How to get a Green Card from outside the U.S. | USAGov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 5. Find your polling place.

To live and work in the U.S. permanently, you will need a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card). Learn how to get one through consular processing if you are outside the U.S.

Learn if you are eligible for a Green Card

Your eligibility to get a Green Card depends on many factors. These include your employment plans and the citizenship status of a family member who would sponsor you.

Visit the USCIS.gov website and learn about Green Card eligibility categories to see if you qualify.
Select the category that applies to you.
Expand the selected category that matches your situation under "you may be eligible to apply as a…" for eligibility and how to apply.

Apply for a Green Card through consular processing

Apply for a Green Card from outside the U.S. through a U.S. Department of State consulate. This procedure is known as consular processing.

Learn how consular processing works, including:

Determining what Green Card category you might be eligible for
Filing your immigrant petition
Finding which forms and documents you will need
Preparing for in-person appointments you may have with the consular office
Estimating when you will receive your Green Card

Find out the cost of getting a Green Card

You will need to pay a visa application processing fee and an affidavit of support fee when you apply for an immigrant visa.

Learn about these fees and see a sample of a fee invoice (bill) for these costs.

LAST UPDATED: September 26, 2024

Have a question?

Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They will get you the answer or let you know where to find it.

Chat with USAGov