What are the criteria to get a green card in the USA?

Every person to become a U.S. green card holder (Permanent Resident Card) has to possess those which are category-related as well as general.

You should know that in order to apply, you are required to have some legal grounds to do so, e.g., family tie, offer of job, refugee situation or other qualifying means and demonstrate that you satisfy the requirements established by the U.S. immigration law.

Common Ways to Qualify for a Green Card

Family Sponsorship: Petitioned for by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (spouse, parent, child, etc.)

Employment-based Immigration: Permanent employ by an employer based within U.S. either as a skilled worker, professional or an extraordinary individual.

Diversity Visa Lottery: This is selected on a yearly lottery basis of the persons belonging to nations that do not have much immigration to the United States.

Special Immigrant Categories: This category includes the religious workers, some Afghan/Iraqi nationals, or special immigrant juveniles.

Humanitarian/Other Cases: Refugees, asylees, the long-term residents (pre-1972) or investors (EB-5) who establish jobs in the U.S.

General Eligibility Criteria (Applies to All Applicants)

Qualifying Basis: You must have a valid reason to apply—such as a family relationship, job offer, or lottery selection.

Admissibility to the U.S.: You must not have disqualifying issues such as certain criminal convictions, immigration fraud, or communicable diseases.

Medical Examination: It is necessary for you to pass a medical examination with a doctor certified by USCIS.

Good Moral Character: Applicants are not expected to have a serious criminal record, acts of fraud, or a history of multiple immigration offenses.

Financial Support: You may need a sponsor to assert that you will not become a public charge (Form I-864).

Improper forms and process: Applications require structured documented processes where relevant forms are submitted, an example is I-485 for adjustment of status (when applying from inside the U.S.).

Lawful Entry (applying from within the U.S.): By and large, green card qualification tests will inspire the fact that candidates must be legally paroled into the United States of America.

Worried You Might Not Qualify? We Can Help

Applying for a green card is not only having the requirements. It is a matter of knowing how to utilize the available options and ensuring a smooth process on each stage.

At UOM, we help you identify the best-fit immigration category for your background, walk you through every stage of the process, and ensure your application meets U.S. standards from start to finish.

The prices of visiting the U.S. vary depending on the type of visas. The amount of investment needed in visa like E-2 and L-1A depends on the size and business prospects. On the contrary, the minimum investment requirement is only specific and apparent in the case of EB-5 visa.

EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa – Fixed Minimum Investment

The EB-5 visa is the most well-known investment immigration option. It provides a direct path to permanent residency (a green card) for investors and their immediate families.

• Investment amount:
• $1,050,000 in a U.S. business
• Or $800,000 if investing in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) — typically rural or high-unemployment regions
• Requirement: The investment must create at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers.
• Outcome: Direct green card (permanent residence) for the investor, spouse, and children under 21.

This program is ideal for high-net-worth individuals seeking long-term residence in the U.S. through business investment.

E-2 Treaty Investor Visa – Flexible but Substantial

E-2 visa is granted to the foreign nationals belonging to treaty nations to invest and work in a business in the United States. Although there is no definite minimum, investments have to be substantial, in reference to the type of business.

• Typical investment: If it is the right business model, then it can be in the range of 100, 000 to 300, 000.
• Eligibility: The option applies only to treaty countries with the U.S.
• Requirements: The business has to be not marginal (it should support you and family).
• Important: There is an option of indefinite renewals provided that the business is still in existence though this visa does not directly translate into a green card.

The E-2 is also a favorite of the entrepreneurs or small business men who would like to reside and work in the U.S. but cannot afford the huge amount of capital needed under the EB-5.

L-1A Intracompany Transfer Visa – Invest to Establish a U.S. Office

The L-1A visa is designed for managers or executives transferring from a foreign company to a U.S. branch or opening a new U.S. office.

• No fixed investment, but:
• You must prove the business has sufficient operating funds to cover rent, salaries, and other expenses.
• For new offices, you must show that the U.S. business will support managerial functions within one year.
• Typical recommendation: A budget amounting to 100,000 dollars or more is usually needed to validate.
• Outcome: Temporary Status as a legal resident that would (possibly) lead to a green card to your employees under the EB-1C visa category (Multinational executives).

L-1A is a strong choice for existing businesses looking to expand to the U.S. without making a large upfront investment like the EB-5.

E-1 Treaty Trader Visa – No Investment Required, But Trade-Based

The E-1 visa is not investment-based in the traditional sense. Instead, it is for individuals or companies that engage in substantial international trade between the U.S. and their home country.

• Requirement: At least 50% of the total trade must occur between the U.S. and the treaty country.
• Trade can involve goods, services, or technology.
• No set minimum investment, but:
• You must demonstrate consistent and significant trade volume.
• The business must already be operational and engaged in active international commerce.

While the E-1 visa doesn’t lead directly to permanent residency, it provides the opportunity to live and work in the U.S. as long as the trade activity continues.

Explore Your Best Immigration Investment Option with UOM

Choosing the right visa requires more than just capital—it demands clarity, legal insight, and a solid plan. At UOM, we help you understand which U.S. investment visa suits your goals and guide you through every step with expert care.

Immigration to the United States through legal means consists of different procedures and duration depending on the categories of visa, the personal values and status of the applicant and the region that he is submitting his application. Most of the processes, in turn, consume either 10 months or several years.

Here’s a general idea based on popular immigration pathways:

Immediate family of U.S. citizens (spouse, parents, children under 21): Family members continue to be one of the most expedited ones; it takes approximately 1018 months in order to get green cards.

Types of personal preferences in the family (siblings, adult children, etc.): These are put in a much longer average of 2 to 20+ years depending on your category and country.

Green cards through employment: EB-1, and EB-2, EB 3: The application will require 12-24 months. To citizens of backlogged countries, like India or China, it can take a few more years.

This option, available to people who are ready to spend big sums of money, requires about 2-5 years of time, depending on an individual case and USCIS processing quotes.

Adjustment of status (within the U.S.) vs. Consular processing (outside the U.S.): If you are already situated in the U.S., the processing time might be faster usually around 9–12months for family or employment based adjustment.

UOM - your trusted guide in U.S. immigration

Every immigration journey is unique - and so is our approach. At UOM, we combine legal precision with personalized strategy to help you move through the U.S. immigration system with clarity and purpose.

Whether you're applying through family, investment, study, or work, we make sure your case gets the attention and expertise it deserves.

No. The process of immгigrating to the US involves meeting specific eligibility requirements, following strict procedures, and waiting due to a cap on visas and high demand for immigration to the US.

Why It’s Challenging:

Limited Visas Available: Annual limits exist for almost every category of visa, and it becomes particularly worse for applicants from India, China or Mexico due to their overwhelming population and demand.

Stringent Requirements: Family or employment based applications require rough eligibility lines which has make it difficult for contributors from various countries.

Lengthy Processing Times: Sibling family-based visas and certain employment based categories take years or decades to process.

Multiple forms, documents, interviews, and in some cases, background or health checks make the procedures multifaceted and cumbersome.

Costs Add Up: Immigration processes are coupled with filling fees, attorney costs, relocation expenses, which add on to the overall cost.

Unpredictable Delays: Depending on the country of origin, visa type, and number of applications , the visa backlog can be extensive and add more delays.

Still Possible with the Right Path

While it’s not easy, it’s not impossible. Many people successfully immigrate each year through:

• Immediate family sponsorship (e.g., spouses or parents of U.S. citizens)
• Employment-based visas (especially for highly skilled professionals)
• Investment or business opportunities
• Special programs like the Diversity Visa Lottery

Need trusted guidance on your U.S. immigration journey?

Get end-to-end support from a team you can rely on—licensed attorneys and experienced advisors who guide you through every step, from eligibility to long-term planning. That’s what you can expect when working with UOM, a firm specialized in U.S. immigration for individuals, families, investors, and professionals.

Being a national of the Visa Waver Program (VWP) country you may enter the United States without a visa to be present in the state only up to 90 days, that is, being a tourist, business traveler or one who is in transit to another country. However, you will be required to carry out prior registration in ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) before expedition.

Key Requirements:

• You should be an international citizen of any of the qualified VWP nations that includes (e.g., UK, France, Japan, South Korea, etc.).
• You should be staying as a tourist, businessperson or a transit. They are not allowed, to work, to study or to settle.
• It requires a possession of an e-passport and previously registered ESTA.
• You cannot change how long you will stay in the United States, or change your type of immigration status once you have entered that country.

Staying Longer Than 90 Days:

In case you will stay longer than 90 days, you will also be required to obtain a U.S. visa, of the type B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourism).

• The B-1/B-2 visa normally permits a visit of not more than 6 months upon entry stamp (Form I-94).
• In other circumstances it is possible to request an extension but it depends on whether the USCIS approves it.

However, if you're thinking beyond short visits — for work, study, or immigration purposes, you may want to consider longer-term visa options:

• L-1: For professionals transferred within multinational companies.
• F-1: For international students enrolling in U.S. educational programs.
• EB-1C / EB-3: For executives, skilled workers, and professionals seeking permanent residence.

Need Help Navigating Your U.S. Stay?

Whether you're in the U.S. now or planning your next step, knowing your legal options is essential. At UOM, our licensed attorneys and advisors provide clear, end-to-end guidance tailored to your status and long-term goals - so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.

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Yes, applied visas require no job offer in the US, however, there are some categories of visas that do not need employers to immigrate to the US. The key options are as below:

EB-1A Visa – Extraordinary Ability

This is a visa category, which targets individuals of extraordinary ability in science, arts, education, business, or in sports. You would not require an offer in place of a job, but you would require very good evidence of what you have accomplished-such as major honours, publications or mentions in a field.

EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW)

Under the NIW, holders of advanced degrees or workers of exceptional ability can apply to receive a green card without having to be offered the job position in question provided that they can demonstrate that their employment yields national interest in United States.

• Typical to STEM experts, health care specialists, teaching or renewable energy professionals.
• You need to prove that the work you do is of great significance and national interest and waiving the job offer requirement will be of gain to U. S.

EB-5 Investor Visa

The EB-5 visa is for individuals who invest a minimum of $800,000–$1,050,000 in a U.S. business that creates at least 10 full-time jobs for American workers.

• You do not need a job offer or employer sponsorship.
• It provides a direct path to permanent residency (green card) for those with sufficient capital.

Other Options That Don’t Require a Job Offer

• Family-Based Immigration: If you have a qualifying U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident relative, they can sponsor you.
• Diversity Visa Lottery (DV Lottery): Offers green cards to individuals from underrepresented countries. No job offer or sponsor is needed.
• Refugee or Asylee Status: Those fleeing persecution may be eligible to apply for a green card after one year in the U.S.
• Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs): For certain religious workers, Afghan/Iraqi nationals who worked with the U.S. government, and other designated groups.

Looking for a U.S. green card without a job offer?

At UOM, we help professionals and accomplished individuals pursue U.S. green cards through self-petition — no employer sponsorship required. Our licensed U.S. immigration attorneys guide your case from strategy to filing, helping you unlock permanent residency through your expertise and achievements.

Let your expertise or investment speak for itself — with UOM by your side.