Although most immigrants come to live permanently in the United States through a family member’s sponsorship, employment, or a job offer, there are other ways a Green Card (permanent residence) can be obtained, such as the:

• Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (referred to by many as the ‘Green Card Lottery’)
• K Nonimmigrant (includes fiancé(e))
• Legal Immigration Family Equity (LIFE) Act
• Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) Status

Additional programs include:

Special Categories of Family

• Battered Spouse or Child (VAWA)
• Person Born to a Foreign Diplomat in the United States
• Widow(er) of a U.S. Citizen
• V Nonimmigrant

Special Categories of Jobs

• Afghan/Iraqi Translator
• Afghan Who Assisted the U.S. Government
• Armed Forces Member
• International Organization Employee
• Iraqi Who Assisted the U.S. Government
• NATO-6 Nonimmigrant
• Physician National Interest Waiver
• Religious Worker

Other Green Card Programs

• Amerasian Child of a U.S. Citizen
• American Indian Born in Canada
• Cuban Native or Citizen
• Haitian Refugee
• Help HAITI Act of 2010
• Informant (S Nonimmigrant)
• Indochinese Parole Adjustment Act
• Lautenberg Parolee
• Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA)
• Victim of Trafficking (T Nonimmigrant)