I have been in the U.S. in various different lawful statuses for 16 years. Is lawful length of stay in the U.S. a legal basis for applying for a green card?
27 Apr 2015Answer
No. Green cards generally are based upon family or employment sponsorship. There are also certain humanitarian (e.g., asylum) categories, as well as the diversity lottery. But, length of time is not enough, other than something called ‘registry,’ which only applies if the person has been in the United States since 1972. I have been an immigration lawyer a LONG time, but have only ever seen one such case. (27.Apr.2015)
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