How many years do you have to live in the United States to obtain permanent residency?

Permanent residence in the United States, also known as ‘Green Card’, is a document that grants foreigners the status of permanent residents in the country.

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In this way, people begin to generate expectations and questions to carry out this process and one of the most frequent is: how long must one live in the country to be eligible for residency? We tell you the requirements and the time necessary to obtain it.

It is necessary have lived in the United States continuously for at least 5 years. This means that can’t have been out of the country for more than 6 months in a single trip.

If you have married a US citizen, This period is reduced to three years.

You must demonstrate good moral behavior during your stay in the United States. This implies not having committed serious crimes or having been involved in illegal activities.

If you are between 18 and 65 years old, You must pass the civic education exam and the English exam to demonstrate your knowledge of the American language and culture.

Demonstrate that you will not be a public charge to the United States government. This implies have sufficient financial resources or a sponsor who will take responsibility for you.

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• Form I-485: Complete this document, the application for Registration of Permanent Residence or adjustment of status, since it is essential to require permanent residence.
• Interview and biometric exam: After you file Form I-485, you will go to an immigration officer. You will also need to undergo a biometric consultation to take your fingerprints and photograph.
• Wait and approval: Once you complete the above steps, you will need to wait for USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) to accept your application. If everything is in order, you will receive your ‘Green Card’.

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