Understanding Green Cards in Washington, D.C.

Many people who initially come to live and work in the United States end up wanting to stay, while others know before they come that they want to move permanently to the United States.  The only legal way to become a lawful permanent resident, or LPR, is to acquire a green card. 

Washington, D.C. Green Cards

Generally, people qualify for green cards through:

• Family member petitions. A qualified family member petitions on your behalf for a green card.

• Employer petitions. An employer petitions on your behalf for a green card, on the basis that no U.S. citizen or LPR is available to take your specific job.

• Refugee or asylum status. Many refugees and asylees can self-petition for a green card, once they have lived long enough in the United States and demonstrated a good moral character.

• Diversity visa lottery. Held annually, the diversity visa lottery or green card lottery requires you to submit an application at a U.S. consulate in a foreign country.

• Other methods of acquiring a green card. The numerous other ways of acquiring a green card include service in the armed forces, green cards for certain refugees, and green cards for children of American citizens who are born abroad.

A qualified Washington, D.C. green card attorney can help you determine whether you qualify for a green card and, if so, which path to becoming an LPR makes the most sense given your specific situation.

Work with a green card lawyer in Washington, D.C.

Before you apply for a green card, contact a Washington, D.C. green card law firm to discuss how and when to apply.  Sometimes the timing matters—for example, if you have not been served with a notice to appear before an immigration judge, you will want to wait until your family-based green card or employer-based green card becomes available before alerting the Department of Homeland Security to your presence in the United States. 

People do not usually qualify for green cards if they have a record of crimes that the Department of Homeland Security deems crimes involving moral turpitude, if they belong or have belonged to certain anarchist or communist political groups, or if they participated in any acts of genocide.  If you think your only impediment to qualifying for a green card is a criminal record, consult with a green card attorney in Washington, D.C. right away.  Not all serious crimes fall into the crimes involving moral turpitude category, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ignores many minor crimes. 

Additionally, if enough time passes without further arrests or charges between when you were convicted of the crime and when you apply for a green card, Washington, D.C. green card attorneys can argue that you are rehabilitated and qualify for a green card.

Green card law firm in Washington, D.C.

With years of experience representing immigrants who wish to apply for a green card and become an LPR, the green card attorneys at Tobin, O’Connor & Ewing know how to help you present your case to the immigration officer and advocate for you if your case ends up before an immigration judge.  Call us today at (202) 536-3359 or email us today to set up an initial consultation with practiced, empathetic green card lawyers in Washington, D.C.