If you are an immigrant and wish to immigrate to the United States, you may already be aware that there are many laws and restrictions concerning immigration to the United States. If you are related to a US citizen or green card holder, it is much easier to immigrate, since the US government makes provisions for families of US citizens and permanent residents to sponsor family members. However, even if you are a would-be immigrant who knows no one in the United States and has no family in the United States, there are many immigrant resources and programs that can help you immigrate legally to the United States.
One of the most popular ways to immigrate to the United States is through employer sponsorship. If you find a job in the United States and if your US employer is willing to sponsor you for a green card, you may be able to immigrate to the United States. Your U.S. employers will need to file Form I-140 (Petition for Alien Worker) on your behalf. In general, this route is easier if you have specialization or a college degree. However, there are also some non-skill categories of workers that can qualify for immigration to the United States through employment sponsorship. If your employer is willing to sponsor you and if you have a job offer in the United States, you may even be able to live and work in the United States on an H1-B visa while your green card application is pending. There are immigration resources that can help you find jobs in the US which are designated for people who do not yet have green card status.
If you have substantial assets but know no one in the United States, you can also become an immigrant investor and immigrate to the United States. In general, you will need to invest at least $1 million in the United States in order to get a green card. You must invest this money in a US-based enterprise that creates at least 10 US jobs. Additional restrictions may apply, but if you have the assets this can be a good way to immigrate to the United States legally and eventually even become a US citizen.
Scientists working on special projects outside of the US may also sometimes be able to secure green cards and even US citizenship very quickly. If the US government finds your work essential to national interest or very important for the US, you may be granted a green card or even US citizenship very quickly.
If you come from a country where many people do not immigrate to the United States, you may also qualify to get a green card through the green card diversity lottery program. The green card lottery is intended to help diversify the immigrant population in the United States. The lottery is held every year and allows people from specific countries to apply. If your country is listed as among those eligible for this year’s lottery, you can apply. If you win the lottery, you will get a green card to come and live permanently in the United States.