Immigrants who live in Kentucky can get a green card in three different ways. However, none of these ways is 100 percent guaranteed. The three main ways are employment, marriage, or family ties. In addition, there is a legal process the person must go through, and it is best for you if you are an immigrant to contact an experienced immigration lawyer to guide you. A green card is not easy to obtain if one of the three factors is missing. It depends on the reason the immigrant is in America. Once they get the green card, they can work their way to becoming a citizen of the United States of America.
What Is a Green Card, and What Is It Used For?
A green card is for immigrants who come to America and wish to become permanent residents. It is a permanent resident card and is used as an identity document that shows they live in America legally. The green card could be compared to a regular ID card for any US citizen, but this card keeps track of all immigrants.
Having a green card allows the immigrant five years living in America as a permanent resident before they can apply for citizenship. After that, they must prove they are of good moral character and have resided in America the entire time. There are many times immigrants may have trouble getting a green card, and risk may follow after they get the card. This is when it is best to have an attorney that is trusted. Those who are in the country and have green cards are considered legal immigrants. Those in this country and do not have a green card or a passport are known and labeled as undocumented migrants. Once again, legal assistance can help stop the process of deportation.
The Primary Reasons for a Green Card
As mentioned in the beginning, employment, marriage, or family ties are the primary reasons immigrants need to fill out an application for a green card. The American dream is to live a better life than what some immigrants have lived in their country. Some are third-world countries where a lot of necessities go by the wayside. Many people come to America to start a new life, and in doing so, the first thing they need is a job after getting a green card. Their job is what will support them and their families during their time here in America.
When it comes to marriage, the immigrant may be married to a US citizen. This stipulation allows the spouse to remain with their partner. The spousal immigrant must oblige by all the immigration rules until they become a US citizen.
Last is the family ties the immigrant has in America. Some are children with parents or other relatives over here. The last thing our country wants to do is separate families. However, this often happens because sometimes there are no records of the family in America. To those with legit family members who are spouses here in America, the chances are better for them to obtain a green card.
How Can a Lawyer Help?
There are several ways a lawyer may step in. It depends on the situation. Not all immigrants are here for the same reason. One may be in search of something while another is only trying something new. An attorney can guide the individuals with the application process. There is also a waiting period, which the lawyer can explain too.
However, there may be times when the case or situation can escalate, and the immigrant may be detained by ICE. Legal attorneys can stop the process of deportation if their client is seeking legal help. Speaking with an attorney who knows and understands the immigration laws is critical, significantly if ICE has already stepped in. ICE can be intimidating, but it is essential to know and understand that much can get done with an advocate, maybe even drop the charges the immigrant faces. ICE is only doing their job and doing what they are told to protect America. Everyone realizes what it is to have to wait until the last minute.
The Application Process
Over the years, the application process has become easier to obtain green cards. The immigrant will need a US Citizen to speak on their behalf, and these are the allowed speakers:
- Unmarried children or spouses that are below the age of 21.
- Parents of the children.
- Married daughters or sons.
- Unmarried Child over 21.
- A Brother or a sister if they are 21 or older.
All background is looked into from previous countries. Those with legal assistance may see their green cards within six months. The longest recorded was a ten-year wait due to no reason for being here.