Generally speaking, refugees are one of several groups the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) allows to adjust their status to permanent residents. So without further ado, please read on to discover how refugees may become eligible to obtain a green card and how one of the seasoned green card lawyers at Lupton Law LLC can help determine whether this is achievable given your set of circumstances.
How are refugees eligible to obtain a green card?
Not every United States refugee can get a green card and achieve permanent resident status. Rather, there are many hoops the USCIS requires refugees to jump through, so to speak. In other words, they may only be eligible if they meet all of the following criteria:
- They must have been admitted into the United States as a refugee under Section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
- They must have been physically present in the United States for at least one year after being admitted as a refugee.
- They must not have gotten their refugee status terminated at any point or already obtained permanent resident status.
- They must also meet the eligibility criteria for lawful permanent resident status or obtain a waiver of inadmissibility.
Who else is eligible to obtain a green card?
In addition to refugees, asylees may also be eligible to obtain a green card in the United States. Now, the difference between a refugee and an asylee is that a refugee is an individual who applies for protection from the United States while still outside the country. On the other hand, an asylee is an individual who seeks protection from the United States when they are already in the country or at one of its ports of entry.
Further, if you did not have refugee or asylee status, you may rest easy knowing you still have a chance at a green card. That is, the USCIS may also review your application for permanent residency if you fall under any of the following categories:
- You are the family member of a United States citizen or a permanent resident (i.e., a spouse, unmarried child under 21, parent of a citizen over 21, etc).
- You are a professional looking for employment in the United States (i.e., a person with an advanced degree, exceptional ability, skilled work, etc).
- You are a victim of abuse, trafficking, or crime (i.e., a U or T visa holder or person protected under the Violence Against Women Act).
- You are a winner of the diversity visa lottery (i.e., a person from a country with low immigration rates to the United States).
- You are a long-term resident who has lived continuously in the United States since before January 1, 1972.
If you need more clarity on the matter at hand, then please allow one of the competent green card lawyers to offer it to you. Schedule an appointment with Lupton Law LLC today.
