How to Get a Green Card

<b>The ultimate green card guide</b><p>The U.S. immigration system is an enormous bureaucracy, so it’s vital that you understand it before attempting to apply for a green card. Making a mistake can lead to delays and other hassles or even ruin your chances for success.<p><i>How to Get a Green Card</i> provides everything you need to know about qualifying for permanent U.S. residence if you don’t have an employer sponsoring you.<p> Find out how to work with U.S. officials and prepare and present the right documents at the right time to get a green card through:<p><ul><li>parents, siblings, or adult children </li><li>your spouse or fiancé </li><li>green card lotteries (diversity visa)</li><li>political asylum or refugee status </li><li>U visas, and</li><li>other categories.</li></ul><p>The 13th edition covers the wind-down of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and other new restrictions and procedural changes. It also includes samples of all the key application forms, updates on all required sponsor income levels, and more.</p></p></p></p></p>

Ilona Bray, J.D. is an award-winning author and legal editor at Nolo, specializing in immigration law, real estate, and nonprofit fundraising. Many of her books are consistent Nolo bestsellers, among them Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits, U.S. Immigration Made Easy, and Nolo's Essential Guide to Buying Your First Home. She particularly enjoys interviewing people and weaving their stories into her books.
Bray's working background includes solo practice, nonprofit, and corporate stints, as well as long periods of volunteering, including an internship at Amnesty International's main legal office in London. She received her law degree and a Master's degree in East Asian (Chinese) Studies from the University of Washington. In her spare time she enjoys writing children’s books, going to open houses, and gardening.

Loida Nicolas Lewis is a former INS attorney with over 15 years’ experience handling U.S. immigration matters. Co-author of How to Get a Green Card, she is licensed to practice law in both New York and the Philippines.

Kristina Gasson is a Massachusetts attorney who represents immigrants in visa, green card, and removal matters, and is a contributing editor at Nolo.com.