Immigration & Visas
3guides
Permanent residence, and the road to a US passport.
Getting a green card (permanent residence)There are three realistic routes: a family member, an employer, or the diversity lottery. Waits range from months to well over a decade depending on the category and your country of birth.
Becoming a US citizen (naturalisation)Most permanent residents can apply after five years — three if married to a US citizen. It means an application, an interview, and English and civics tests.
Keeping your green card — travel, taxes and renewalPermanent residence can be lost. Long stays abroad, unfiled taxes or simply behaving like you live elsewhere can all be read as abandoning your status — and the airport is where it surfaces.