Routes into permanent residence
Most people become permanent residents through a family petition or an employer, while others arrive through refugee or asylum status, the diversity lottery, or narrower programs. Whichever route applies, there are two ways to finish: adjusting status with USCIS while you are inside the United States, or applying for an immigrant visa at a consulate abroad. Which one is open to you often turns on how you last entered and what has happened since, and recent USCIS policy calls for closer discretionary review of adjustment inside the country. Many categories also carry a wait set by the State Department's Visa Bulletin, and that line can move slowly for some countries and categories. Spouses in a recent marriage receive a conditional card first and must later ask to have the conditions removed.
Holding on to residence once you have it
A green card is permanent in name, but the status can be lost. Extended time abroad can lead an officer to question whether you gave up your residence, and a reentry permit obtained before a long absence can help. Certain criminal convictions can make a permanent resident deportable, including some that seem minor under state law. An expired card does not usually end your status by itself, though renewing it avoids trouble with employers and travel. Tax filings that describe you as a nonresident can also raise questions later.
What we review with you
Bring your card or approval notice, your passport and travel dates, and any court papers, even for matters that were dismissed or sealed. For a first-time applicant we look at which route fits, how you entered, and whether any past violation might need a waiver. For a current resident we look at what is driving the concern, whether it is travel, a pending criminal case, or a plan to apply for citizenship. A criminal case still open should be reviewed for its immigration effect before any plea, because that analysis is separate from the criminal one. We tell you what we see in your record and what remains uncertain, without predicting how an officer will decide.
