Foreign students studying in the United States likely have their sights set on staying permanently if they hope to secure a well-paying job that will allow them to repay their substantial educational debt. It might be difficult to determine which of the several paths to permanent residency is ideal for an F1 student visa holder. Learn more about your choices and decide which one works best for you.
Green Cards for F1 Students?
For the quick response: Yes. Since you are here in the United States lawfully, you have a little advantage. To help you make the change from an F1 student visa to a permanent resident, we’ve compiled a list of the seven most common routes to citizenship.
Get Sponsored by Your Parents or Children
A green card sponsor might be a parent or a kid under the age of eighteen who is already a legal resident of the United States.
Serve in the Armed Forces
In most cases, obtaining a green card or another kind of legal employment permission is necessary to enlist in the armed forces. But if you have two years of college under your belt, you may be able to join the military and work in certain high-demand specialisations without a green card. Discuss this option with a military recruiter if there is one at your school.
To be sponsored by a relative who owns a business
A green card might be sponsored by a family member who is a company owner. However, your family member who is the business owner will have to provide evidence that you are being hired for your skills and not your family ties. They must demonstrate that they have conducted a thorough search for a qualified individual within the United States to fill the role you would be filling and that no suitable candidates were found.
The Green Card Lottery: Your Chance to Immigrate to the U.S.
Each year, in the months of October and November, the Electronic Diversity Visa Lottery is held. Since there is no assurance of success in this process, it is often referred to as the “green card lottery.” Ineligible nations include Canada, South Korea, Mexico, and Canada, all of which have sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the US in the past five years.
You should seek asylum
You may file for asylum if you fear for your safety if you returned to your home country due to a civil conflict or because you belong to a persecuted minority or group. USCIS evaluates each petition on an individual basis. Talk to an immigration attorney about how to present your case if you can.
Union with a United States citizen
If you marry a US citizen, you may be eligible for a green card. Keep in mind that you’ll need to provide evidence of the legitimacy of your connection (not simply a ploy to get residency). US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will conduct an extensive procedure that may include interviews, background checks, and an in-depth review of the documentation you provide (USCIS).
Obtain Company Sponsorship
Your employer can act as your sponsor if you manage to land a job while you’re still in school. Get your employer to sponsor your green card application under EB-2 or EB-3 if you want to stay in the country legally because of your job.