What is the timeline for acquiring a green card?
The timeline for acquiring a green card, also known as lawful permanent residence in Maryland, varies depending on an individual’s immigrant status and situation. For U.S. citizens, the spouse of a U.S. citizen, or a child under 21, the process can be completed in as little as six months. Other family-based green card categories, such as married children of U.S. citizens, siblings of U.S. citizens, and other extended family members of a U.S. citizen, can take between 12 and 18 months to process. Individuals applying for a green card through employment must follow a longer timeline. Employment-based green cards are divided into five preference categories, each with its own processing timeline. For instance, priority workers, including certain investors, can be granted a green card in as little as three months, while individuals applying for an employment-based fifth preference visa, such as religious workers, must wait between six and nine years for a green card. Individuals without a family or employment connection to the U.S. may be eligible for a green card through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. To be eligible, individuals must be nationals of certain countries and be selected at random through a lottery system. If selected, an individual must complete visa paperwork within one year before being granted a green card. Overall, the timeline to acquire a green card can vary drastically depending on an individual’s situation. It is best to consult an immigration attorney if uncertain about the process.
THELAW.TV ofrece respuestas en español a todas las preguntas sobre la ley de inmigración.La tarjeta verde, también conocida como una tarjeta de residencia permanente, es un documento oficial que otorga a un extranjero el derecho de permanecer y trabajar en los Estados Unidos. El proceso para obtener una tarjeta verde puede variar de acuerdo al estado en el que se encuentre el solicitante, particularmente el estado de Maryland. En Maryland, el tiempo estimado para adquirir una tarjeta verde es en promedio de 8 a 10 meses. El proceso generalmente comienza cuando un extranjero solicita una tarjeta verde a través de su servicio de inmigración local, ya sea a través del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) o el Servicio de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de los Estados Unidos (USCIS). Después de enviar la solicitud, el solicitante debe esperar a recibir una carta de confirmación. Una vez recibida la carta, el solicitante debe presentar una entrevista de inmigración para demostrar que cumplen con los requisitos para recibir una tarjeta verde. Esta entrevista generalmente se programa entre 1 y 2 meses después de enviar la solicitud. Si el solicitante es aprobado durante la entrevista, recibirá una tarjeta de residencia permanente dentro de los siguientes 2 a 4 meses. El tiempo total estimado para recibir una tarjeta verde en Maryland es de 8 a 10 meses. Esto se debe al proceso de verificación gradual que debe completar el solicitante antes de recibir una tarjeta verde. Si el solicitante cumple con todos los requisitos, debe poder recibir una tarjeta verde dentro de los 10 meses posteriores a la solicitud.
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