how to get a green card ultimately citizenship

[VLOP2003]

hi there !!! i currently have a visitors visa b1/b2 now, i have been going to school for the past 2 years in WA state , by paying out of state tuition. im getting my BA in zoology at WSU (washington state university) and i wanna start the process of becoming a citizen, what do i have to do? and also, is there any problem if im from mexico? or by the fact of me being here studying on a visitor visa will affect the outcome?. also how long it usually takes? thanks,

 

[GCfreedom]

VLOP2003,

There are two ways to go. through employment or Family based. Oh well, marrying a US Citizen also. Employment based petitions are common. There are steps for applying for green card which is the first segment you need to do before citizenship.

You will need to find an employer willing to petition you. then you need to get a work permit visa, usually H1-B visa or if you have option to stay as apprentice if you have student visa.

Next, Labor Certification also known as PERM. When this gets approved you need to file I-140 & I-485 forms. the 485 form can only be applied when the date shown on visa bulletin is past your Labor Certification Receipt date.

Your question about being from Mexico. Some countries have caps on issuing green cards. See link below for dates they are currently processing.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_3761.html

scroll down and you will find countries with caps.

Hard pill to swallow. Some of us employment based applicants have been waiting for 5-6 years.

After you obtain your GC. you have to wait for 5 years to be eligible to file for Citizenship.

You may consult a lawyer to find out more about options that will be good for you. Immigration Lawyers usually charges minimal if not even free at some States for initial inquiry.

Good Luck,

GCF

 

[kagemusha]

i currently have a visitors visa b1/b2 now, i have been going to school for the past 2 years in WA state , by paying out of state tuition. im getting my BA in zoology at WSU (washington state university) and i wanna start the process of becoming a citizen

A visitor visa does not allow you to study in the US or stay for period longer than 6 months at a time. Are you sure you are not on a student visa ?

In any case the journey to citizenship is a long one that can take you at least 5-6 years in the best case and 10-15 (maybe even more) in the worst. The chances of finding an employer willing to process a H1 for you with the BA degree in zoology may not be that great (unless you go on to get more advanced degrees and get into academics/research). And so the road to a GC through employment may not be that easy.

As for GC through family again even if you happen to have an immediate relative in the US (parent or sibling) who is willing to sponsor you, the backlogs are tremendous and so it could take forever to get a GC that way. The shortest path would still be through marriage to a US citizen. There are no backlogs in the spouse (of a US citizen) category and the wait time before you can apply for citizenship is also shorter (3 years instead of the normal 5 years). And so if you happened to marry a US citizen getting a GC and then citizenship through your spouse would be the best bet.

-KM