US Immigration law allows for permanent residency to be obtained in the following ways:
- Family-based immigration. This involves individuals who have certain close relatives residing in the United States. A quota system applies in most cases and backlogs are common.
- Employment-based immigration. Various employment based sponsorship options are available depending on the candidate’s educational/work background and circumstance.
- The diversity immigration lottery. All eligible individuals are urged to apply.
Each year, the Department of State conducts a Diversity Immigration Lottery program wherein 50,000 foreign nationals may immigrate to the U.S. The sole requirement to qualify for the lottery is the possession of a high school education or its equivalent, OR two years of work experience in a job requiring two or more years of training. A list of approximately 13 countries whose nationals are NOT eligible for the lottery, based on oversubscription of immigrants from those countries, is published annually. Individuals born in all other countries are eligible for the lottery. The lottery is based on country of birth, not citizenship.
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