Country

Pathways to American Residency and Citizenship

United States

The United States offers a wide range of routes to a green card — through employment, family, investment, extraordinary ability, and the diversity visa lottery — as well as citizenship for people born to a U.S. parent. This guide brings the country's main residency and citizenship routes together and links to a full breakdown of each.

Could you qualify?

Answer a few quick questions to see which pathways in United States fit your background. It's free, and takes just a few minutes.

See if you're a match →

Ways to qualify

Career & business

For people with a job offer, in-demand skills, or a business to build. Most of these routes lead to settlement, and in time to citizenship.

U.S. EB-2 NIW The EB-2 National Interest Waiver is a green card route for people with an advanced degree or exceptional ability whose proposed work has broader… residency U.S. EB-1 EB-1 is a permanent-residence route for people with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors or researchers, and certain multinational executives… residency U.S. L-1 Transfer The L-1 route is for employees being transferred to a U.S. office of the same company group. It generally requires a qualifying relationship between… residency U.S. O-1 The O-1 is for people with strong national or international recognition in fields such as sciences, education, business, athletics, arts, film, or… residency U.S. TN Professional TN status is for Canadian and Mexican citizens with a prearranged U.S. job in a listed USMCA professional occupation. It generally requires Canadian… residency U.S. H-1B The H-1B is for people with a U.S. employer offer in a specialty occupation that normally requires a directly related bachelor's degree or higher.… residency

Investment

For people who can qualify through a qualifying investment, real estate, or business funds rather than a job or family tie.

U.S. E-2 Investor The E-2 is a temporary U.S. route for nationals of treaty countries who invest a substantial amount of capital in a real, active U.S. business. It… residency U.S. EB-5 Investor EB-5 is a green card route for investors who place a large qualifying investment into a U.S. commercial enterprise and plan to create at least 10… residency

Family

For joining a partner, parent, or child who already lives there — or claiming citizenship through marriage.

U.S. Immediate Relative Green Card This green card route is for the spouse, unmarried child under 21, or parent of an adult U.S. citizen. It generally requires a qualifying family… residency U.S. Fiancé(e) Visa The K-1 visa is for a foreign fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen who plans to enter the United States, marry within 90 days, and then apply for permanent… residency

Ancestry & heritage

A parent, grandparent, or birth in the country can make you a citizen already — or let you claim it, often without relocating.

U.S. Citizenship by Birth Most people born in the United States are U.S. citizens from birth. The main exception is being born to a parent who was not subject to U.S.… citizenship U.S. Citizenship — Parent This pathway is for people born outside the United States who may have been U.S. citizens from birth through a U.S. citizen parent. It generally… citizenship

Other routes

Nationality-specific schemes and special cases.

U.S. Diversity Visa The Diversity Visa is a green card route for people selected through the U.S. Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. Being from an eligible country is only… residency