A green card (lawful permanent residency) in the United States Immigration > CommonSense

A green card (lawful permanent residency) in the United States can be granted through several pathways, including:

1. **Family-Based Immigration** 
  - **Immediate Relatives**: U.S. citizens can sponsor their spouses, minor children, and parents. These categories usually receive priority processing. 
  - **Other Family Members**: U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents may also sponsor other relatives (such as siblings or adult children), though these categories are subject to annual quotas and longer waiting times.

2. **Employment-Based Immigration** 
  - **EB-1, EB-2, EB-3 Categories**: These visas are available for individuals with extraordinary abilities, advanced degrees, or who fill roles in areas with labor shortages. U.S. employers typically sponsor these applicants. 
  - **EB-5 Investor Program**: Foreign investors who invest a specified amount of capital in a U.S. business and create or preserve jobs for U.S. workers may be eligible for a green card.

3. **Diversity Visa Program (Green Card Lottery)** 
  - This program provides a limited number of green cards each year to individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States, selected randomly through a lottery system.

4. **Refugee and Asylum** 
  - Individuals who are fleeing persecution or violence in their home countries may be granted a green card after being admitted to the United States as a refugee or after being granted asylum.

5. **Other Special Categories** 
  - There are additional pathways for certain groups, such as religious workers, military personnel, or others who meet specific criteria, which can also lead to eligibility for a green card.

Each of these pathways has specific eligibility requirements, procedures, and processing times. It is advisable to consult the latest official guidelines or seek legal advice to understand the details and determine the best route for individual circumstances.