What is the Fastest Way to Obtain a Green Card to Immigrate Into the USA?
Having worked as an INS officer, I can tell you a not so secret about how to become a US Citizen and obtain a Green card the fastest. I have encountered people trying to immigrate into the US legally for 12 or more years. The process is slow even by the fastest method- the best case scenario is five to seven years to become a US Citizen. The worst-case scenario is 12 to 28 years.
The prerequisite in becoming a US citizen is obtaining a Green Card that establishs you have the legal right to be here. The fastest way to get the Green card is to marry a US Citizen or have family in the US that permanent residents or US citizens. If you are a relatives parent, spouse or minor child. If you are you can obtain a Green card in a quick manner. There is no annual limit to any of these categories with ties to a US citizen. People in this category usually get a Green Card with very little wait period. If you are a spouse of a US Citizen you must wait three years before you are elgible to be a US Citizen and apply ($675). If not a spouse, the wait is five years before you can apply for citizenship. Once you apply for citizenship, the wait is another year.
INS scrutinizes non US citizen spouses entering. Many women and men marry a US citizen for this reason and once they get a Green card they divorce. So, during the interviewing process and afterwards, periodic checks occur to validate the marriage in many obvious and not so obvious ways. If fraud is determined on any one's part, the spouse's Green card can be revoked and they will be sent home. Criminal charges can also occur to the US citizen as well if it is found they married for money, which happens a lot. INS continues to watch a marriage even after three years, if US citizenship has been applied for. So, both parties of the marriage should plan to stay together for at least three years.
If you happen to be an adult child of a US citizen, you must apply for one and your waiting time varies with your own home country and marital status.A single adult child not married with US citizen relatives wait 6-14 yrs. Married adult children wait a little longer. If you are a brother or sister of a US Citizen, the wait is 10-12 yrs. This is the time to get a Green card.
If you have family in the USA which is a lawful permanent resident, you should be the spouse or child, if you are not, forget it. If you are and you are a minor child or spouse, you can apply for legal permanent status then wait 5-7 years until you get a Green card to immigrate to the USA. If you are an adult child and single, you can apply and wait 9-14 yrs for a Green card. If you are an adult child that is married, forget it, you cannot apply for a Green card.