In urgent need for a solution!

[madaga]

My name is Jonathan. I have lived in the United States, legally, for the last 13 years. I am 22. Because of poor representation I do not have my greencard yet. I have been here as a dependent of an investor, and later as a student. Within the month my student visa will expire and then it will be a lot harder to change my status. I heard there is a law that states that if one has lived more than 50% of their lives in the US legally, then they are liable for citizenship. How can I now apply for citizenship? Or how can I at least apply for a Greencard?
If you have any information, please let me know, it would be extremely helpful, sadly, most immigration attorneys are out of my budget.

Thank you,
-Jonathan

 

[Ashin2]

Hello,

If you are here on student visa, your best option is to apply for OPT. This will allow you to work for upto a year. If your occupation is a specialty occupation, you can have your employer sponsor you for H-1B visa. You are allowed upto 6 years on that. While you are on H-1B, your employer can sponsor you for employment based GC. This is your best option currently. Don't get out of status.
Apply for OPT with the help of international affairs office at your university.
Look for a good employer, explain to them your immigration situation and ask them to file for H1B.

Once you are a GC holder for 5 years and meet certain requirements of naturalisation, you will be able to file for citizenship.