U.S. Immigration: Green Card Routes, Procedures, and Requirements

There are four green card pathways under U.S. immigration law, and the requirements differ sharply depending on which one fits you. You can qualify through a close family relationship with a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, through a job offer or extraordinary professional ability, through the annual diversity visa lottery, or through humanitarian protection as a refugee or asylee. Each of these green card pathways and requirements is set by the Immigration and Nationality Act, and every applicant, regardless of route, has to clear the same core checks: a qualifying petition, financial sponsorship in most cases, a medical exam, biometrics, and a background investigation.

What follows walks through each route, the two procedures used to actually issue the card, the paperwork and money involved, the grounds that can get an application denied, and the obligations that come with permanent residency once you have it.

The Four Routes to a Green Card

Federal law splits immigrant visas into three numerical streams — family-sponsored, employment-based, and diversity — plus a separate humanitarian track for people fleeing persecution.¹ Which one applies to you is usually obvious from your situation, and you generally can’t shop between them.

Family-Based Green Cards

Family sponsorship is the most common route. The law treats two groups very differently.

Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens — spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of a citizen who is at least 21 — have no annual cap. There is no visa line for this group, so cases move as fast as USCIS can process them.¹

Everyone else with a family tie falls into preference categories with fixed annual limits: adult children of citizens, spouses and children of permanent residents, married children of citizens, and siblings of citizens.² Siblings face some of the longest waits in the whole system because demand far exceeds the roughly 65,000 sibling visas issued each year. The Department of State’s monthly Visa Bulletin shows which priority dates are currently being processed, and that’s how you estimate your wait.

The petition itself is Form I-130, filed by the U.S. citizen or permanent resident relative to establish the qualifying relationship.³

Employment-Based Green Cards

If you don’t have qualifying family, a U.S. job offer can be the foundation for a green card. Employment-based immigration is ranked into five preference categories by skill level and national interest. The first covers people with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, and multinational managers. The second is for professionals with advanced degrees or people with exceptional ability in the sciences, business, or arts. The third covers skilled workers, professionals with a bachelor’s degree, and certain other workers.²

Most employment categories require a certified labor market test showing that no qualified U.S. worker is available for the job. The employer then files Form I-140 to petition for the worker.⁴ Some categories, notably extraordinary-ability applicants who can show sustained national or international recognition, allow self-petitioning without an employer sponsor.

Diversity Visa Lottery

The diversity visa program allocates up to 55,000 immigrant visas each year to nationals of countries that have sent relatively few immigrants to the United States in recent years.⁵ Registration opens once a year, usually in the fall, and there is no fee to enter. Winning the lottery does not by itself deliver a green card. You still need to meet the educational or work-experience requirements built into the program and pass the same background and health screenings as any other applicant.

Refugee and Asylum Pathways

People fleeing persecution can qualify as refugees or asylees. Both require you to show you have been persecuted, or genuinely fear future persecution, on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.⁶ Refugees apply from outside the United States and are screened before arrival. Asylum seekers apply after reaching U.S. soil or a port of entry, and the asylum application generally must be filed within one year of arrival. Both refugees and asylees can eventually apply for a green card after meeting certain conditions.

Two Procedures for Getting the Card

Qualifying under one of the four routes above is only half the picture. The actual green card is issued through one of two procedures, and where you happen to be when a visa becomes available usually decides which one.

Adjustment of status is for people already in the United States on a valid visa. You file Form I-485 with USCIS and complete the interview domestically, without leaving the country.⁷ In some cases you can file the I-485 at the same time as the underlying petition; in others you have to wait for the petition to be approved and a visa number to be available.

Consular processing is for people abroad. You apply for an immigrant visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country, and once the visa is issued you enter the United States as a permanent resident.⁸

There is a trap here. Some people who are physically in the United States but without lawful status cannot adjust domestically and would have to leave for consular processing, which can trigger multi-year re-entry bars for the time they spent unlawfully present. That timing question is where an immigration attorney genuinely earns the fee.

What Every Applicant Has to Provide

Regardless of the pathway, most green card cases require the same core set of documents. Missing pieces are one of the most common causes of delay or denial.

Financial Sponsorship: The Affidavit of Support

Most family-based applicants, and some employment-based applicants, need a financial sponsor who signs Form I-864, the Affidavit of Support. It is a legally enforceable contract with the U.S. government in which the sponsor promises to financially support the immigrant.⁹

The sponsor must show household income of at least 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for their household size. Active-duty military members sponsoring a spouse or child only need to meet 100 percent.¹⁰

For 2026, the Federal Poverty Guideline for a two-person household in the 48 contiguous states is $21,640 per year, so a sponsor at that household size needs to show at least $27,050. For a four-person household, the baseline is $33,000, putting the 125 percent threshold at $41,250.¹¹ The sponsor proves income with federal tax returns, W-2s, and similar records. If the primary sponsor’s income falls short, a joint sponsor with sufficient income can co-sign a separate I-864.

The Medical Examination

Every green card applicant must pass a medical exam conducted by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon and documented on Form I-693. The exam covers vaccinations, communicable diseases, physical and mental health conditions, and drug use. You submit the completed form with your I-485; filing without it can result in rejection.¹² The exam typically costs $200 to $600 depending on the provider. The civil surgeon gives you the completed form in a sealed envelope, and you submit it to USCIS unopened.

Biometrics and Background Checks

After you file, USCIS schedules a biometrics appointment at a local Application Support Center for fingerprints, a photograph, and a digital signature.¹³ The data feeds the FBI background check and identity verification. Skipping the appointment without rescheduling can get your whole application denied.

Translations

Any document not in English — birth certificate, marriage license, court record — must come with a certified English translation. The translator has to certify in writing that the translation is accurate and that they are competent in both languages, and the certification must include the translator’s name, signature, address, and date. USCIS does not require a professional, but professional certified translation typically runs $18 to $70 per page.

Children Aging Out

If you have children included in your case, the Child Status Protection Act matters. Immigration law requires a derivative child to be under 21 and unmarried, and processing backlogs can stretch for years. The CSPA adjusts a child’s age using a formula that subtracts the time the petition was pending from the child’s biological age at the time a visa became available.¹⁴ The child still has to be unmarried. If a child in your case is approaching 21, get advice on the math before filing.

Fees and Fee Waivers

Green card applications carry multiple government fees, and USCIS adjusts them periodically. An inflation-based fee increase took effect March 1, 2026, so always confirm current amounts on the official USCIS fee schedule before filing.¹⁵

The major charges are the petition fee (I-130 or I-140), the I-485 adjustment application, and biometrics. USCIS bills separately for employment authorization and travel documents if you request them while your case is pending. Fees are generally non-refundable regardless of the outcome. You can pay by money order, personal check, or credit card using Form G-1450.

On top of the government fees, budget for the medical exam ($200 to $600), certified translations if you need them, and an immigration attorney if you hire one. Initial consultations typically run $100 to $300, and full representation for a green card case can cost significantly more depending on complexity.

If you can’t afford the fees, you can ask for a waiver using Form I-912. USCIS approves waivers on three grounds: you or a household member receives a means-tested government benefit, your household income is at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or you can show extreme financial hardship.¹⁶ Not every form is fee-waiver eligible, so check the instructions for the specific form you’re filing.

Grounds That Can Sink an Application

A complete application is not the same as an approvable one. Federal law lists specific grounds of inadmissibility, and USCIS screens for all of them.¹⁷

Criminal history. A conviction for a crime involving moral turpitude or a controlled substance offense can make you inadmissible. Multiple convictions of any type, even minor ones, can trigger the same result. A narrow exception applies to a single minor offense where the maximum possible sentence was one year or less and the actual sentence did not exceed six months.
Health-related grounds. Communicable diseases of public health significance, missing required vaccinations, certain physical or mental disorders with harmful associated behavior, and drug abuse can each be a basis for denial.
Fraud or misrepresentation. Willful and material false statements or fraudulent documents can bring a permanent bar with no statute of limitations. The misrepresentation must be intentional and capable of influencing the decision.
Public charge. If USCIS decides you’re likely to become primarily dependent on government assistance, your case can be denied. The Affidavit of Support and financial documentation are designed to address this.

Some grounds have waivers available, but the waiver process adds real time and cost. The safest approach is full honesty on every form. Officers routinely spot discrepancies between applications, prior visa records, and background checks, and a fraud finding is far worse than whatever fact you were trying to hide.

After Approval: Living as a Permanent Resident

A green card doesn’t end your relationship with USCIS. Permanent residency comes with ongoing obligations, and ignoring them can put your status at risk.

Conditional Green Cards from Marriage

Not every green card runs for the standard ten years. If your residency is based on marriage and you were married less than two years on the day you became a permanent resident, you receive a conditional green card valid for only two years.¹⁸

To keep your status, you and your spouse must jointly file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, during the 90-day window immediately before the conditional card expires.¹⁹ Miss that window and your conditional status automatically terminates, followed by a notice and removal proceedings. If the marriage ended in divorce or involved domestic abuse, you can request a waiver of the joint filing requirement and file the I-751 alone, and that waiver version can be filed at any time before the card expires rather than only in the 90-day window. Treat the expiration date as non-negotiable.

Carry Your Card

Federal law requires every permanent resident age 18 or older to carry the green card at all times. Failing to produce it on request from an authorized official is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $100, up to 30 days in jail, or both.²⁰ Enforcement of the fine is rare, but showing up without proof of status during any encounter with law enforcement or immigration authorities creates avoidable problems.

Report Address Changes Within 10 Days

If you move, you must notify USCIS within 10 days. You can do this through your USCIS online account or by mailing Form AR-11.²¹ Failing to update your address can delay pending cases and cause trouble later at naturalization.

Selective Service for Male Residents Under 26

Male permanent residents between 18 and 25 must register with the Selective Service System within 30 days of turning 18, or within 30 days of entering the United States if they arrive between 18 and 25.²² Registration is done online. Selective Service stops accepting registrations after age 26, and failing to register before that cutoff can become a permanent obstacle to citizenship later on.²³

Travel and Abandonment

A green card lets you travel internationally, but long absences can be treated as abandonment. Staying outside the United States for more than 180 consecutive days triggers heightened inspection when you come back.²⁴ Absences over a year generally require a re-entry permit obtained before you leave, and even with one, a customs officer can still question whether you actually intend to live in the United States. Keeping a U.S. address, filing U.S. taxes, and maintaining financial ties all help show ongoing intent.

Separately, if you leave the country while an I-485 is still pending, USCIS generally treats your departure as abandoning that application unless you first obtained an advance parole document through Form I-131.²⁵

From Green Card to U.S. Citizenship

A green card is permanent residency, not citizenship. To become a citizen you go through naturalization, which has its own requirements and a separate application.

You can apply after living in the United States as a permanent resident for at least five continuous years, or three years if you’re married to a U.S. citizen. During that period, you must have been physically present in the country for at least half the time, and you must have lived in the state or USCIS district where you file for at least three months before applying.²⁶ You can file Form N-400 up to 90 days before you actually hit the continuous residence mark.²⁷

Beyond residency, you must show good moral character throughout the statutory period, pass an English language test, and pass a civics test on U.S. history and government. Disability exceptions exist for the language and civics portions. The N-400 filing fee is $760 for paper filing or $710 online.²⁷ Naturalization is worth pursuing for most permanent residents because it brings voting rights, removes the deportation risk that attaches to most criminal offenses for green card holders, and eliminates any concern about card renewal or abandonment during international travel.

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. I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
4
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers
5
U.S. Department of State. Diversity Visa Instructions
6
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1158 – Asylum
7
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
8
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Consular Processing
9
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Affidavit of Support
10
eCFR. 8 CFR Part 213a – Affidavits of Support on Behalf of Immigrants
11
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines
12
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record
13
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Preparing for Your Biometric Services Appointment
14
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Child Status Protection Act (CSPA)
15
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Announces FY 2026 Inflation Increase for Certain Immigration-Related Fees
16
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 1, Part B, Chapter 4 – Fee Waivers and Fee Exemptions
17
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1182 – Inadmissible Aliens
18
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Removing Conditions on Permanent Residence Based on Marriage
19
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence
20
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1304 – Forms for Registration and Fingerprinting
21
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. How to Change Your Address
22
Selective Service System. Who Needs to Register
23
Selective Service System. Men 26 and Older
24
U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Traveling Outside U.S. – Documents Needed for Lawful Permanent Residents
25
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. While Your Green Card Application Is Pending with USCIS
26
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1427 – Requirements of Naturalization
27
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. N-400, Application for Naturalization