Getting a Green Card in the US can be quite difficult, especially for applicants from countries with high demand. Find out which ways to apply for a US residence permit will be the best in 2025

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A Green Card (Permanent Resident Card) is the key to living and working in the United States without visa restrictions, as well as to citizenship. The US immigration system allows foreigners to obtain a residence permit in the country in various ways. And although, at first glance, the procedure for obtaining a permit may be quite complicated, the simplest ways to obtain a Green Card will allow a foreigner to simplify moving to the United States.

Green Card Categories and Established Quotas

In the US immigration system, the ways to obtain a Green Card can be divided into two large groups:

1. Family ties

- Close relatives - this group includes spouses, children under the age of 21, and parents of US citizens over the age of 21. There are no quotas on the annual number of Green Cards for this group of foreigners.

- More distant relatives - include the rest of the family members. A limit of 226,000 visas has been established for this category of foreigners in 2025.

2. Employment-Based

Divided into visas from EB-1 to EB-5. The annual quota for this permit is 140,000. There is also a 7% limit for each state.

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The fastest ways to get a Green Card in the USA in 2025

1. Green Card for close relatives of US citizens

Spouses, children (under 21) and parents of US citizens over 21 are exempt from any restrictions on the number of permits issued, and therefore offer a fairly fast path to a Green Card within 1-3 years.

2. EB-5 Investor Visa Program

Candidates who invest at least $800,000 in an American business and create new jobs in the country can receive a residence permit on average in 1-3 years without any delays.

3. F2A Family Benefits

This category includes spouses, children, and unmarried sons or daughters of Green Card holders. Applications with priority dates prior to January 1, 2022 may be extended, offering a faster family route.

4. EB-1 Workers

The EB-1 visa is a work-based immigrant visa that allows foreigners with significant academic or professional achievement to immigrate to the United States. Expats who demonstrate exceptional skills in areas such as science, the arts, education, business, or sports can be granted permission.

The advantage is that not only the main applicant but also family members (spouse and children) receive a fast track to a green card.

5. EB-4 Special Immigrants

For religious figures, minors, US government employees abroad and members of the US Armed Forces, the EB-4 visa is available, providing a unique option with priority dates until January 1, 2021.

Documents for obtaining a Green Card in the USA

The standard package of documents for obtaining a Green Card in the USA includes:

- passport,

- birth certificate,

- proof of sufficient funds to obtain a visa,

- medical report,

- form I-485 (within the USA) or DS-260 (outside the USA).

Translations of all documents into English are mandatory.

Obtaining a green card opens up access to quality education, medicine and opportunities in the USA. However, the procedure for obtaining a permit in the USA in 2025 requires detailed planning, especially for applicants who come from countries that face long waiting times. However, by choosing expedited paths, such as the immediate relative visa or the EB-5 investor visa, applicants can significantly reduce delays.

As a reminder, applications for the Diversity Visa Lottery 2026 began on October 2, 2024 - a program under which the US government selects 55,000 winners each year and issues them with immigrant visas (Green Cards). We have already told you what the requirements are for participants in the Green Card Lottery in the US, how and when to apply, the procedure for selecting winners of the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, and other important nuances that expats should know.

Igor Usyk - Head of Migration department at VisitWorld

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