The Green Card Explained: Who Qualifies and How to Get One
A green card is the document that proves lawful permanent resident (LPR) status in the United States. It lets you live and work in the country indefinitely, with almost any employer, and it is the usual step before naturalization. Most people get one through family or a job; smaller numbers qualify through investment, humanitarian protection or the Diversity Visa lottery. This page covers each route, the procedure, the 2026 policy changes and the rules for keeping your status.
This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration policy is changing quickly and several measures below are in court; consult an immigration attorney about your case and check USCIS and the State Department for current rules.
The Main Routes at a Glance
| Route | Who it covers | Annual cap? |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate relative | Spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of US citizens (the citizen must be 21 or older to sponsor a parent) | No |
| Family preference | Adult children and siblings of citizens; spouses and unmarried children of green card holders | Yes, long waits in many categories |
| Employment (EB-1 to EB-5) | Workers, usually with an employer sponsor; investors | Yes, about 140,000 a year including family members |
| Diversity Visa | Selected entrants from countries with low immigration to the US | Yes, but its status is contested (see below) |
| Refugee or asylee | People granted protection in the US | No cap on adjustment |
Through Family
A US citizen or green card holder files the petition for you, and must usually sign an affidavit of support showing enough income to back your stay. Immediate relatives can move directly to the green card stage. Everyone else waits for a visa number; for siblings of citizens from high-demand countries, that can take well over a decade.
Through Work
- EB-1: people of extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, and multinational executives.
- EB-2: advanced-degree professionals and people of exceptional ability. A National Interest Waiver can remove the need for an employer.
- EB-3: skilled workers, professionals and some other workers.
- EB-4: special immigrants, such as certain religious workers.
- EB-5: investors who create at least 10 US jobs. The minimum is $800,000 in a targeted employment area or $1,050,000 elsewhere, under a 2022 law that schedules inflation adjustments from 2027.
EB-2 and EB-3 usually require PERM labor certification, where the employer shows that no qualified US worker is available. Our guide to working in the US covers the job market side.
A separate "Trump Gold Card" launched in late 2025, built on a $1 million gift plus a $15,000 processing fee. It faces a court challenge, Congress has not enacted it, and as of spring 2026 only one approval had been reported.
The Diversity Visa Lottery
The lottery is set by law at up to 55,000 visas a year, and entry has required a passport since a rule that took effect in April 2026. The administration paused the program in December 2025 and the pause has been fought in the courts, with rulings going in different directions. As of late October 2026, registration for DV-2027 had not opened. Do not pay any website that promises entry, and check the State Department's site for the current position.
Asylum and Refugee Status
Refugees must apply, and asylees may apply, after one year in the US in that status. Separate rules apply, and an attorney or accredited representative is strongly advised.
The Procedure
- Petition. A relative files Form I-130 or an employer files Form I-140. Some applicants, such as self-petitioners, file for themselves.
- Waiting for a visa number. The filing date becomes your priority date. Caps apply per category, and no single country can take more than about 7% of the total, so applicants from India, China, Mexico and the Philippines often wait longest. The State Department's monthly Visa Bulletin shows which dates are current.
- Final application. If you are in the US, you file Form I-485 for adjustment of status. If you are abroad, you go through consular processing: an immigrant visa interview, then entry as a permanent resident.
- Medical exam, biometrics and interview. A designated civil surgeon or panel physician carries out the exam.
- Card delivery. The card arrives by mail, usually valid for 10 years.
USCIS fees on the fee schedule in force since 2024 include about $1,440 for Form I-485 for applicants 14 and older, and $675 on paper or $625 online for Form I-130. They change regularly, so check Form G-1055 before filing. Applying for work and travel permits alongside the I-485 now costs extra. Most people start out on a nonimmigrant visa; see our page for how those work.
What Changed in 2025-2026
These are the main measures as of late October 2026. Several are in litigation, so verify them before acting.
- Adjustment as discretion: a May 2026 USCIS memo stresses that adjustment of status is discretionary and not meant to replace consular processing. Law firms read it as a tougher approach by officers, not a change in who may file.
- Public charge: a rule in force since September 18, 2026 replaced the 2022 policy and gives officers wider discretion, including on use of means-tested benefits. Form I-485 was revised the same day, with no grace period for old editions.
- Travel ban: since January 1, 2026, a proclamation fully or partly suspends entry for nationals of 39 countries, with limited exceptions.
- 75-country immigrant visa pause: started by the State Department in January 2026, then struck down by a New York federal court on August 21, 2026. We could not confirm how consulates have applied the ruling since then.
Conditional Green Cards
If your status comes from a marriage less than two years old when you are granted residence, you get a conditional card valid for 2 years. In the 90 days before it expires, you and your spouse jointly file Form I-751 to show that the marriage is genuine. Waivers exist for divorce, abuse and other hardships. EB-5 investors also start with a conditional card and later file Form I-829.
Rights and Duties
- Work and live anywhere in the US, and sponsor a spouse and unmarried children.
- Taxes: you owe US tax on worldwide income, like a citizen. See our tax guide.
- Voting: federal voting is for citizens only, and a false claim of citizenship can lead to removal.
- Long absences: trips of more than 6 months can bring questions at the border, and a year or more can mean loss of status unless you got a re-entry permit (Form I-131) before leaving.
- Crime: certain convictions can lead to deportation, even after many years.
- Carrying the card: adults must keep proof of status with them, and men aged 18 to 25 who live in the US must generally register with the Selective Service.
- Renewal: file Form I-90 every 10 years. The card expires, but your status does not.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a green card?
It depends on the category and your country of birth. A spouse of a citizen may wait about a year or two, while capped family and employment categories can take many years. The Visa Bulletin shows current queues.
Is the green card lottery open?
Not as of late October 2026: DV-2027 registration had not opened, and the program's status is still being litigated. Check the State Department's site before trusting any other source.
What is the difference between adjustment of status and consular processing?
Adjustment (Form I-485) takes place inside the US. Consular processing takes place at a US consulate abroad, followed by entry on an immigrant visa. Eligibility for adjustment depends on your status and history, so check before choosing.
Can I lose my green card?
Yes, through abandonment (mainly long stays abroad), certain crimes, fraud in your case or voluntarily giving it up.
Can a green card holder vote?
Not in federal elections. Voting there requires citizenship, which you can apply for after 5 years in most cases, or 3 if married to and living with a citizen.
Related articles: