US Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
ATTENTION! If you have had any legal problems (ie having been charged or convicted for a crime, illegal stay in the USA, etc), you should contact an immigration attorney because we do not provide any legal advice.
A United States Permanent Resident Card, also known as a Green Card serves as proof of a person's Lawful Permanent Resident status in the United States. An individual with a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) has the right to live and work permanently in the United States. A person’s valid Green Card also means that he or she is registered in the U.S. in accordance with United States immigration law.
The name "green card" comes from the fact that the predecessor, Alien Registration Receipt Card (form I-151) introduced at the end of World War II, was printed on green paper. Form I-551 was adopted in 1977 and has been printed on paper of various colors, none of which were green, but the term "green card" has nonetheless remained in use.
There are several ways to obtain a Green Card. The most common ways of becoming a Permanent Resident of the United States include the following:
- Sponsorship from a family member who is already a US citizen or Permanent Resident;
- Sponsorship from an employer;
- Through the Diversity Visa Lottery;
- Through becoming a Refugee or Asylee.
Becoming a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) of the United States of America is a complex and lengthy procedure.
Green Card process for people applying from outside of the USA:
- We e-mail you a list of questions;
- You answer the questions via e-mail;
- We e-mail you the list of documents you need to collect;
- You e-mail to us the copies of the documents;
- We mail you the documents that need to be signed by you and you mail the signed documents back to us OR you sign the documents personally at our office in Lviv, Ukraine;
- We submit the case to the Immigration Service;
- You receive from the Immigration Service the receipt notice with your case number;
- You receive from the Immigration Service the approval notice;
- We submit financial documents of your sponsor to National Visa Center;
- We submit the originals of your documents to the National Visa Center;
- You receive an invitation for an interview at US embassy abroad;
- You receive back the originals of your documents and your immigrant visa stamped in your passport;
- You cross the US border;
- You receive your Permanent Resident Card by mail;
Green Card process for people applying from inside of the USA:
- We e-mail you a list of questions;
- You answer the questions via e-mail;
- We e-mail you the list of documents you need to collect;
- You e-mail to us the copies of the documents;
- We mail you the documents that need to be signed by you and you mail the signed documents back to us OR you sign the documents personally at our office in Parma, OH, USA;
- We submit the case to the Immigration Service;
- You receive from the Immigration Service the receipt notice with your case number;
- You receive an invitation for an interview at an Immigration Service office;
- You receive from the Immigration Service the approval notice
- You receive your Permanent Resident Card by mail.
Green Card process for people applying from inside of the USA:
You may sponsor your family member to obtain a Green Card if you already have a Green Card yourself, or if you are a US citizen. You cannot act as a sponsor if you are a foreigner in the US on a work visa, student visa, visitor's visa or other visa.
If you are a US citizen, you may help the following members of your family obtain their Green Cards:
- your husband or wife;
- your children, stepchildren, and adopted children;
- your parents, stepparents, and adopted parents;
- your sisters and brothers, or your stepsisters or stepbrothers.
If you are a Green Card holder, you may help the following family members get their Green Cards:
- your husband or wife;
- your unmarried children, including unmarried stepchildren and adopted children.
You may sponsor more than one family member at a time provided you have enough income to meet certain minimum income requirements for sponsorship OR another person with sufficient income takes the responsibility for the sponsorship together with you.
Just because you can be a sponsor, this does not mean your family member automatically qualifies for a US Green Card. There are many immigration rules and USCIS (known previously as INS) procedures that affect the ability to obtain a Green Card in addition to how long it will take. An improperly filed Green Card petition can result in considerable delays.
If you believe you can be a sponsor for your family member, give us a call and we will assist and answer any questions you have. There is no charge for phone consultations and all calls are treated Confidentially.
How can I apply for a Green Card through family relationship?
First, you need a Sponsor.
You must have at least one family member who is willing to sponsor you for a Green Card. Sponsors of family-based green cards must themselves be either a US citizen or Green Card holder. Sponsors cannot be an immigrant in the US on a work visa, visitor's visa, student visa or other visa.
If your sponsor is a US citizen , your sponsor may be:
- your husband or wife;
- your adult child, adult stepchild or adopted child;
- your parent, your stepparent or adoptive parent;
- your sister or brother, or your stepsister or stepbrother.
If your sponsor is a Green Card holder, your sponsor may be:
- your husband or wife;
- your parent, stepparent or adoptive parent.
If you have more than one possible sponsor in your family, we can help you decide how to chose the most suitable sponsor. Or you may have several pending applications submitted by different sponsors on your behalf.
If your family member can sponsor you, give us a call and we will be glad to assist and answer any questions you have. There is no charge for phone consultations, and all calls are treated Confidentially.
- We e-mail you a list of questions;
- You answer the questions via e-mail;
- We e-mail you the list of documents you need to collect;
- You e-mail to us the copies of the documents;
- We mail you the documents that need to be signed by you and you mail the signed documents back to us OR you sign the documents personally at our office in Lviv, Ukraine;
- We submit the case to the Immigration Service;
- You receive from the Immigration Service the receipt notice with your case number;
- You receive from the Immigration Service the approval notice;
- We submit financial documents of your sponsor to National Visa Center;
- We submit the originals of your documents to the National Visa Center;
- You receive an invitation for an interview at US embassy abroad;
- You receive back the originals of your documents and your immigrant visa stamped in your passport;
- You cross the US border;
- You receive your Permanent Resident Card by mail;
- We e-mail you a list of questions;
- You answer the questions via e-mail;
- We e-mail you the list of documents you need to collect;
- You e-mail to us the copies of the documents;
- We mail you the documents that need to be signed by you and you mail the signed documents back to us OR you sign the documents personally at our office in Parma, OH, USA;
- We submit the case to the Immigration Service;
- You receive from the Immigration Service the receipt notice with your case number;
- You receive an invitation for an interview at an Immigration Service office;
- You receive from the Immigration Service the approval notice
- You receive your Permanent Resident Card by mail.
You may sponsor your family member to obtain a Green Card if you already have a Green Card yourself, or if you are a US citizen. You cannot act as a sponsor if you are a foreigner in the US on a work visa, student visa, visitor's visa or other visa.
If you are a US citizen, you may help the following members of your family obtain their Green Cards:
- your husband or wife;
- your children, stepchildren, and adopted children;
- your parents, stepparents, and adopted parents;
- your sisters and brothers, or your stepsisters or stepbrothers.
If you are a Green Card holder, you may help the following family members get their Green Cards:
- your husband or wife;
- your unmarried children, including unmarried stepchildren and adopted children.
You may sponsor more than one family member at a time provided you have enough income to meet certain minimum income requirements for sponsorship OR another person with sufficient income takes the responsibility for the sponsorship together with you.
Just because you can be a sponsor, this does not mean your family member automatically qualifies for a US Green Card. There are many immigration rules and USCIS (known previously as INS) procedures that affect the ability to obtain a Green Card in addition to how long it will take. An improperly filed Green Card petition can result in considerable delays.
If you believe you can be a sponsor for your family member, give us a call and we will assist and answer any questions you have. There is no charge for phone consultations and all calls are treated Confidentially.
First, you need a Sponsor.
You must have at least one family member who is willing to sponsor you for a Green Card. Sponsors of family-based green cards must themselves be either a US citizen or Green Card holder. Sponsors cannot be an immigrant in the US on a work visa, visitor's visa, student visa or other visa.
If your sponsor is a US citizen , your sponsor may be:
- your husband or wife;
- your adult child, adult stepchild or adopted child;
- your parent, your stepparent or adoptive parent;
- your sister or brother, or your stepsister or stepbrother.
If your sponsor is a Green Card holder, your sponsor may be:
- your husband or wife;
- your parent, stepparent or adoptive parent.
If you have more than one possible sponsor in your family, we can help you decide how to chose the most suitable sponsor. Or you may have several pending applications submitted by different sponsors on your behalf.
If your family member can sponsor you, give us a call and we will be glad to assist and answer any questions you have. There is no charge for phone consultations, and all calls are treated Confidentially.
Ohio Export Corporation will provide the Client with the following services:
- Prepare the Applications for Permanent Residence in the U. S. A. and supporting documents on behalf of the Client, to be submitted to the US Immigration Service;
- Prepare all the necessary translations from foreign languages into English;
- Provide the Client with copies of the Application, supporting documents, and correspondence relevant to the Application;
- Follow up with US Immigration Service, when necessary, regarding the status of the Client.