Visas
USCIS 2026 Rule Changes: 6 Updates Every Immigrant Must Know
USCIS can now deny cases without an RFE, requires wet-ink signatures since July 10, and added a new Public Charge bond test since September 18, 2026.
Investor Track| Oct 30, 2026
US green card
Routes to a US green card through family, employment, the DV lottery or talent: I-130 and I-485, EB-1A and EB-2 NIW petitions, the I-864 and Visa Bulletin.
144 articles tagged Green Card
Articles tagged “Green Card”
Visas
I-130 Pending Over a Year: When to Sue USCIS
USCIS takes 12–16 months to process I-130 petitions. If you've waited longer, you can file a mandamus lawsuit now, without waiting for the posted deadline.
Spousal Ledger| Oct 29, 2026
Visas
Spouse Won't Attend the I-751 Interview: What to Do and How to File Without Them
USCIS will deny a joint I-751 if your spouse skips the interview, but you can switch to divorce, abuse, or extreme hardship and still get approved alone.
Nta Ledger| Oct 29, 2026
Visas
US Green Card Without an Employer: Four Legal Paths in 2026
EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, family-based immigration, and green card lottery — four legal ways to obtain a US green card without an employer sponsor and without millions in investment.
Green Ledger| Oct 29, 2026
Visas
Visa Bulletin November 2026: Priority Dates for EB-1 Through EB-3 by Category and Country
EB-2 worldwide moved 3 months to April 1, 2025; EB-3 advanced 1 month. Full Chart A and Chart B dates for EB-1 through EB-3, November 2026.
Cap Flux| Oct 29, 2026
Visas
Visa Bulletin November 2026: EB and F Category Dates
EB2 moved 3 months, while F2B, F3 and F4 jumped a full year. Full breakdown of Final Action and Dates for Filing for November 2026.
Docket Signal| Oct 29, 2026
Paths to a green card
A green card (Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551) lets a person live and work in the US permanently and later apply for citizenship. The main routes are family petitions (Form I-130), employment categories EB-1 to EB-5, the Diversity Visa lottery, and adjustment after asylum or refugee status.
Someone lawfully in the US can often adjust status without leaving by filing Form I-485; everyone else goes through a consulate. The monthly Visa Bulletin shows how long each category and country waits for a number.
A standard green card is valid for ten years, while a conditional card based on a marriage of less than two years lasts two years and requires removing conditions with Form I-751. Permanent residents must keep the US as their home, and long trips abroad can be treated as abandonment of status. For absences of more than a year, a re-entry permit should be requested in advance with Form I-131. Family and employment categories are subject to annual limits, so for many applicants the real obstacle is the queue rather than eligibility.