St. Cloud Green Card Lawyer

Helping Immigrants Obtain Permanent Residency in the U.S.

If your goal is to live in the U.S. permanently, you’ll need to successfully complete the green card application process. As you might imagine, this isn’t easy to do alone, as this country’s immigration laws are complex. That’s why you should hire a St. Cloud immigration attorney to provide legal support as you pursue lawful permanent residency in the U.S.

When you contact SRR Law Group LLC for help with immigration law, you’ll work with a compassionate immigration attorney who is well-versed in various immigration issues, including obtaining permanent resident status. If you’re ready to discuss your immigration goals with a trusted St. Cloud green card attorney, contact us to schedule a consultation.

What Is a Green Card?

A green card is a document that proves you can live and work in this country indefinitely, unlike a non-immigrant visa that only allows you to stay in the U.S. temporarily. If your green card application is accepted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, you’ll receive a plastic card that features your name, photo, date of birth, country of origin, expiration date, and other important information.

You’re expected to keep your green card with you so you can prove that you have lawful permanent resident status, which means you can live here for as long as you’d like, travel internationally, and apply for jobs without requesting a work permit first. While green cards expire after ten years in most cases, this doesn’t mean your lawful permanent residency expires. It will remain in effect while you go through the simple process of renewing your green card so you can continue to prove your permanent resident status.

If you have questions about green cards or want to learn more about permanent residency, you should talk to an experienced immigration attorney who has helped countless clients become lawful permanent residents. We’d be happy to advise you on your options, so contact our Minnesota law firm today to speak with a knowledgeable attorney.

Why Should You Pursue Lawful Permanent Resident Status?

If you’re unsure if you should seek a green card, it’s helpful to know what advantages permanent residence can offer. In general, it gives you many of the rights that a U.S. citizen has, such as living in any state for as long as you’d like under the same laws that protect citizens.

You can also apply for college in the U.S., as well as any jobs that aren’t limited to U.S. citizens. In addition, permanent residence allows you to apply for certain government benefits, such as Social Security payments and food stamps.

If you have immediate family members outside of the U.S., being a lawful permanent resident makes you eligible to sponsor them for certain family-based immigration visas, making it easier for them to join you in the U.S. In the meantime, you can visit them since your green card makes it easy for you to travel internationally as long as you don’t leave the country for extended periods.

Among the most important benefits of green cards is the chance to apply for citizenship within years of being granted permanent residence. More specifically, most lawful permanent residents can apply for citizenship at least five years after receiving this immigrant visa. However, if you got your green card because you married a U.S. citizen, you may be eligible for naturalization after three years of living here.

While green cards feature several benefits, they have some limitations, which is why many permanent residents pursue the naturalization process to become citizens as soon as they’re eligible. For example, as a permanent resident, you cannot vote in federal elections, serve on a jury, or be eligible for specific federal government jobs. You also can’t receive some types of government benefits or petition for certain relatives to immigrate here unless you become a U.S. citizen. Fortunately, you’ll be granted these rights if you apply for naturalization after several years of maintaining a permanent residence.

Experienced St. Cloud immigration lawyers will ensure you know what benefits to look forward to when it comes to green cards, so call our Minnesota immigration law office to discuss your immigration matter with a trusted attorney.

Who Is Eligible for a Green Card?

If you’re considering applying for a green card, make sure you’re eligible for this type of immigrant visa first. There are several green card categories, and some require you to have a sponsor or prove that you meet specific criteria.

For example, if you have a spouse or close family member who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, they can likely sponsor you to immigrate using a family-based green card. Similarly, if you have job skills that would benefit U.S. employers, they can sponsor you to get an employment-based green card.

Some green cards are meant for immigrants who must stay in the U.S. for their safety. For example, if you’re a victim of human trafficking, domestic violence, or other types of criminal activity, and you’ve held your visa for the required period, you can secure your permanent residency.

Another way to get a green card is by achieving special immigrant status by you or your family. An example of this is a family member being in the military. Finally, if you’re from a nation that has very low immigration rates, you can enter the diversity visa lottery for a chance to be randomly chosen for an immigrant visa.

Skilled St. Cloud attorneys can determine what type of green card you’re eligible for and help prepare you for the application process. If you have questions about the wait times to expect, the residency requirement you must fulfill, and other details regarding your immigration case, contact our Minnesota law firm for answers.

How Can a St. Cloud Green Card Lawyer Help You?

If you’re interested in obtaining permanent residency in the U.S., you should reach out to experienced lawyers who have assisted countless clients with this and other legal processes. At SRR Law Group LLC, we know how confusing it can be to determine which visa to apply for and which forms to fill out and send to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This is why we work hard to give our clients the best chance of obtaining a successful outcome.

Whether you have immediate relatives willing to sponsor you or need to consider other ways to become a lawful permanent resident in the U.S., trusted lawyers can advise you throughout your case. We’re eager to help you navigate the complicated process of obtaining the immigrant visa that’s right for you, so call 507-580-7374 to schedule a meeting with a caring St. Cloud attorney at our law office.