Millions set out to make the US their permanent home and the first step in achieving this is applying for Lawful Permanent Resident status (LPR), or a ‘green card’ (Form I-551), which gives non-US citizens the right to live and work in the US indefinitely. Once you obtain this, you must carry the card as proof of your status and it must be renewed after 10 years (by filing Form I-90). In most cases, obtaining a residence visa requires you to be sponsored by a US citizen, such as a family member or prospective employer who files an immigrant petition on your behalf. You will know you have been granted a visa once you are provided a visa number, but with limited visas available, you may end up waiting several years. When researching which type of visas apply to you, pay attention to how high you might rank in each application pool.

There are two parallel systems for applying for a green card, one for those who are in the US already and one for those applying from outside of the US. If you are outside the country, you must apply through the US State Department (www.state.gov) by visiting the US consulate in the country you are in. If you are already in the US on a temporary visa or illegally, you must apply through the Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration department (www.uscis.gov).