US Green Card For Students: It has become more difficult for foreign students to get a Green Card after studying in America. President Donald Trump has tightened the visa rules and policies as soon as he took over the government, which has complicated the Green Card process.
However, there are still some ways through which students studying in America can get a Green Card. Getting a Green Card allows one to live and work permanently in America. Let us know how students can get a Green Card.
Step 1: Complete your degree
Students who go to study in the US must first complete their degree. Although everyone knows about this, but as an international student, your chances of getting a green card in the US depend on completing your degree. After graduation, getting a job in the field related to your course is also very important. F-1 visa holders can also gain work experience through Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Step 2: Get a job under the OPT program
Through Optional Practical Training (OPT), F-1 visa holders can work in sectors related to their field of study. Under OPT, students are allowed to work for 12 months. If someone has studied a course related to Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths (STEM), then he can work for 24 more months. However, preparations are also underway to change the rule of giving additional 24 months in the OPT program.
Step 3: Change your visa type
The F-1 visa can allow you to work under OPT, but you cannot extend it once it expires. To maintain your right to work and stay in the US, you will need another visa. For this, you will need an H-1B visa, which is given to people with a bachelor’s degree or above. This visa allows work for three years, which can be extended for another three years.
Step 4: Start applying for Green Card
If you work for six years on an H-1B visa, you will be eligible for a green card. Then your company will have to apply for a green card on your behalf through an H-1B visa petition. Your employer will have to show the ‘Program Electronic Review Management’ (PERM) certificate to the Labor Department, after which there will be several reviews and processes, including proof that there are no local American workers available for your job. Only then will you be considered eligible for a green card.
Step 5: When will I get the Green Card?
Green card applications can take months or sometimes years to complete. If your H1-B visa has expired, you can still legally stay in the US provided your US green card application is ‘pending’ or if you have an approved I-140 petition and are waiting for your ‘priority date’. It usually takes up to 10 years for people to get a green card.
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