parole application before you leave.

What It Costs

Fees add up quickly. Under the most recent USCIS fee schedule, the I-485 application costs $1,440 and the I-130 petition costs $625 filed online or $675 on paper.²² USCIS announced inflation-based adjustments for some fees in fiscal year 2026, so check the current schedule on the USCIS website before you file. Separate fees apply to Form I-765 and Form I-131 filings made after April 1, 2024.

If you cannot afford the fees, you may request a waiver by filing Form I-912. You qualify if your household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, if you or a family member receives a means-tested government benefit, or if you face extreme financial hardship such as a medical emergency, job loss, or homelessness.²³ Not every form is eligible for a fee waiver, so confirm yours is before you rely on it.

How the Application Moves Through the System

For I-485s filed inside the U.S., you mail the complete package to a USCIS lockbox. The address depends on your category and where you live, so follow the form instructions.²⁴ For consular processing abroad, you upload documents through the Consular Electronic Application Center after completing the DS-260.²⁵

Once USCIS accepts your package, you get a receipt notice (Form I-797C) with a case number you can use to track status online.²⁶ Next comes a biometrics appointment at a nearby Application Support Center, where USCIS collects fingerprints, a photograph, and a digital signature for identity checks and background screening.²⁷

Most people adjusting status inside the U.S. are then interviewed at a USCIS field office, though the agency can waive the interview case by case.²⁸ Consular applicants attend an interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their country.²⁹ Bring originals of every document you submitted as copies. The officer will verify the information on your forms, ask about your background, and probe anything relevant to admissibility. Marriage cases get the closest scrutiny; expect questions about how you met, your daily life together, and shared finances. Employment interviews tend to focus on the job offer and your qualifications. If something in your file does not line up, the officer can issue a request for additional evidence instead of deciding on the spot.

Most applicants learn the outcome at the interview or shortly after in writing. If approved, USCIS mails a welcome notice followed by the physical Green Card, usually within a few weeks.³⁰

If You Get a Two-Year Conditional Card

Not everyone gets the 10-year card right away. Two groups receive a conditional Green Card valid for only two years, with a mandatory follow-up filing.

If you got your card through marriage and had been married less than two years when it was approved, your card is conditional. You must file Form I-751 jointly with your spouse during the 90-day window before it expires. Miss the deadline and you automatically lose permanent resident status and become removable.³¹ If the marriage has ended in divorce or you were abused by your spouse, you can file the I-751 individually with a waiver of the joint filing requirement. Divorce must be finalized before you file. If you missed the deadline through extraordinary circumstances, USCIS may excuse the late filing with a written explanation.³²

EB-5 investors also get a two-year conditional card. To remove conditions, file Form I-829 within the 90-day window before the two-year anniversary and prove you invested the required amount, sustained the investment, and that the enterprise created (or is on track to create) the required 10 full-time jobs.³³

Keeping Your Green Card After You Get It

Permanent residence carries ongoing obligations. Ignore them and you can lose status.

Your Green Card is valid for re-entry for up to one year. If you plan to be outside the U.S. longer than a year, apply for a re-entry permit (Form I-131) before you leave; it extends your ability to return for up to two years.³⁴ You must be physically in the U.S. when you file it.³⁵ Even shorter absences can cause trouble: more than 180 days abroad triggers additional inspection on return, and extended or frequent absences can lead to a finding that you have abandoned residence, especially if your ties to another country are stronger.

A standard Green Card expires after 10 years. To renew, file Form I-90 during the six months before it expires. Letting the card expire does not by itself end your status, but it leaves you without valid proof, which makes employment verification and re-entry much harder.³⁶

One thing to know before you accept the card: the IRS treats Green Card holders the same as U.S. citizens for tax purposes, meaning you must report worldwide income no matter where it was earned.³⁷ Foreign bank and financial accounts whose combined value exceeds $10,000 at any point in the year trigger a separate FBAR filing on FinCEN Form 114.³⁸ Many new residents are caught off guard by this, particularly those who kept businesses or accounts back home.

1
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1151 – Worldwide Level of Immigration
2
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1153 – Allocation of Immigrant Visas
3
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Visa Availability and Priority Dates
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. About the EB-5 Visa Classification
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U.S. Department of Labor. Permanent Labor Certification
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Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1159 – Adjustment of Status of Refugees
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eCFR. 8 CFR Part 209 – Adjustment of Status of Refugees and Aliens Granted Asylum
8
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Green Card Through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program
9
USAGov. Eligibility for the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery
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Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1182 – Inadmissible Aliens
11
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
12
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-140, Instructions for Petition for Alien Workers
13
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Adjustment of Status
14
U.S. Department of State. Step 6 – Complete Online Visa Application (DS-260)
15
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Downloading and Printing Immigration Forms
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U.S. Department of State. Step 7 – Collect Civil Documents
17
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-693, Instructions for Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record
18
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA
19
U.S. Department of State. Affidavit of Support
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
21
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. While Your Green Card Application Is Pending with USCIS
22
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 2024 Final Fee Rule
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Additional Information on Filing a Fee Waiver
24
eCFR. 8 CFR 103.2 – Submission and Adjudication of Benefit Requests
25
U.S. Department of State. DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
26
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-797 – Types and Functions
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Preparing for Your Biometric Services Appointment
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Field Offices
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. After Receiving a Decision
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-751 Instructions for Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. When to File Your Petition to Remove Conditions
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-829, Instructions for Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status
34
U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Traveling Outside U.S. – Documents Needed for Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)/Green Card Holders
35
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Instructions for Form I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records
36
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Instructions for Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card
37
Internal Revenue Service. U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad
38
Internal Revenue Service. Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR)