The U.S. Green Card

Oui Immigration participated in the “Maison de l’Expatriation” event organized in New York on October 16 by Le Petit Journal. With an audience mostly composed of French people who have been living in the U.S. for a few months or years, we focused our presentation on how to extend their stay in the U.S., particularly by applying for a Green Card.

Here is a written summary, and below you’ll find the link to the recorded conference, which also provides information on U.S. naturalization and the possibility of returning to France with a non-French family.

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THE GREEN CARD

Certainly one of the most recognized immigration documents worldwide, the Green Card is a permit for permanent work/residence. While it can be obtained through the lottery, there are also three main ways to apply for it:

• • Through family sponsorship
  • Through employment
  • Through investment

1. Through Family Sponsorship

A U.S. citizen or permanent resident (current Green Card holder) must sponsor the applicant.

U.S. citizens can sponsor their spouse (immediate family), unmarried children under 21 (immediate family), unmarried children over 21 (F1 category), married children of any age (F3 category), parents (if the citizen is at least 21 years old – immediate family), and siblings (if the citizen is at least 21 years old – F4 category).

Permanent residents can sponsor their spouse (F2A category), unmarried children under 21 (F2A category), and unmarried children over 21 (F2B category).

The category type mainly affects the quotas and waiting times. The processing time for a Green Card can be lengthy, so planning ahead to gather documents, prepare a strong application, and await a response from authorities is essential.

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2. Through Employment

Through sponsorship by a U.S. employer, various employment-based Green Card categories exist. The main ones are:

EB1: Individuals with extraordinary abilities (science, arts, business, sports)

EB2: Skilled workers (Master’s/Ph.D. degree, or exceptional abilities in science, business, arts)

EB3: Skilled workers, professionals (Bachelor’s degree), and other unskilled workers

Most EB1 and EB2 categories require sponsorship by a U.S. employer and a formal job offer. However, the National Interest Waiver (NIW) allows some candidates to bypass this requirement if they can prove their work benefits the United States significantly.

For EB3, sponsorship from a U.S. employer and a valid job offer are also required. The PERM (Program Electronic Review Management) process is often necessary, which requires the employer to conduct a labor market test. The employer must demonstrate that no qualified American worker is available for the job and that hiring the foreign worker will not negatively impact wages or working conditions for similarly employed American workers.

After this, the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) reviews the application to confirm the job’s legitimacy, the candidate’s qualifications, and the employer’s financial ability to support the employee.

Finally, the candidate must wait for a visa number to become available, which will allow them to continue the process either through a U.S. consulate or directly in the U.S. via status adjustment.

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3. Through Investment

The EB-5 program is a unique way to obtain a Green Card by investing directly in the U.S. economy. Created by Congress in 1990, this program aims to stimulate the economy by attracting foreign investors who can create or preserve jobs for American workers.

EB-5 Program Requirements:

• • Qualified Investment: The investor must make a minimum investment of $1.5 million in a for-profit commercial enterprise or $800,000 if the investment is made in a rural area or high-unemployment area.
  • Job Creation: The investment must create or preserve at least 10 direct or indirect jobs within two years of obtaining the Green Card.
  • Conditional Permanent Residency: The investor and their immediate family (spouse and children under 21) can obtain conditional permanent residence for two years, renewable if the investment and job creation requirements are met.

This program is a strategic opportunity for investors looking to establish themselves in the United States while supporting local economic development.

Oui Immigration is available for any immigration matters, whether corporate or personal, for France or anywhere in the world!

Link to the online conference: Immigration aux Etats-Unis – Should I stay or should I go ?