Permanent residence route guide

EB-2 National Interest Waiver

A self-petitionable EB-2 immigrant route that may waive the permanent job offer and PERM when the applicant first qualifies as an advanced-degree professional or person of exceptional ability and then satisfies the three-part national-interest framework. An approved I-140 is not a green card; visa availability and adjustment or consular processing remain separate.

Employer-sponsored EB-2 / EB-3 through PERM

A permanent-employment immigration route requiring a qualifying US employer, labour certification where applicable, an immigrant petition and a permanent job offer. The job, recruitment, PERM, petition, priority date and adjustment or consular stage are separate checks.

Immediate Relative of a US Citizen / F2A

A family immigration route covering qualifying spouses, unmarried children under 21 and parents of US citizens, plus spouses and unmarried children under 21 of lawful permanent residents in the quota-limited F2A category. A marriage of less than two years at admission may result in conditional residence and a later Form I-751.

EB-1 Priority Workers

An employment-based immigrant category covering EB-1A extraordinary ability, EB-1B outstanding professors or researchers, and EB-1C multinational managers or executives. EB-1A may be self-petitioned and does not require PERM; EB-1B and EB-1C require a qualifying US employer. Meeting an evidence count is only the first step: USCIS evaluates the record as a whole.

Family Preference F1 / F2B / F3 / F4

A quota-limited family immigration route for adult unmarried children of US citizens, unmarried children of permanent residents, married children of US citizens and siblings of adult US citizens. Annual and per-country limits apply; the preference category, priority date, petitioner status and filing stage control the process.

EB-5 Immigrant Investor

An immigrant-investor category based on a qualifying investment in a new commercial enterprise and the required employment conditions. The investment must have a lawful source and remain at risk under the applicable rules. The first status is normally a two-year conditional permanent residence, followed by Form I-829 to remove conditions.

Employment-based green card: adjustment of status or consular processing

An approved employment-based petition or an available immigrant-visa number does not itself create a green card. The applicant must complete the applicable adjustment-of-status or immigrant-visa process, satisfy visa-availability and admissibility requirements, and become a lawful permanent resident only when the relevant application is approved or the applicant is admitted as an immigrant.

Timing：Check the official residence-period rule.

Family-based green card: adjustment of status or consular processing

Form I-130 confirms a qualifying family relationship but does not itself grant status, work authorisation or permanent residence. The applicant must complete the applicable adjustment-of-status or immigrant-visa process, satisfy visa availability and admissibility requirements, and becomes a lawful permanent resident only after the relevant approval or admission.

Timing：Check the official residence-period rule.

Remove conditions on a marriage-based conditional green card (Form I-751)

A conditional permanent resident normally files Form I-751 during the 90-day period before the two-year conditional status expires to request removal of conditions. The filing must address the qualifying marriage and any applicable waiver basis; conditional residence is not the same as unconditional permanent residence.

Timing：Check the official residence-period rule.

Remove conditions on an EB-5 conditional green card (Form I-829)

An EB-5 conditional permanent resident files Form I-829 during the statutory filing window to demonstrate that the required capital was invested and remained at risk and that the required qualifying employment was created or will be created within the permitted period. Approval removes the conditions; the investment is not guaranteed or risk-free.

Timing：Check the official residence-period rule.

Maintain permanent residence and preserve travel rights

A green card permits indefinite residence while permanent-resident status is maintained, but extended absence, abandonment concerns and travel-document expiry are separate issues. A re-entry permit may support travel planning but does not guarantee admission or replace the permanent-resident requirements.

Timing：Check the official residence-period rule.

Employment-based immigrant visa: consular processing

An employment-based applicant abroad completes the NVC and consular immigrant-visa process after the petition and visa-number conditions are satisfied. DS-260, civil documents, medical examination, interview, administrative processing and admission by CBP are separate steps; an approved petition or visa application alone is not permanent residence.

Timing：Check the official residence-period rule.

Family-based immigrant visa: consular processing

A family immigrant applicant abroad completes the NVC and consular process after the petition and visa-number requirements are satisfied. The process includes DS-260, civil documents, financial sponsorship, medical examination, interview and any administrative processing before immigrant admission.

Timing：Check the official residence-period rule.