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?
Answer 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...