Green Cards

A green card is evidence of lawful permanent residence. People reach that status through family petitions, employment, humanitarian paths, and other routes Congress has written into the law. This topic gathers newsroom articles that explain those paths in ordinary language so you can see how the pieces fit before you file anything.

Wait times, forms, and interview practice vary by category and by country of birth. A marriage-based case does not move like an employment-based case. A person who already lives in the United States and can adjust status is not in the same process as someone who must consular process abroad. We do not list processing times on this page. When an article discusses timing, it is describing published information as of that article’s date, not a promise about your case.

Immigration Ascent is a division of Gillespie, Shields and Taylor. Content on this website may be considered attorney advertising under applicable rules. We do not guarantee approvals or a particular timeline. If you are sponsoring a spouse or relative, renewing a card, or asking an employer about a petition, use the related practice links and then contact us with your facts.