Permanent residency
Permanent residency is the only status for foreign nationals that can lead
directly to United States citizenship,
although a permanent resident is not obligated to apply for citizenship.
Under existing law, there are three principal paths to permanent residency:
through an eligible family relation who is already a citizen or permanent resident,
by employment inside the United States, or through an appropriate investment
in the United States. Other ways to obtain permanent residency include a successful
refugee or political asylum application. Where a relative files the petition,
he or she must agree to be financially responsible if the permanent resident
goes on public assistance by completing a legally binding Affidavit
of Support. Where an employer files the petition, it must prove an ability
to pay the promised wages, establish that a living wage will be paid, and that
no U.S. worker has been denied the job first.
There are two paths to permanent residency: adjustment
of status for those qualified applicants inside the United States, and consular
processing for all others.
For marriage-based permanent residency and certain investment-based permanent
residency classifications, an initial period of conditional permanent residency
is required, usually for a minimum of two years. Beginning 90 days prior to
the conclusion of the period of conditional permanent residency, the applicant
files a petition to remove the conditions, which if granted, results in the
issuance of a ten-year permanent residency card.
After a proscribed period after the grant of permanent residency, usually either
three or five years, a qualified permanent resident can apply for naturalization,
to obtain citizenship.
Read more about family-based permanent
residency.
Read more about employment-based
permanent residency.
Read more about business-based permanent
residency.
Read more about citizenship and naturalization.
Read more about Adjustment of Status
Read more about Affidavits of Support
Arizona Immigrant Visa Lawyer
Messing Law Offices provides family, labor and business immigration attorney
advice to enable clients to meet the qualifications for permanent residency,
including removal of conditions on permanent residency, visas for accompanying
family members, and naturalization as a US citizen based upon extensive experience
as a professional immigration lawyer.
Please feel free to contact Messing Law Offices for
further assistance.
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