Paths to a green card: the complete guide

This is general information, not legal advice. DNLH is not a law office and does not represent anyone. No page can tell you whether you qualify. Only a lawyer or a DOJ accredited representative who looks at your whole history can. Free help is listed below.

On this page

1. What is a green card, and is there a path for me?
2. Can my family sponsor me?
3. How long is the wait?
4. Can a job lead to a green card?
5. What if I fear going back or I was harmed here?
6. Are there other paths?
7. Should I apply here or at a consulate?
8. What can block a green card?
9. Can a waiver fix a bar?
10. What does it cost?
11. What are the risks of applying?
12. How do I avoid green card scams?
13. What happens after I get a green card?
14. What changed in 2025 and 2026?
15. Questions people ask
16. Where can I get a free screening?

What is a green card, and is there a path for me?

A green card makes you a lawful permanent resident. You can live and work here for good, travel with fewer limits, and after a few years apply to become a citizen. For many families, it is the goal they have worked toward for years.

There is no single green card application that anyone can file. The law sets up a few doors, and each one has its own rules. Most people come through one of these:

• Family. A U.S. citizen or green card holder relative files a petition for you.
• Work. An employer sponsors you, or in a few cases you qualify on your own skills.
• Protection. You won asylum or came as a refugee, or you were the victim of a serious crime, trafficking or abuse, or you are a young person a court protected.
• Other paths. The diversity visa lottery, cancellation of removal in immigration court, and a few narrow laws.

Whether a door opens for you depends on three questions:

1. Who is your family? Is your spouse, parent, adult child, brother or sister a U.S. citizen or green card holder?
2. How did you come in? Were you inspected and let in at a border or airport, or paroled? Or did you come in without inspection?
3. What is in your history? Time without status, past trips out of the country, past deportation orders, arrests, and anything you ever said or signed to immigration officers.

The same facts can open a door for one person and close it for another. That is why the first step is always a screening, not a form.

Can my family sponsor me?

Often, yes, if the right relative is a citizen or a green card holder. Family is the most common path. The relative is called the petitioner. You are the beneficiary.

Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens have no line. The law calls these people immediate relatives:

• The spouse of a U.S. citizen
• The unmarried child under 21 of a U.S. citizen
• The parent of a U.S. citizen who is 21 or older

There is no yearly cap on immediate relatives. Once the petition is approved, a visa is available right away.

Everyone else waits in a line called a preference category. The law sets a yearly number of visas for each one:

A green card holder can petition only for a spouse and unmarried children. Only a U.S. citizen can petition for a parent, a married child, or a brother or sister.

The steps, in order:

1. Screening first. Before your relative files, a lawyer or accredited representative checks your whole history.
2. The petition. Your relative files Form I-130 with USCIS. It proves the relationship.
3. The wait. Immediate relatives move on right away. Everyone else waits for their date in the Visa Bulletin. See How long is the wait?
4. The application. You either apply inside the U.S. (Form I-485) or go through the National Visa Center and a U.S. consulate abroad. See Should I apply here or at a consulate?
5. The affidavit of support. In most family cases, the petitioner signs Form I-864. It is a contract the government and benefit agencies can enforce against the sponsor. The sponsor must be 18 or older, live in the U.S., and show income of at least 125 percent of the federal poverty line. If the income is not enough, a joint sponsor can sign too.
6. The medical exam and interview. A doctor approved by the government examines you. An officer may interview you.
7. The decision. If approved, you get your green card.

If you are married less than two years when you get your green card through that marriage, it is conditional. You and your spouse must file together to remove the conditions in the 90 days before the second anniversary of your green card. If no one files, the law says your status ends. Mark that date the day your card arrives.

Mistakes to avoid:

• Filing the I-130 before anyone checks your history. The petition itself is safe for many people, but for some it puts their name in front of the government before they have a path to finish.
• Assuming a green card holder parent can bring a married child. They cannot. That child must wait until the parent becomes a citizen.
• Letting a child turn 21 without asking a lawyer how age affects the case. Age rules are complicated, and timing can matter.

How long is the wait?

For immediate relatives, there is no line, only processing time. For everyone else, it can be years, sometimes decades. We will not sugarcoat it. But a long wait is still a path, and the date you file holds your place.

Your priority date is your place in line. For family cases, it is the date USCIS properly receives the I-130. Each month, the State Department publishes the Visa Bulletin. It lists a cutoff date for each category and country. When your priority date is earlier than the date listed, a visa can be issued.

How to read it:

1. Find your category (for example F2B or F4).
2. Find the column for your country of birth. Mexico, India, China and the Philippines have their own columns because so many people apply from there. Everyone else uses "All Chargeability."
3. Look at the Final Action Dates chart. If your priority date is before that date, your case can move to a final decision.
4. USCIS may let people inside the U.S. use the second chart, Dates for Filing, to file a little earlier. USCIS posts which chart to use each month.

A real example. In the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, the final action date for married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens born in Mexico (F3) was July 1, 2001. That means people whose petitions were filed before that date could finish. The wait for some categories is more than 20 years. For other countries and categories, it is much shorter. Check your own line in the current bulletin.

What happens while you wait:

• A pending I-130 is not a status. It does not give you a work permit, protect you from deportation or let you travel.
• Keep your address current with USCIS. If you move, report it within 10 days.
• If your petitioner is a green card holder and becomes a citizen, your category may change and the wait may get shorter or longer. Ask your lawyer.
• If a petitioner dies, some cases can continue. Ask a lawyer right away.

USCIS also posts how long it takes to decide each form at each office. See Check Case Processing Times. If your case is past the "case inquiry date," you can ask USCIS about it online.

Can a job lead to a green card?

Sometimes. It is harder for people without status, and it almost always needs an employer to sponsor you. The law sets about 140,000 job based green cards a year, split into five groups:

The usual steps:

1. Labor certification (PERM). For most EB-2 and EB-3 cases, the employer files Form ETA 9089 with the U.S. Department of Labor. The employer must show there are not enough U.S. workers able, willing and qualified for the job, and that hiring you will not lower wages. The employer files this, not you.
2. The petition. The employer files Form I-140 with USCIS.
3. The wait. Job categories also use the Visa Bulletin. In October 2026, EB-1 was current for applicants from Mexico and from countries without their own column, while EB-2, EB-3 and "other workers" had waits.
4. The application. Inside the U.S. with Form I-485, or abroad through a consulate.

The hard truth for people without status. The family rules that forgive past problems for immediate relatives do not apply to job cases. A narrow rule forgives up to 180 days of status problems, but only for people who were lawfully admitted. Many people who came in without inspection would need to leave for a consular interview, and that can trigger the bars. See What can block a green card? Ask a lawyer whether an employer route is realistic before your employer spends money.

Mistakes to avoid:

• Paying an employer or a middleman for a sponsorship. Labor certification is the employer's job and the employer's cost.
• Believing anyone who says a job offer alone gets you a green card. It does not.

What if I fear going back or I was harmed here?

You may have a path through protection. These paths do not depend on a family member, and several do not depend on how you came in. They are serious cases. Get help from a lawyer or accredited representative before you file.

Asylum. Asylum is for people who fear persecution in their home country because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. One of those reasons must be at least a central reason for the harm (8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(1)(B)(i)). A lawyer can tell you whether your fear fits. In general, you must apply within one year of arriving. There are exceptions for changed or extraordinary circumstances, but do not count on them. A person who wins asylum may apply for a green card after one year in the U.S. as an asylee. Refugees, who were approved abroad, may apply after one year too. Asylum applicants cannot get a work permit until at least 180 days after filing. Filing a false asylum claim knowingly can bar you from every immigration benefit for life. For the full process, see our guide to immigration court and your local legal help.

U visa, for victims of crime. For people who suffered serious physical or mental abuse as victims of certain crimes in the U.S., and who have helped, are helping, or are likely to help the police or prosecutors. Only 10,000 U visas can be given each year, so the wait is long. After 3 years in U status, a person may apply for a green card.

T visa, for victims of trafficking. For people who are or were victims of a severe form of human trafficking, including forced work. After 3 years in T status, a person may apply for a green card.

VAWA, for abused family members. A spouse or child abused by a U.S. citizen or green card holder spouse or parent may file on their own, without the abuser knowing or signing. So may a parent abused by a U.S. citizen son or daughter who is 21 or older (USCIS VAWA page). You must show abuse or extreme cruelty, that you lived with the abuser at some point, and good moral character.

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS). For young people who have been through a state juvenile court case about abuse, neglect or abandonment by a parent. You must be under 21 when the petition (Form I-360) is filed. Visas come from the EB-4 group and must be available, which can mean a wait. Because the court step comes first, start early. Plan for a $250 fee on the I-360. It comes from a 2025 federal law, 8 U.S.C. 1805, and USCIS treats it as not waivable. A lawsuit filed July 22, 2026 challenges the no waiver policy; we found no ruling as of October 21, 2026.

Good news about public charge. The public charge test does not apply to VAWA self petitioners or to U visa applicants and holders. It also does not apply to refugees and asylees who apply for a green card. See What can block a green card?

If you are in danger right now, call 911. For free help after abuse, see Where survivors of abuse can get free help.

What about TPS? Temporary Protected Status is protection, but it is not a green card path by itself. In 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously in Sanchez v. Mayorkas that TPS does not count as being "admitted." So a person who came in without inspection and later got TPS generally cannot use TPS alone to apply here. If you have TPS and a citizen relative, ask a lawyer about your own facts.

Are there other paths?

A few. They are narrow, but for the right person they matter.

The diversity visa lottery. Each year, the State Department picks people at random from eligible countries. You can enter only at dvprogram.state.gov, and you can check results only there. No one can raise your chances. The State Department's fee list now shows a $1 registration fee paid once by the main applicant, and a $330 visa fee for each person selected who applies. In November 2025, the State Department said it was changing the 2027 entry process and would announce the dates later. Check the official site, not social media.

Cancellation of removal in immigration court. This is a defense, not an application you can file on your own. It is only for people already in deportation proceedings. In general, a person who is not a green card holder must show:

• At least 10 years of continuous physical presence in the U.S.
• Good moral character during that time
• No convictions for certain crimes
• That deportation would cause "exceptional and extremely unusual hardship" to a U.S. citizen or green card holder spouse, parent or child

Only 4,000 people can be granted this each year. It is very hard to win. Never ask to be put in court to apply for it without a lawyer's advice.

Registry. A person who has lived here continuously since before January 1, 1972, with good moral character, may apply for a green card. Very few people qualify today, but it still exists.

The old 245(i) rule. If a family or job petition or labor certification was filed for you, or in some cases for your parent or spouse, on or before April 30, 2001, you may be able to apply inside the U.S. even if you came in without inspection. You pay an extra $1,000. If the filing was after January 14, 1998, you also must have been in the U.S. on December 21, 2000. Ask your family if anyone ever filed for you. Old papers can matter.

DACA. DACA is not a green card path on its own, but some people with DACA have a path through family or protection. See Is there a path from DACA to a green card?

Should I apply here or at a consulate?

It depends mostly on how you came in. This choice can decide whether a bar applies to you, so get it right before you file.

Adjustment of status means you apply inside the U.S. with Form I-485. You stay here while USCIS decides. You may ask for a work permit and travel permission while it is pending. To adjust, you generally must have been inspected and admitted or paroled. Coming back into the U.S. on a grant of parole counts as being paroled.

The law blocks many people from adjusting, such as those who worked without permission or fell out of status. But immediate relatives of U.S. citizens are excused from those two problems. So a person who came in with a visa, overstayed, and then married a U.S. citizen may be able to apply from here. VAWA self petitioners are excused too.

If you came in without inspection, you generally cannot adjust, unless 245(i) covers you or you are in a protection category that has its own rules, such as asylum, U, T, VAWA or SIJS. Otherwise you would need consular processing.

Consular processing means you apply abroad. After the petition is approved and your date is current, your case moves to the State Department's National Visa Center. The steps are: pay the fees, send the affidavit of support and financial papers, complete the online visa application, send your civil documents, then go to a U.S. embassy or consulate for an interview. A panel doctor chosen from the consulate's list does your medical exam. If the visa is approved, you enter the U.S. as a permanent resident.

The danger with going abroad. Leaving the U.S. is a departure. If you built up unlawful presence, leaving for the interview can trigger the 3 or 10 year bar, and you may be stuck outside. That is why the I-601A provisional waiver exists. See Can a waiver fix a bar? Never leave for an interview until a lawyer has checked every problem in your history.

Applying together. Immediate relatives may file the I-485 together with the I-130 in one package, called concurrent filing. Everyone else must wait until a visa is available.

Traveling while your I-485 is pending. If you leave the U.S. without first getting advance parole, USCIS generally treats your application as abandoned. Even with advance parole, if the application is later denied you are treated as someone asking to be let in. Since August 13, 2026, a trip on advance parole can count as a departure for the 3 and 10 year bars, USCIS says on its Form I-131 page. Talk to a lawyer before any trip. See Will traveling on advance parole hurt my green card chances?

If you are in immigration court, the immigration judge, not USCIS, generally decides your green card application. Tell your lawyer about any family petition right away. See What a Notice to Appear means.

What can block a green card?

The law calls these grounds of inadmissibility. Some can be forgiven with a waiver. Some cannot. Knowing yours is the most important part of a screening.

Unlawful presence and the 3 and 10 year bars. Unlawful presence is time in the U.S. after a visa or stay ran out, or after coming in without inspection. If you build up more than 180 days but less than one year and then leave, you may be barred for 3 years. One year or more, then leaving, can mean 10 years. Time before age 18 does not count. Time with DACA does not count. The bar only starts when you leave.

The permanent bar. If a person was in the U.S. unlawfully for more than one year in total, or was ordered deported, and then came back or tried to come back without inspection, the bar has no end date. The only exception is to ask for permission after living 10 years outside the U.S. This is the bar people most often do not know they have. Tell your lawyer about every entry, even short ones.

Past deportation. A person who was deported may be barred for 5, 10 or 20 years, or for life in some cases, unless the government gives permission to reapply with Form I-212.

Fraud or lies to the government. Using false papers or lying about an important fact to get a visa, entry or any immigration benefit is a bar. A waiver exists for some people. See Can a waiver fix a bar?

Saying you are a U.S. citizen when you are not. This is one of the hardest bars. It can come from checking "citizen" on a job form, a voter form or a loan form. A very narrow exception covers some people whose parents were citizens, who lived here before age 16, and who truly believed they were citizens. Tell your lawyer if this ever happened, even once.

Crimes. Some convictions and even some admitted acts can block a green card. Drug offenses are especially serious. Arrests that were dropped still need to be shown to your lawyer. See How a criminal record can affect your immigration status and Ways to fix an old California conviction.

Public charge. An officer decides whether you are likely to depend on the government. The officer must look at your age, health, family, money and assets, and education and skills, and may look at the affidavit of support. In most family cases, the green card cannot be approved without a proper I-864 from the sponsor. A new rule took effect on September 18, 2026. For applications filed on or after that date, officers may consider any means tested benefit you received on or after that date, and they decide case by case. Benefits used before that date are judged under the older, narrower rule. Benefits your children use are not counted as yours, but officers may look at them. See Will using benefits like CalFresh hurt my immigration case?

Health. Every green card applicant has a medical exam with a doctor the government approves, and must show required vaccines.

Coming in without inspection. Being in the U.S. without having been admitted or paroled is itself a ground of inadmissibility. This is why the way you came in matters so much.

Can a waiver fix a bar?

Sometimes. A waiver asks the government to forgive a bar. Most waivers need a U.S. citizen or green card holder relative who would suffer extreme hardship if you were kept out. The government decides at its discretion, and courts generally cannot review a denial. Strong waivers take time, proof and a good lawyer.

The I-601A, step by step. In general, you must be in the U.S., be at least 17, and have an immigrant visa case already open with the State Department. You show that being kept apart would cause extreme hardship to your U.S. citizen or green card holder spouse or parent. Hardship to your children alone does not count for this waiver. If approved, the waiver only takes effect after you leave, go to the interview, and the consulate finds you otherwise eligible. It does not cover the permanent bar, past deportation or most crimes. While it is pending, it gives you no status and no work permit. People in immigration court generally cannot file it unless their case is closed.

Crimes waiver. One kind of crimes waiver needs hardship to a citizen or green card holder spouse, parent, son or daughter. Another can apply when the acts happened more than 15 years ago and the person is rehabilitated. VAWA self petitioners have their own path. No waiver is possible for murder or torture.

What hardship can mean. Lawyers usually gather proof about health, money, family ties, schooling, safety in the home country and the emotional toll of separation. The law does not list what counts, so a lawyer builds the case from your family's real life.

Mistakes to avoid:

• Leaving for a consular interview without an approved I-601A when you need one.
• Thinking a waiver covers every problem. Each waiver covers only certain bars. One unknown bar can sink the trip.
• Filing a waiver without a lawyer. Waivers are the cases where help matters most.

What does it cost?

Plan for real costs. Here are the government fees we checked on October 19, 2026. Fees change, so check again before you file. Forms filed online cost $50 less than paper, when online filing is offered for that form. USCIS fees are final and not refunded, even if your case is denied.

How to pay safely. For paper filings, USCIS does not take personal checks, money orders or cashier's checks unless you are exempt. Pay by card with Form G-1450, from a U.S. bank account with Form G-1650, or online through Pay.gov when you file online (USCIS filing fees). USCIS does not take Western Union, MoneyGram, PayPal or gift cards, and never asks you to pay a person by phone or email.

Help with costs. Lawyer fees are separate and vary a lot. Some nonprofits charge low fees or nothing. Mission Asset Fund offers a Bay Area grant of up to $5,000 for some DACA recipients and Dreamers who are working toward lawful status, and its FAQ says it can cover fees like the I-130 and I-485 (checked October 18, 2026). Coastside Hope offers fee scholarships by income for people who live or work on the Coastside. See Can I get money to pay for immigration fees?

What are the risks of applying?

For many people, applying is safe and right. For some, it is risky. You deserve to know both before you file.

A denial can lead to court. Since February 28, 2025, a USCIS memo says the agency will issue a Notice to Appear, the paper that starts deportation proceedings, when it denies a request and the person is not lawfully present. The memo says USCIS will no longer exempt whole groups from enforcement. It does not apply to DACA requests. So a weak application filed by someone without status can do more harm than waiting. A screening tells you whether your case is strong before you file.

Your history will be checked. Every application asks about arrests, past entries, past filings and past statements. Answer honestly. A lie on a form can become a permanent fraud bar, which is worse than the problem you were hiding.

Travel can undo your case. Leaving without advance parole while an I-485 is pending generally abandons it. A trip abroad can also trigger the bars. Ask first, every time.

Interviews matter. Bring your lawyer if you can. Bring originals of every document you sent. If you are asked something you do not understand, say so.

How do I avoid green card scams?

Scammers know how much a green card means to your family. Protect yourself with a few firm rules.

• Only a lawyer or a DOJ accredited representative at a recognized nonprofit may give you immigration legal advice. A notario is not a lawyer in the U.S. In California, consultants may not call themselves "notario" or "notario público."
• No one can promise a green card. No one can move your date in the Visa Bulletin or influence the lottery.
• USCIS forms are free to download from uscis.gov. You pay the filing fee to the government when you file.
• Government agencies do not call, text or email asking for money. Real government websites end in .gov.
• Never pay with a gift card, money transfer, payment app or cryptocurrency for immigration help.
• Signed a contract with an immigration consultant? In California, you can cancel it within 72 hours of signing. You must get a written contract, a signed receipt for every payment, a copy of every form, and your original papers back.
• Check before you pay. Look up lawyers with the State Bar or call 1-800-843-9053. Check accredited representatives on the DOJ roster.

If you lost money, report it to the California Attorney General at oag.ca.gov/report and to your local police. See Warning signs of an immigration scam and How to find a lawyer you can trust.

What happens after I get a green card?

You made it through. Take a breath. Then protect what you won.

Keep your status.

• If your card is conditional, file to remove the conditions in the 90 days before the second anniversary. Your status can end if you do not.
• Report your new address to USCIS within 10 days each time you move. See How to tell USCIS your new address.
• Long trips abroad can cause problems. A green card holder who is away more than 180 days, or who has certain criminal issues, can be treated at the border like someone asking to be let in. In June 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court made it easier for border officers to do that in some criminal cases. See Green card holders: should I travel abroad with pending charges?
• Talk to a lawyer before you plead guilty to anything. A conviction can put a green card at risk.

Become a citizen. A green card holder can usually apply for citizenship after 5 years, or after 3 years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen. You may file up to 90 days early. In general you must have spent enough time inside the U.S., show good moral character, read, write and speak basic English, and know U.S. history and government. The paper fee is $760, or $380 for lower income households. A fee waiver is possible for some people. A June 2026 proposal would raise these fees and end the reduced fee and waivers, but it is not final as of October 21, 2026.

Bring family. Once you are a citizen, you can petition for parents, married children, and brothers and sisters, and your spouse and minor children become immediate relatives with no line.

What changed in 2025 and 2026?

A lot changed. Some of it is still in court. Here is what we confirmed, as of October 21, 2026.

USCIS and DHS:

• February 28, 2025: USCIS memo PM-602-0187 said it will issue a Notice to Appear after denying a request when the person is not lawfully present, and will no longer exempt whole groups. DACA requests are not covered by the memo.
• July 4, 2025: a federal law known as H.R. 1 (Public Law 119-21) created new fees, including a $100 asylum application fee, a yearly fee while asylum is pending, and a $250 fee for SIJS cases. On October 16, 2026, the yearly asylum fee rose to $105 and some work permit fees rose for inflation; the SIJS fee stayed at $250 (91 FR 62540).
• 2025 and early 2026: USCIS put holds on many applications from nationals of certain countries (memos PM-602-0192 and PM-602-0194). In June 2026, a federal court in Rhode Island vacated those memos, and USCIS said it would comply while the case continues. On August 24, 2026, a federal court in California also blocked them (Red Eagle Law v. Edlow), and USCIS said on August 28 it will decide these cases "in the normal course" (USCIS alert).
• September 18, 2026: a new public charge rule took effect. It replaced the 2022 rule. Officers now decide case by case and may consider any means tested benefit received on or after that date.
• June 23, 2026: USCIS proposed higher citizenship fees and an end to the reduced fee and fee waivers. As of October 21, 2026, it is not final (proposed rule).

State Department:

• January 1, 2026: Proclamation 10998 suspended immigrant visas for nationals of many countries. It took away an earlier exception for spouses, children and parents of U.S. citizens. The State Department page still describes it as in effect (checked October 21, 2026).
• January 21 to August 21, 2026: the State Department paused immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries. A federal court order in CLINIC v. Rubio ended the pause as of August 21, 2026.
• November 2025: the State Department said it was changing the 2027 diversity visa entry process and would announce dates later.

Courts:

• June 23, 2026: in Blanche v. Lau, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a border officer does not need clear and convincing evidence before treating a returning green card holder with certain criminal issues as someone asking to be let in.
• August 13, 2026: in Matter of Delcarmen-Lara, the Board of Immigration Appeals ruled that leaving on advance parole is a departure for the 10 year bar. It overruled a 2012 decision and said it will apply the rule going forward. USCIS now says on its Form I-131 page that, as of August 13, 2026, leaving on advance parole is a departure for both the 3 and 10 year bars.

What is still uncertain:

• How the Delcarmen-Lara rule applies to round trips taken before August 13, 2026. USCIS applies it "as of" that date, but your lawyer should judge an older trip.
• Whether the government will appeal the court orders on the 75 country pause and the USCIS holds.
• How the 2027 diversity visa entry will work.
• Whether the citizenship fee proposal becomes final.

We check these points again before this page is published, and the date of the last check appears at the top.

Questions people ask

Can I get a green card if I came in without papers? Sometimes. It depends on your family, your history and whether 245(i) or a protection path covers you. Many people would need to leave for a consular interview and may need a waiver. Get a screening first. See Should I apply here or at a consulate?

Does marrying a U.S. citizen give me a green card? Not automatically. It makes you an immediate relative, which means no line. Whether you can apply here or must go abroad depends on how you came in and your history. The marriage must be real.

My U.S. citizen child just turned 21. Can they petition for me? Yes, a citizen who is 21 or older can petition for a parent, and parents are immediate relatives with no line. How you came in still decides where you apply. Get a screening before your child files.

Can my green card holder parent petition for me? Yes, if you are unmarried. If you marry, a green card holder parent can no longer petition for you. Ask a lawyer before you marry if a case is pending.

How long will my case take? For immediate relatives, it depends on processing times. For everyone else, it depends on your priority date and the Visa Bulletin, which can be years. See How long is the wait?

Is it safe to file a petition if I am undocumented? For many people, yes. For some, a denial can lead to a Notice to Appear. A screening tells you which group you are in. See What are the risks of applying?

Can I work while my green card case is pending? If you filed an I-485 inside the U.S., you can ask for a work permit with Form I-765. A pending I-130 alone does not give you a work permit.

Can I travel while my case is pending? Not without advance parole if your I-485 is pending, and not without talking to a lawyer first. Since August 13, 2026, even a trip on advance parole can trigger the 3 or 10 year bar for some people. See Will traveling on advance parole hurt my green card chances?

Will using CalFresh or Medi-Cal hurt my green card? It can matter in some cases, and the rules changed on September 18, 2026. Many people, including refugees, asylees, VAWA self petitioners and U visa applicants, are not subject to the public charge test at all. See Will using benefits like CalFresh hurt my immigration case?

Does DACA lead to a green card? Not by itself. Some people with DACA have a path through family or protection. See Is there a path from DACA to a green card?

Does TPS lead to a green card? Not by itself. The Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that TPS does not count as being admitted. Ask a lawyer about your own facts.

Can a notario fill out my green card forms? A consultant may type in answers you give, but may not tell you which form to use or give advice. Only a lawyer or a DOJ accredited representative may. See Warning signs of an immigration scam.

Is there help paying the fees? Sometimes. See Can I get money to pay for immigration fees?

I won the lottery email. Is it real? Probably not. Results are posted only at dvprogram.state.gov. No one can raise your chances, and you should never pay anyone who contacts you about it.

Where can I get a free screening?

You do not have to figure this out alone. These are nonprofits and public offices. Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

Anywhere in the U.S.:

• DOJ list of pro bono legal service providers: by state and immigration court, updated quarterly. The government does not endorse the groups listed.
• ImmigrationLawHelp.org: search nonprofits by zip code

For San Mateo County residents:

• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA): (650) 326-6440. Walk in Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 1861 Bay Road, East Palo Alto. For low income residents of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
• Immigration Institute of the Bay Area, Redwood City: consultations (650) 587-1558, by appointment. First consultation free. No one is turned away for inability to pay.
• San Mateo County Immigrant Services: (650) 363-4194, immigrantservices@smcgov.org
• Coastside Hope, Half Moon Bay: (650) 726-9071, extension 229. $50 consultation, with fee scholarships by income. For people who live or work on the Coastside.

For Santa Clara County residents:

• Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County: (408) 468-0100. $50 consultation. For low to moderate income residents of Santa Clara County.
• SIREN: (408) 453-3003. Free phone consultations by appointment. No walk ins.
• Asian Law Alliance: (408) 287-9710
• Santa Clara County Office of Immigrant Relations: list of legal service partners

For Bay Area survivors of crime, trafficking or abuse:

• Bay Area Legal Aid advice line: 1-800-551-5554, all languages. Helps survivors with VAWA, U and T visas, SIJS and green cards.
• Tahirih Justice Center, Bay Area: 1-866-575-0071, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For immigrant women and girls fleeing violence.

Anywhere in California:

• CDSS map of state funded nonprofits: find one near you, or call (916) 651-8017
• California Attorney General, immigrant rights: oag.ca.gov/immigrant, immigration@doj.ca.gov

When you call, say: "I want a screening to see if I may qualify for a green card. Can you look at my whole history?" More groups: Free or low cost immigration legal help in the Bay Area.

Print: my screening worksheet

Print: before you file

We know this road can feel long. Many families before you have walked it, one step at a time, and come through. Take the first step this week.