Green card and residency

[HJMA]

I just got my green card today. Will it help my 2008 match?

[Saba23]

If you're a mediocre applicant, you will probably get 2-3x more interviews having a Green Card vs any type of visa. It's less hassle for them.

If you're an excellent applicant, you're going to get a good spot with/without a Green Card. The good programs are willing to work with visas to get the talent.

[HJMA]

Thanks.
Did you have experience on that?

[Saba23]

Yup. So have a lot of my other Canadian friends.
Congrats on the Green Card. It will help.
Good luck!

[Saba23]

This info may be helpful for those of you who are not US citizens and are applying for a Green Card ("Adjusting Status").
Once you get a work permit (EAD... max 90 days after applying), you then apply for a SSN. When you receive the SSN, then you can then work in the US while you wait for your Green Card to get approved.
Processing times for the Green Card differ by region and are found on the uscis website. The FBI background check is usually what slows things down and it will speed things up if you already have this done. I don't know how one goes about getting an FBI background check beforehand though.
Good luck!



INS Phone #: 1-800-375-5283

Website: uscis.gov

Forms needed:
- I130 - $185 (sponsor fills out)
- G325A - $0 (need 3 copies; 2 from sponsor, 1 from you)
- I485 - $385 (you fill out)
- I864 - $0 (sponsor)
- I693 - $0 (medical exam form)
optional:
- I765 - $175 (work permit)
- I131 - $165 (travel document)

Where to send forms:
USCIS
PO Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680-4120

Cheques/Money Orders made out to:
US Dept. of Homeland Security

Other info:
- 1st thing to do is get the medical exam - must be done by a licenced immigration doctor (you can find one on the website)
- all the forms should be sumbitted at the same time
- the timeframe depends on where you live ... but he told me that the work permit (EAD) should take a max of 90 days to get.

[brava]

If you have a green card or employment authorization card at the time you submit ERAS application, your interview invitations will be 3 to 5 times more compare to those who don't have green card.
Most programs don't like to deal with visa or immigration which is a big problem in the US, plus you need step 3 before they can sponsor you a H1B.

[hiploy]

This info may be helpful for those of you who are not US citizens and are applying for a Green Card ("Adjusting Status").
Once you get a work permit (EAD... max 90 days after applying), you then apply for a SSN. When you receive the SSN, then you can then work in the US while you wait for your Green Card to get approved.
Processing times for the Green Card differ by region and are found on the uscis website. The FBI background check is usually what slows things down and it will speed things up if you already have this done. I don't know how one goes about getting an FBI background check beforehand though.
Good luck!



INS Phone #: 1-800-375-5283

Website: uscis.gov

Forms needed:
- I130 - $185 (sponsor fills out)
- G325A - $0 (need 3 copies; 2 from sponsor, 1 from you)
- I485 - $385 (you fill out)
- I864 - $0 (sponsor)
- I693 - $0 (medical exam form)
optional:
- I765 - $175 (work permit)
- I131 - $165 (travel document)

Where to send forms:
USCIS
PO Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680-4120

Cheques/Money Orders made out to:
US Dept. of Homeland Security

Other info:
- 1st thing to do is get the medical exam - must be done by a licenced immigration doctor (you can find one on the website)
- all the forms should be sumbitted at the same time
- the timeframe depends on where you live ... but he told me that the work permit (EAD) should take a max of 90 days to get.



When should I start this process to apply for a green card?