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Green Card Guide

A bilingual, source-backed guide to U.S. green card pathways, process stages, and support levels so newcomers can orient themselves before chasing case-specific details.

See whether this guide has checklist coverageSee coverage for all 48 pathways

This guide is informational only and is not legal advice. Consult a qualified immigration attorney for advice specific to your case.

Start here

Choose the entry point that matches how much you already know. Use pathways and guides for orientation first, then use checklist support only when you know the route and process you actually need.

  1. I do not know my pathway yetStart with pathway families if you are still figuring out the legal basis for the case.
  2. I know the route, but not the process stageUse the process-guide hub for petition stage, adjustment of status, consular processing, NVC, timing, medicals, and related stages.
  3. I know my exact case and want checklist supportOnly use checklist support when you already know the route, the process, and the interview post if consular processing applies.

Browse by pathway family

The 48 immigrant-visa pathways are grouped into six official families. Start with the family that sounds closest to why the person may qualify.

Pathway familyFamily-based green cardFor spouses, parents, and children of U.S. citizens, and for certain relatives of lawful permanent residents. The largest category of green cards issued each year.Pathway familyEmployment-based green cardFor workers with extraordinary ability, advanced degrees, or job offers from U.S. employers. Divided into preference categories (EB-1 through EB-5), most of which are quota-controlled.Pathway familyOther green card categoriesAdditional pathways to permanent residence that do not fit into the major families above, including registry, persons born to foreign diplomats in the U.S., American Indians born in Canada, and the INA 245(i) filing overlay.Includes the diversity visa route.Pathway familyHumanitarian green cardFor those who have been granted protection in the United States, including refugees, asylees, Cuban/Haitian parolees, and other humanitarian beneficiaries, who are eligible to adjust to permanent residence.Pathway familySpecial immigrant green cardCongressional special categories including Afghan and Iraqi employees of the U.S. government (SIV), special immigrant juveniles (SIJ), religious workers, NATO employees, broadcasters, and others. Most use adjustment of status.Pathway familyConditional residence and removal of conditionsIf you received a conditional green card, either through marriage to a U.S. citizen or as an EB-5 investor, you must file to remove the conditions before your 2-year conditional residence expires.

Other ways in

Already have a sense of the stage or artifact? Jump directly to a process guide or a reference surface.

Process guides

Orientation pages that explain how each process stage usually works. Not exact-case execution pages.

Browse all process guides

Reference surfaces

About this guide

Key things to know

Core guides and broad support surfaces were editorially reviewed between April 14, 2026 and April 19, 2026. Dynamic topics such as consulate instructions, NVC operations, medical logistics, and visa-availability movement still need live official confirmation before you act on them.

This site is not legal advice. It is an informational guide built from official public immigration sources. Use it to orient yourself, then verify dynamic or high-risk requirements with the controlling official instructions.