Green Card Categories Explained
Netraweb · June 3, 2026
US green cards are broadly divided into family-based, employment-based, and other paths such as refugee/asylum and the diversity lottery (DV).
Main paths
- Family-based: immediate relatives of citizens/permanent residents
- Employment-based: EB-1 through EB-5
- Other: refugee, asylum, lottery, etc.
Each category has annual quotas and priority dates, so wait times differ. It's important to first identify the path that fits your situation (family ties, occupation, education, investment); for specific eligibility, consult an immigration attorney.
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