Can I Get a Green Card after Being in the US for 10 Years?
A US Green Card is one of the most well-known, sought-after and frequently-issued immigration documents in the world.
The United States Government issues over one million Green Cards every year.
About 500,000 Green Cards each year are given to immigrants who are moving to the USA as new permanent residents of the United States.
Around 500,000 Green Cards are also granted to temporary legal residents already living in the USA through “adjustment of status” to lawful permanent resident (LPR).
Getting a green card is an important step toward permanent residency in the United States. Many people who have been living and working in the US for a long time may wonder if they are eligible to apply for a green card. If you have been in the US for 10 years or more, you may be wondering if you can get a green card. In this article, we will explore the eligibility criteria for obtaining a green card after being in the US for 10 years and the steps you need to take to apply. Understanding the requirements and process can help you determine if you are eligible to apply and provide you with guidance on how to move forward with your green card application.
Table of Contents
What Is a Green Card?
A Green Card is officially known as a United States Permanent Resident Card.
This hard plastic card is a light-green color, which is why it is commonly called a Green Card, and it is issued to US permanent residents by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
The Green Card is an official identification card carried by US permanent residents, which contains their photo and key information, and it is used for a variety of purposes such as:
- identification and proof of lawful permanent resident (LPR) status in the US
- opening a bank account, applying for a loan or credit card, etc.
- applying to a college, university or other US educational institution
- applying for federal financial aid to help pay for US education programs
- applying for jobs in the USA as proof of authorization to live and work in the US
- entering the United States after traveling abroad
A Green Card is normally valid for 10 years and it can be renewed indefinitely for 10 years each time, as long as the US permanent resident continues to comply with the Green Card regulations.
Green Card holders can enjoy many benefits including:
- living in the USA in any of the 50 states for an unlimited amount of time
- authorization to work in the US in any of the 50 states
- being able to enroll in US education programs (e.g., college, university, etc.)
- applying for federal financial aid to help pay for US education programs
- opportunities to buy a home and start a business in the United States
- traveling to and from the USA (as long as residency requirements are maintained)
- sponsoring eligible family members for US permanent residency
- having equality and many freedoms which are protected by law
- enjoying beautiful outdoor scenery, including beaches, forests, mountains, lakes, etc.
- endless choices for consumer products and services at competitive prices
- applying for American citizenship after living in the US 5 years and meeting other criteria
How Do I Get a Green Card?
There are several ways to get a Green Card including:
- Sponsorship by a close family member who is a US citizen or permanent resident
- Employment-Based Green Cards issued to various categories of foreign workers
- Asylum-Seeker after living in the USA for one year with official asylum status
- Refugee after living in the USA for one year with official refugee status
- H-1B Visa Holder through adjustment of status after living in the USA six years
- Diversity Visa Lottery Winner after passing the consular process successfully
Can I Get a Green Card after Being in the US for 10 Years?
You can get a Green Card after being in the US for 10 years legally if you qualify for one of the Green Card categories and complete the application process successfully; however, it generally does not take 10 years to become a Green Card holder.
Some countries require a temporary legal resident to live in the country for a minimum number of years before applying for permanent residence or settlement. Still, it works differently regarding becoming a US permanent resident Green Card holder.
In order to get a Green Card, an applicant generally must satisfy the eligibility requirements for one of the Green Card categories (such as Family Sponsorship, Employment-Based, Diversity Visa Program, etc.).
Temporary legal residents already living in the USA can apply for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident (LPR) after living in the US for a certain number of years such as:
- Asylum-Seekers can apply for a Green Card after living in the US 1 year with asylum status
- Refugees can apply for a Green Card after living in the US 1 year with refugee status
- H-1B Work Visa holders can apply for a Green Card after living in the USA for 6 years
Living in the USA without a Green Card
There are many ways for living in the USA without a Green Card by receiving a non-immigrant US Visa which is valid for a limited amount of time and may have the option to be renewed.
Examples of non-immigrant US Visas to live in the USA without a Green Card include the:
- Student Visa – usually valid for the duration of the education program in the US
- H-1B Work Visa – issued for 3 years and it can be renewed for another 3 years
- E-1 Treaty Trader Work Visa – issued for 2 years and it can be renewed for 2 years
- E-2 Treaty Investor Work Visa – issued for 2 years and it can be renewed for 2 years
- I-Work Visa for International Media – usually valid for the duration of US assignment
- L-1A and L-1B Work Visas – issued for 1-3 years and can be renewed for 2 years
- O-1A and O-1B Work Visas – issued for 1-3 years and can be renewed for up to 1 year
Conclusion
You can see why millions of people worldwide want to get a Green Card.
A Permanent Resident Green Card gives you almost all of the same benefits as a US citizen, plus it provides you with the opportunity to become an American citizen after living in the USA for 5 years and satisfying other criteria.
It usually takes less than 10 years to get a Green Card to live, study and work in the USA for an unlimited period of time.
How many years to get a Green Card in the USA depends on which Green Card category you are applying for and other factors.
There are several different pathways to getting a Green Card, including family sponsorship, employment, asylum or refugee status, and the Diversity Visa (Green Card) Lottery Program.
Other ways to live in the USA for a limited amount of time include student visas and temporary work visas.
USAFIS can provide you with a US Visa Assessment to let you know if you qualify to apply for one of the Green Card categories or a temporary non-immigrant US Visa.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Is it easy to get a Green Card in the USA?
It is a rather complex and lengthy process to get a Green Card; however, over one million immigrants succeed to become new US Permanent Resident Green Card holders every year. One of the biggest challenges is to know which Green Card pathway is right for you. Once you know which Green Card pathway to take, then the most difficult part is simply filing all of the forms correctly with the necessary documents and waiting for the US government to make its decision.
Do I need to live in the US if I want to get the Green Card?
No – You can apply to get a Green Card in the USA as a temporary legal resident or you can apply for a Green Card from outside of the United States. Every year, around 500,000 temporary legal residents get a Green Card in the USA through adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident (LPR), whereas about 500,000 immigrants per year get a Green Card when they move to America as new US permanent residents.
Is a Green Card valid forever?
Your US permanent resident status is for an unlimited amount of time as long as you continue to comply with the criteria for permanent residency (for example, file your taxes in the US each year, obey the law, do not stay outside of the US for too long, etc.). The Green Card is usually valid for 10 years, which is a long time, and it can be renewed for 10 years at a time indefinitely for as long as you comply with the regulations. After you have been living in the US as a permanent resident for 5 years and you meet all of the eligibility criteria, you have the option to apply to become an American citizen through the “naturalization” process.
How long can you stay in America without a Green Card?
The amount of time you can stay in America without a Green Card depends on which type of temporary non-immigrant US Visa you have. For example, a Visitor Visa allows you to stay in America for up to six months at a time; a Student Visa generally lets you live in the USA for the duration of your studies; and a Work Visa permits you to live and work in the US for about 1-6 years, depending on which Work Visa you have and other factors. The E-1 Treaty Trader Work Visa and E-2 Treaty Investor Work Visa are issued for 2 years and can be renewed for 2 years as many times as you want (indefinitely) as long as you satisfy the criteria. The I-Work Visa for international media (such as foreign reporters) is normally valid for the duration of assignment in the US. The H-1B Work Visa is valid for 3 years, it can be renewed for 3 years (for a total of 6 years maximum) and it has an option to apply for a Green Card at the end of the 6 years.
Can you get a Green Card in 2 years?
Yes, it is possible to get a Green Card in 2 years, depending on which Green Card category you apply for, how quickly you can complete the application process and provide all of the required documents, whether you need a sponsoring US employer (and how long it takes you to get a US job offer) and how fast the US Embassy in your country and/or USCIS can process your application. If you were fortunate enough to be randomly selected as a winner of the Diversity Visa (Green Card) Lottery the first time you participated, and if you completed the consular process successfully, you could get a Green Card in 2 years (it usually takes several years of participating in the annual Green Card Lottery before an individual is randomly selected as a winner, but some people do win the first time they participate).
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