Moving to USA: Immigration Guide — Green Card & Citizenship

Moving to the USA: Green Card & Citizenship Guide

Thinking about leaving your home country and starting a new life in the United States? Maybe you’ve been comparing countries on Worldlya and the USA keeps pulling you back. This guide walks you through the real-world steps of getting a Green Card and, later, U.S. citizenship – without drowning you in legal jargon.

We’ll keep it simple, honest, and practical so you can decide: Is the U.S. really my next home, and what will it take to get there?

1. Big picture: how U.S. immigration actually works

Before you worry about forms and interviews, you need the overall map. In the U.S. system you’ll hear three key ideas all the time:

Non-immigrant visas – temporary stays (tourist, student, some work visas).
Immigrant visas / Green Card – permanent residence; you can live and work in the U.S. indefinitely.
Naturalization – the process to become a U.S. citizen after you’ve had a Green Card for a while.

In practice your journey usually looks like this:

Pick the right immigration category (family, work, lottery, etc.).
Get a petition approved (usually filed by a sponsor).
Finish the immigrant visa / Green Card process.
Live as a lawful permanent resident and follow the rules.
Apply for citizenship when you qualify.

2. Main ways to move to the USA (Green Card paths)

2.1 Family-based Green Cards

This is the most common path. The U.S. government gives priority to close family members of citizens and Green Card holders.

Typical sponsors:

U.S. citizen spouse
U.S. citizen parent or adult child (21+)
Green Card holder spouse or unmarried child

Why people like this path: it can be relatively fast for “immediate relatives” of U.S. citizens and doesn’t depend on your job or degree.

But be realistic: extended relatives (siblings, adult married children) often face years of waiting because of annual visa limits.

2.2 Employment-based Green Cards (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3…)

Here your skills or job offer are the key. An employer (or sometimes you) asks the U.S. government for a Green Card based on your work.

EB-1 – people with extraordinary ability, top professors/researchers, some executives.
EB-2 – advanced degrees or exceptional ability (often needs a job offer and labor certification, except some national interest cases).
EB-3 – skilled workers, professionals, and some other workers.

Good for you if: you already have a U.S. employer, strong CV, or niche skills that are in demand.

Watch out: backlogs for some countries can be painful. Always check the Visa Bulletin for your category and country.

2.3 Diversity Visa Lottery (Green Card Lottery)

The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV lottery) gives around 55,000 Green Cards a year to people from countries with low recent immigration to the U.S.

You enter online during a short registration period.
Selection is random, but you must meet education or work experience rules.
If selected, you still go through the full immigrant visa process (it’s not a free pass).

Think of it as a lottery ticket: never build your entire life plan around it, but it can be a nice surprise.

2.4 Humanitarian & special paths

Some people qualify through refugee or asylum status, special immigrant programs, or as investors (for example under the EB-5 program). These paths are powerful but complex and usually need personalized legal advice.

If your story involves danger, persecution or large investments, talk to a licensed immigration lawyer before doing anything.

3. Green Card process: step-by-step

Once you know your category, the actual process depends on where you are when you apply:

3.1 If you live outside the U.S. (consular processing)

Step 1 – Petition
Your sponsor (family or employer) files a petition with USCIS (for example Forms I-130 or I-140).
Step 2 – Wait for your priority date
Once the petition is approved, your “priority date” must be current in the Visa Bulletin for your category.
Step 3 – National Visa Center (NVC)
You pay fees, submit the DS-260 online form, and upload civil documents (passport, police certificates, birth and marriage records, etc.).
Step 4 – Medical exam
You visit an approved panel physician before your interview.
Step 5 – Interview at a U.S. embassy/consulate
A consular officer reviews your case, asks questions, and decides your immigrant visa.
Step 6 – Visa & entry
If approved, you receive an immigrant visa in your passport. You travel to the U.S. within the visa validity period; your port-of-entry stamp works as temporary proof of residence.
Step 7 – Physical Green Card
Your plastic card is mailed to your U.S. address after entry.

3.2 If you are already in the U.S. (adjustment of status)

Step 1 – Keep your current status legal
Tourist, student, worker… whatever it is, don’t overstay or work without authorization.
Step 2 – File Form I-485
When your category is current, you can apply to “adjust status” to permanent resident inside the U.S.
Step 3 – Biometrics
You go to a USCIS center for fingerprints and photos.
Step 4 – Work & travel permits (optional)
While the I-485 is pending, many applicants apply for employment authorization and advance parole so they can work and travel.
Step 5 – Interview
You may be called to a local USCIS office for an interview, especially for marriage-based cases.
Step 6 – Decision & Green Card
If approved, you become a permanent resident and receive your card by mail.

Timelines vary a lot by category, country and even the specific office that handles your case. Always plan for delays; immigration is not a fast-moving train, more like a bus that makes too many stops.

4. Life as a Green Card holder: rules you cannot ignore

Getting the card is not the end – it’s the beginning of a new status called lawful permanent resident (LPR). To keep it, the U.S. expects certain things from you.

4.1 Keep the U.S. as your real home

Avoid staying 6+ months abroad in one trip if you can.
Trips of 1 year or more can be treated as abandoning your residence unless you have a re-entry permit.
Keep clear ties: U.S. address, bank account, tax filings, maybe a job or studies.

4.2 Paperwork you must not forget

Green Card renewal – most cards are valid for 10 years; you renew with Form I-90.
Conditional cards (usually 2-year marriage-based) – you must file to remove conditions before the card expires (Form I-751 or I-829).
Address changes – report them to USCIS within 10 days after moving.
U.S. tax returns – as a resident you generally file U.S. taxes on worldwide income.

If you treat your Green Card like a long-term tourist visa, you risk losing it. That sounds harsh, but it’s the reality many people discover too late.

5. From Green Card to U.S. citizenship

Citizenship is optional, but it unlocks strong benefits: a U.S. passport, the right to vote in federal elections, and full protection from most deportation risks.

5.1 Basic eligibility (typical cases)

Age: at least 18.
Green Card time:
- Usually 5 years as a permanent resident, or
- 3 years if you are married to and living with a U.S. citizen.
Continuous residence & physical presence: you must have spent enough time living in the U.S., not just visiting.
Good moral character: no serious crimes, tax evasion, or immigration fraud.
English and civics: you must pass both parts of the naturalization test, unless you qualify for an exception.

5.2 The citizenship process in plain English

Step 1 – Check you qualify
Use official guidance from USCIS or USAGov to confirm you meet the time and residence rules.
Step 2 – File Form N-400
You can usually file online through a USCIS account, upload evidence, and pay the fee.
Step 3 – Biometrics
USCIS collects your fingerprints and photo for background checks.
Step 4 – Interview & tests
You sit down with an officer, answer questions about your application, and take the English and civics tests.
Step 5 – Decision
Approved, continued (more evidence needed), or denied.
Step 6 – Oath ceremony
You take the Oath of Allegiance, receive your naturalization certificate, and from that moment, you’re a U.S. citizen.

5.3 What changed in the civics test recently?

For applications filed on or after October 20, 2025, USCIS uses a new civics test format in many cases. Officers ask up to 20 questions chosen from a list of 128 questions, and you must answer at least 12 correctly to pass.

The exact rules (and which test version you take) can depend on when you filed your N-400 and whether you qualify for age or disability exceptions. Always check the latest guidance on the official USCIS site before applying.

6. Practical checklist before you move

The legal process is only half the story. If your Green Card or immigrant visa is coming soon, this quick checklist helps you land in the U.S. without chaos.

Documents & admin

Passport valid long enough for travel and visa issuance.
Original civil documents (birth, marriage, divorce, adoption, police certificates).
Certified translations if your documents aren’t in English.
Digital and paper copies of all immigration forms and approvals.
International driving permit if you want to drive early on.

Money & daily life

Enough savings for 6–12 months of living costs, depending on your city.
Research of health insurance options (the U.S. system is expensive if you’re uninsured).
Short-term housing plan (temporary stay, then a longer lease).
Plan to get a Social Security Number, bank account, and SIM card soon after arrival.

Moving countries is never “smooth”. It’s normal to feel overwhleming some days. The goal is not perfection – it’s reducing surprises you could have seen coming.

7. Common mistakes that cause big problems

Relying only on random social media advice
Immigration rules change. Always confirm key details on USCIS, USAGov, or travel.state.gov.
Ignoring the Visa Bulletin
For many Green Card categories, you cannot move forward until your priority date is current.
Overstaying or working without authorization
Even “just a few months” can seriously damage future Green Card or citizenship plans.
Taking long trips outside the U.S. as a new resident
Spending most of your time abroad is a classic way to lose your permanent residence.
Hiding problems
Criminal history, past visa refusals, or immigration violations should be handled with an honest strategy, often with a lawyer – not ignored.
Not keeping copies
Treat your immigration documents like a mini-archive: scan everything and back it up safely.

8. Quick FAQ for future U.S. residents

How long does it really take to get a Green Card?

Anywhere from under a year (some immediate relatives inside the U.S.) to 10+ years for certain family or employment categories from high-demand countries. The only honest answer is: check your category, your country and the current processing times.

Can I move to the U.S. first and “fix the papers later”?

That idea ruins a lot of dreams. Entering on the wrong visa with intent to stay, overstaying, or working under the table can create problems that are very hard – sometimes impossible – to fix later.

Do I need a lawyer?

The law does not force you to hire a lawyer, and many straightforward family cases are approved without one. Still, if your case involves criminal history, past refusals, complex employment categories or humanitarian paths, getting independent legal advice is usually worth it.

Is this article legal advice?

No. It’s a general guide to help you understand the overall process and ask better questions. Your situation is unique. Before making big decisions, double-check with official government sources and, if needed, a qualified immigration professional.

Sources

Use these official pages as your primary reference when planning your move to the USA:

Moving to USA: Immigration Guide — Green Card & Citizenship

Moving to the USA: Green Card & Citizenship Guide

1. Big picture: how U.S. immigration actually works