Permanent residence and citizenship

Getting a green card

Lawful permanent residence can come through a family member, an employer, a humanitarian category such as asylum or a U visa, or several smaller routes.

The mechanics differ depending on where you are. If you are inside the United States and eligible, you may be able to adjust status without leaving. If you are abroad, or if something in your history makes you ineligible to adjust, the case goes through a U.S. consulate.

The threshold question for adjustment is usually whether you were inspected and admitted or paroled. Someone who entered without inspection often cannot adjust inside the country, even when married to a citizen. Waivers and other tools exist for that situation. We explain it more often than anything else on this page.

Conditional residence and removing conditions

If your marriage was less than two years old when you became a resident, your green card is conditional and valid for two years. You must file to remove the conditions in the 90 day window before it expires.

Ordinarily this is filed jointly with your spouse. If the marriage has ended, or if there was abuse, you may be able to file alone. People in that situation often believe they have no options. Many of them do.

Naturalization

Most permanent residents can apply for citizenship after five years, or three years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen. The requirements also include continuous residence, physical presence, good moral character, and passing English and civics tests.

There are accommodations to the testing requirements for older applicants who have been permanent residents a long time, and for applicants with certain disabilities. Ask us whether one applies to you.