USCIS lists several broad ways to become a permanent resident: through family, through employment, as a special immigrant, through refugee or asylee status, as a victim of certain crimes, through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, and under a few other categories. Which one applies depends on the person’s situation, and each has its own rules and forms.
Quick answer
| Route | Examples given by USCIS |
|---|---|
| Family | Spouse, unmarried child under 21, or parent of a U.S. citizen; certain other relatives; fiance(e) of a U.S. citizen; widow(er); VAWA self-petitioners |
| Employment | Immigrant workers (first, second, or third preference), physician national interest waiver, immigrant investor |
| Special immigrant | Religious workers, special immigrant juveniles, certain Afghan or Iraqi nationals, international broadcasters, international organization employees |
| Refugee or asylee | Asylum granted, or admission as a refugee, at least one year ago |
| Victims of trafficking and crime | Holders of T or U nonimmigrant status |
| Other | Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, Cuban Adjustment Act, registry, and several smaller programs |
The summary follows the USCIS page on Green Card eligibility categories. The page also lists categories for victims of abuse and several narrow programs that are not all repeated here.
How the page is organized
USCIS says that to apply for a Green Card, a person must fit one of the listed categories. Each category links to its own page with the requirements, the application steps, and information on family members. The list is therefore a starting point for finding the right page, and it does not replace the page for the chosen category.
Family
USCIS describes immediate relatives of a U.S. citizen as the spouse, an unmarried child under 21, or a parent who is at least 21. Other relatives of citizens, and spouses and children of permanent residents, fall under the family preference categories. The page also lists the fiance(e) of a U.S. citizen, a widow(er) who was married to a U.S. citizen at the time of death, and self-petitioners under the Violence Against Women Act.
The family preference group is split in two. For relatives of a U.S. citizen, USCIS lists unmarried sons or daughters who are 21 or older, married sons or daughters, and brothers or sisters who are at least 21. For relatives of a lawful permanent resident, it lists spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried sons or daughters who are 21 or older. The fiance(e) route uses the K-1 and K-2 nonimmigrant classifications, for the fiance(e) and the fiance(e)’s child.
Employment
An immigrant worker falls within the first, second, or third preference, which USCIS ties to extraordinary ability, advanced degrees, or skilled, professional, or other work. The page gives more detail for each preference:
- First preference: extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics; outstanding professors or researchers; and certain multinational managers or executives.
- Second preference: members of professions requiring an advanced degree, people with exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business, and those seeking a national interest waiver.
- Third preference: skilled workers with at least two years of training or experience, professionals with at least a U.S. bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent, and unskilled workers with less than two years of training or experience.
A physician who agrees to full-time clinical practice in a designated underserved area for a set period may qualify for a national interest waiver. An immigrant investor must invest at least $1,050,000, or $800,000 in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project, in a new U.S. commercial enterprise that creates full-time jobs for at least 10 qualifying employees. The codes USCIS uses for employment-based categories are explained in Green Card category codes E36, E37, and E19.
Special immigrants
USCIS lists religious workers, special immigrant juveniles, certain translators and interpreters who worked for the U.S. government, international broadcasters, and retired employees of eligible international organizations or NATO, along with eligible family members. A religious worker is described as a member of a religious denomination coming to work for a nonprofit religious organization. A special immigrant juvenile is a juvenile who needs juvenile court protection because of parental abuse, abandonment, or neglect.
Refugees and asylees
A person who was granted asylum, or admitted as a refugee, at least one year ago can apply under these categories.
Trafficking and crime victims
USCIS lists human trafficking victims who currently hold a T nonimmigrant visa and crime victims who currently hold a U nonimmigrant visa.
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program
A person selected in the Department of State’s diversity visa lottery can apply for a Green Card under the diversity category. Selection comes from a random drawing, and the entry rules are published each year by the Department of State. See how the Diversity Visa lottery works.
Other categories
The page lists the Cuban Adjustment Act, a category for certain Liberian nationals, dependents under HRIFA, Lautenberg parolees, the Indochinese Parole Adjustment Act of 2000, American Indians born in Canada, a category for certain people born in the United States to foreign government employees, diplomats unable to return home, and registry for people who have lived continuously in the United States since before January 1, 1972. For the Liberian category, USCIS refers to continuous physical presence in the United States since November 20, 2014. The page notes that a court injunction currently affects implementation of one related rule.
Inside the United States or abroad
A person who is in the United States and fits an eligible category may be able to apply for a Green Card without leaving, a process described in adjustment of status. A person abroad generally obtains the immigrant visa through the U.S. embassy or consulate.
Frequently asked questions
Can someone apply under more than one category?
USCIS lists some categories, such as VAWA self-petitioners, under more than one heading, but whether a person can pursue several routes depends on the case. USCIS or a licensed attorney can answer that.
Is the lottery one of the categories?
Yes. USCIS lists the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program among the other categories.
Do all categories have the same waiting time?
No. Waiting times depend on the category and on visa availability, which is tracked through the Department of State Visa Bulletin.
Does this list cover every case?
No. It condenses a long USCIS page. The page itself has the full wording.
Does the immigrant investor category have a minimum investment?
Yes. USCIS names at least $1,050,000, or $800,000 in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project, plus job creation for at least 10 qualifying employees.
Related reading
- Adjustment of status: applying from inside the United States
- Green Card category codes E36, E37, and E19
- How the Diversity Visa lottery works
- All Green Card basics guides
About this guide
This website is for information only. It is not affiliated with the U.S. government, does not give legal advice or consultations, and does not offer application services. A personal case belongs with USCIS or a licensed immigration attorney, and the current official pages control.
Last verified: October 2026. Sources: USCIS page on Green Card eligibility categories.