How many kinds of green cards are there in America?

People with different identities apply for American green cards in different ways.

1, from enrollment to getting a green card

For most people studying in the United States, in order to get a green card, the general practice is to find a job after studying in the United States, change their F- 1 student status to H- 1B employment status with their employers, and then apply for a work permit from the Ministry of Labor through their employers. After the work permit is approved, apply to the Immigration Bureau for immigration with the priority of the second kind of occupation. Apply for a green card after the immigration application is passed.

His professional work and achievements show that his application for immigration to the United States conforms to the interests of the United States in economy, society, environment, culture and medical care. Individuals with special abilities can be exempted from national interests and do not need to apply for a work permit from the Ministry of Labor.

Some people with F- 1 student visas can apply for immigration in this way, whether they are teaching assistants or doing postdoctoral research.

2. green card application for class j visa

Visiting scholars with J- 1 visas to the United States must return to their own country to live and work for two years after completing the scheduled study and research projects in the United States before they can apply for permanent residence status in the United States, which limits the ways for such people to obtain permanent residence status to some extent.

However, such people can apply for immigration in the following three ways:

(1) "Extraordinary person" can apply to the Immigration Bureau through the first priority person;

(2) People with special talents or high education can apply to the Immigration Bureau for immigration through "national interest exemption";

(3) Apply to the Immigration Bureau for exemption from the two-year residence restriction.

Of course, you can also go back to China for two years and then enter the United States as an immigrant.

3. green card l visa application

Holders of American L- 1 visas can apply to the Immigration Bureau according to the first priority category among professional immigrants, without applying for a labor card from the Ministry of Labor. Immigration procedures and processes are simple and the time required is much faster.

L- 1 visa belongs to the manager or senior manager of a branch or other type of company established by a foreign company in the United States. Generally speaking, as long as this American branch has been operating continuously for more than one year, it can apply for a green card for L- 1 visa holders, including managers of foreign parent companies. The parent-subsidiary relationship does not need to exist for a period of time in advance. For example, an American company has been in business for one year, and now it is wholly or partially acquired by a China company (some acquisitions need to be "effectively controlled"). The acquired American company can immediately apply for the manager green card of this company in China. It doesn't matter whether the applicant has L- 1 status or how long he has been in the United States as L- 1.

The business volume of American subsidiaries will have some impact on the applicant's immigration application. If the business amount exceeds 500 or 654.38+00,000 USD, the probability of approval is high. The most important factor is to prove to the Immigration Bureau that the foreign parent company or American branch is in normal operation, and the American branch must also prove its long-term financial ability to operate in the United States, including turnover, profit, tax payment, number of employees and workers, etc.

All L- 1 visa holders who meet the above conditions can apply for permanent residency directly to the Immigration Bureau. Usually, the Immigration Bureau will approve their applications after two or three months.

4. People with special abilities apply for green cards.

For people with special abilities and some highly educated people, no matter what kind of non-immigrant visa they hold, they can apply for immigration directly through the way of "national interest exemption". As long as you have a master's degree or above and some scientific research results testify, you can apply for immigration directly to the Immigration Bureau.

If these people cite "national interests and letters of recommendation" through professional immigration lawyers, the thesis is a hard indicator of special ability, and the writing skills of letters of recommendation are also the key link to success, especially those who have achieved concrete results in their research but have not had time to publish them, and need to rely on the role of letters of recommendation. For some highly educated students at school, this program can also be used to apply for green cards in advance.

If you get a green card and become a permanent resident of the United States, you will automatically become a taxpayer in the United States and must declare all your income to the United States government. The "1040 tax return" in the United States must be submitted before April 15 every year. Failure to enforce American tax laws is considered a crime. If it is proved that it violates the tax law, the green card will be revoked.

There is no provision to regularly check whether foreigners maintain their legal permanent residence status after obtaining permanent residency. In recent years, many China people from Hongkong and Taiwan Province have applied to immigrate to the United States. But when they get green cards and become permanent residents, they want to go back to their original places to work or develop.

Under normal circumstances, permanent residents (green card holders) can re-enter the country with a green card as long as they have been abroad for less than one year. However, if they leave the country for more than one year, their green cards will not be enough to ensure their re-entry, and their green cards may be confiscated upon entry. Before leaving the country, green card holders should apply to the US Immigration Bureau for re-entry permit if the expected departure time is more than one year. The re-entry permit can be valid for two years after departure. If the person concerned does not return to the United States within two years, he can only return to the United States after applying for a "special immigrant" visa to the American consulate overseas.

The Immigration Bureau will consider the following factors to determine whether the applicant really wants to retain the permanent resident status in the United States, including: the length of departure, the purpose and motivation of departure, whether to continue to file tax returns as a resident, and the supporting documents for maintaining relations with the United States (such as real estate license, bank statement, credit card, valid driver's license, etc.). ), the location of the applicant's relatives and family members, the nature and place of the applicant's work, etc.

Green card holders who intend to become American citizens must understand that re-entry permits can keep their green cards, but they cannot shorten the time required to apply for naturalization, including the legal residence time and actual residence time. At the same time, at the time of naturalization, the applicant must have lived in the United States for at least half of the past five years.

In order to maintain the right of permanent residence, it must be proved by objective actions. The following specific actions can be used for reference:

(1) Buying real estate in the United States;

(2) apply for an American bank account;

(3) Keep American driver's license and credit card;

(4) Family members or relatives should settle in the United States as much as possible;

(5) Try to find a job in the United States;

(6) filing tax returns as a permanent resident, proving that he has fulfilled his obligations to American society as a permanent resident of the United States. American permanent residents working overseas will calculate the declared tax according to a certain proportion according to the number of days they stay overseas. According to the US tax law, American permanent residents can get a tax-free annual income of $70,000 if they work overseas. American permanent residents working overseas should fill in the 1040 form and the 1 1 16 form to calculate how much income is tax-free;

(7) Establish as many relationships as possible in the United States and join various social groups, alliances, clubs, etc. ;

(8) Go back to the United States often, even if it is a short stay.

For foreign citizens who immigrate to the United States, if they want to return to China or visit other countries within five years after entering the country, there are four different entry and exit documents due to different deadlines.

(1) entrance and exit filling. Before obtaining a permanent residence certificate, new immigrants can obtain a temporary entry-exit visa with the original passport stamped. This kind of seal is an entry permit stamped by the immigration officer at the port when immigrants enter the country, allowing the holder to enter and leave the United States within six months or one year with this certificate.

(2) The proof of permanent residence is a green card. If you can come back after leaving the United States for less than one year, you can use this certificate to enter and leave the country.

(3) Re-entry permit. Foreign nationals who want to leave the United States for more than one year should apply to the Immigration Bureau for a "re-entry permit" three months before leaving the United States. This credit is generally valid for two years and can be extended for one year if necessary. Holders of re-entry permits do not need to apply for visas when they intend to return to the United States after traveling or doing business abroad.

When applying for re-entry permit, the applicant should go to the local immigration office to get the I- 13 1 form or call the immigration office to get it, and ask the immigration office to send the I- 13 1 form to the applicant. I- 13 1 is a form specially used to apply for re-entry permit. On the form, you should carefully indicate the number on your foreign permanent residence registration certificate (green card), when and where you expect to leave the United States, the country you are going to, and how long you will leave the United States.

Submit the completed I- 13 1 form to the immigration office, and attach two color photos. It is best to apply at least 1 month before the scheduled departure, because it usually takes several months to be approved, but the applicant does not have to wait for the re-entry permit to leave the United States. The applicant can indicate on the application form that he can go to the embassy of that country to collect the re-entry permit.