Immigrant Classes of Admission

Understanding Immigrant Classes of Admission to the U.S.

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Becoming a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR), or “green card” holder, marks the start of a new chapter of opportunities in the United States. This status allows individuals to live and work anywhere within the country and paves the way for them to apply for U.S. citizenship, given that they meet specific criteria. The journey to LPR status navigates through various classes of admission as outlined by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This article examines these classes and avenues, such as family reunification, economic contributions, humanitarian grounds, and diversity visas, and examples of each class.

Green Card Lottery

Diversity Visa Lottery: A Guide to Selection and Next Steps

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The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, commonly known as the Diversity Visa Lottery, is a pivotal U.S. government initiative that facilitates up to 50,000 immigrant visas annually. Originating from the Immigration Act of 1990, it’s designed to diversify the U.S. immigrant population by selecting applicants from countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States. We discuss the diversity lottery system here.