F1 Student Visa to USA Green Card - How Students Become USA Residents?
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Navigating the path to a Green Card as an F1 visa holder in the USA can seem complex. This comprehensive guide breaks down the various routes to permanent residence USA, from transitioning through an H1B visa to family and investment-based options and self-petitioning visas for those with exceptional abilities. Discover the American Green Card eligibility, application steps, and essential tips to make the American dream a reality.
For many international students studying in the United States on an F1 visa, the dream extends beyond graduation to building a long-term future there. Obtaining a Green Card, or permanent residence USA, is a significant goal for these individuals, offering the opportunity to live and work in the USA indefinitely. This article serves as a comprehensive guide, outlining the various pathways available for F1 visa holders to achieve permanent resident status and navigate the complexities of the US immigration system.
What is a Green Card in USA?
A Green Card in the USA is basically permanent residency in USA. It is a legal document authorising people or students to permanently live and work in the USA. With a Green Card in the USA, citizens can also benefit from government schemes and policies. To gain permanent residence in USA, applicants have to apply for an H1B Visa. Transitioning from an F1 visa to an H1B visa can be challenging and time-consuming. However, those who pursue a STEM course and are eligible for STEM OPT Extension can also apply for the H1B visa during this period.
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For permanent residence in USA when the applicants have a job or if they are applying through sponsorship from US residents or in other cases, are eligible for Green Card in USA.
How to Get PR in USA
F1 visa holders or international students have different pathways to obtaining a Green Card in the USA to get a permanent residence card. The applicants applying for permanent residence USA, will have to fulfil the eligibility for Green Card in USA through any of the following: Let us discuss them on a case-by-case basis below:
-
Transitioning from F1 Visa to H1B Visa
Transitioning from F1 visa to H1B visa can happen under limited circumstances to obtain permanent residence USA. Cases where transitioning from F1 visa to H1B visa for a United States of America permanent resident card is possible if:
- Applicants working on OPT or who have obtained STEM OPT Extension should aim to get a permanent job in the USA.
- Upon getting a permanent job in USA on STEM OPT Extension, applicants can extend their stay in USA for up to six years and obtain an H1B visa. During this period, applicants can apply for permanent residence USA.
- Applicants have a job and an employer ready to sponsor them for an American permanent resident card.
- The applicants are legally staying in the USA on an F1 visa and have the capacity to apply for an H1B visa.
- Applicants have not applied for H1B Cap Gap Extension for permanent residence USA in the past six years.
- Also, applicants who are applying for the first time for the H1B can try their luck through the lottery, where 65,000 applicants on F1 visas may be granted an H1B visa to extend their stay in the USA through H1B Cap Gap Extension provision.
While applicants apply for an F1 to H1B Lottery Visa, they can look at getting a permanent residence USA. Get the details of F1 to H1B Lottery Visa Trends here.
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Thus, transitioning from F1 visa status to H1B can be one pathway to obtaining permanent residence in the USA. This pathway to Green Card eligibility in the USA is also termed employment-based sponsorship. When applying for an employer-based sponsorship for a Green Card in USA, applicants and their employers will have to submit the following documents:
| Employer Green Card Requirements USA |
Employee Green Card Requirements USA |
|---|---|
| Start Date of Job of Applicant |
Passport |
| Salary Offered |
I-94 Electronic Record |
| Complete JD |
|
| Contact Details (Address/Phone Number) + Authorised Signatory |
Copy of I-766 Employment Authorisation Document (EAD) |
| Company Details |
Professional Certification Licence |
| - |
Transcripts and Degrees |
| - |
Dependents + Spouse Details |
Apart from the employer-based sponsorship, there are other pathways for F1 students for USA Green Card. These pathways are as follows:
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Family-Based Sponsorship
The next best way for permanent residence USA is through family-based sponsorship. This is possible through these circumstances:
- Marriage to a U.S. Citizen or Green Card Holder: Applicants can apply for a green card through marriage. They must prove their marriage is genuine (not just for immigration) and qualify for all checks and standards. This pathway for permanent residence USA is only available for F-1, H-2B, or H-3 visa holders.
- Other Family-Based Categories: To obtain a permanent resident card USA, the applicants’ immediate relatives, such as a spouse, parent, or child under 21 years of age and a US citizen, can apply. There are no annual limits, and the processing is also faster.
- Apart from these, a Green Card in the USA can be obtained through adult children, siblings of US-born citizens, or relatives of Green Card holders. In this case, processing could take a long time. Plus, it is a lesser-taken path for temporary visa holders without eligible sponsors.
Thus, applicants must weigh their options carefully before they apply for permanent residence USA through this pathway.
-
Investment-Based Sponsorship
F-1 students can apply for a green card through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program by:
- Investing $800,000–$1,050,000 in a U.S. business.
- The investment must create at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers.
- Applicants can invest directly or through a USCIS-approved Regional Center.
This is also not a common pathway to obtaining a permanent resident card USA, but applicants can take the risk if the situation allows.
-
Self-Petitioning Visa
For those F-1 students for whom none of the pathways work for permanent residence USA applications, they have one more option. Applicants can apply for a Green Card without employer or family sponsorship through two ways:
1. EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver)
This EB-2 is for those with advanced degrees or exceptional abilities or talents. They must prove that their work benefits the US. This mainly applies to researchers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and public health professionals. In this case, no job offer is required.
2. EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability)
EB-1A is applicable to top applicants with exceptional talent in science, arts, education, business, or athletics. Eligibility for a Green Card in the USA through EB-1A is possible if applicants have shown or received national or international recognition. Highly reputed awards, publications, media coverage, etc., also apply in this case. Undoubtedly, this is one of the fastest green card-obtaining routes, but it is also the hardest to qualify.
How to Apply for Permanent Residency in USA After Studying
Irrespective of employer-sponsored or non-employer-sponsored application for permanent residence USA can be applied for the following step-by-step manner:
-
Complete the Degree Pursuing on an F-1 Visa:
Applicants must ensure that they keep their F-1 status while studying.
-
Apply for OPT or STEM OPT Extension
- OPT (Optional Practical Training): 12 months of work authorisation in the study area.
- STEM OPT Extension: An extra 24 months if you have studied a STEM field.
- This allows you time to get work experience and switch to another visa.
-
Transfer to a Work Visa (Usually H-1B)
- Employer sponsors applicants for an H-1B visa (3-year, renewable to 6 years).
- There's a lottery, so not all are selected (H1B Cap Gap Extension).
- Once on H-1B, applicants can start thier green card process.
-
Employer Sponsorship for a Green Card (EB-2/EB-3)
Employer has to:
- File a PERM Labor Certification (demonstrating no U.S. worker is available).
- File Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker).
- Once a visa is available (consult Visa Bulletin), and Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status) if residing within the US
American Green Card Eligibility
To summarise, the F1 visa holders can apply for permanent residence USA based on the following routes:
| Pathway for Permanent Residence USA |
Requires Employer? |
Green Card Type |
Additional Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| H-1B → PERM → I-140 → I-485 |
Yes |
EB-2 or EB-3 |
Most common route |
| EB-2 NIW |
No |
EB-2 NIW |
For advanced degrees or national interest |
| EB-1A |
No |
EB-1 |
For top-tier talents, a high bar |
| Marriage |
No |
Family-based (Immediate Relative) |
Fastest if married to a U.S. citizen |
| EB-5 |
No |
EB-5 Investment |
$800K–$1M+ investment required |
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West Virginia is also gives a more affordable living setup, with average rent for a one-bed apartment being USD 881 (INR 75.2 K), as per unofficial sources.
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As per the official University of New Hampshire records over 13,000 students are at the univeristy out of which more than 11,500 students are at the undegraduate course level and over 2,400 students are under the graduate course level from over 52 states and 43 countries.
Students from various parts of the world choose to study at the University of New Hampshire for their highly recognised courses and global recognition.
The University of Wisconsin Madison does not require the GRE scores as an compulsary application or admission requirement for the selection purpose for each of the graduate school program. However, for some of the programme students are required to provide the GRE scores.
The students are required to submit official GRE scores electronically through ETS
On an average, the annual tuition fee required to pursue a degree course at the University of Arizona is around INR 30 L - 40 L, which can be considered expensive as a study abroad option. Students can refer to the table listed below for course specific fees requirements:
| Courses | 1st Year Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
MBA/PGDM (24 courses) | INR 26 L - 45 L |
MS (64 courses) | INR 26 L - 38 L |
MIM (16 courses) | INR 26 L - 45 L |
BE / BTech (24 courses) | INR 33 L - 38 L |
BBA (16 courses) | INR 33 L - 34 L |
MEM (1 course) | INR 27 L |
The USD provides over 200 undergraduates and 80 master's programs in specializations such as Business Analytics, Business Administration, Accountancy, Computer Science, Mathematics, and more. The University of South Dakota tuition fees for international students range between INR 6L and INR 21L for graduates and around INR 10L for undergraduates. Students can check the table below for the tuition cost of the popular courses at the university:
Courses | 1st Year Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
MBA/PGDM (4 courses) | INR 10 L - 12 L |
MS (10 courses) | INR 9 L - 18 L |
BSN (1 course) | INR 11 L |
MIM (3 courses) | INR 10 L - 12 L |
BSc (30 courses) | INR 11 L |
BBA (14 courses) | INR 11 L |
BA (18 courses) | INR 11 L |
BE / BTech (4 courses) | INR 11 L |
MA (19 courses) | INR 10 L - 21 L |
PG Certificate (10 courses) | INR 7 L |
Fulfilling the required Grade Point Average is one of the major entry requirements at Adler University and international students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for both master's and PhD courses in order to boost their chances of getting admitted in the university.
Most of the students admitted for PhD courses at Adler University have a GPA of 3.25 or higher. Apart from GPA, candidates must submit all the other documents such as letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, proof of English language proficiency, and more.
Obtaining permanent residency in the USA as an F1 visa holder requires careful planning and understanding of the available pathways. Whether transitioning to an H1B visa after OPT, exploring family or investment-based sponsorship, or pursuing a Green Card through self-petitioning based on exceptional abilities or national interest, each option has specific requirements and processes. By diligently following the necessary steps and staying informed about eligibility criteria, F1 students can navigate the journey towards becoming permanent residents of the United States.
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MIT is not costly for Indian students. Applicants can study BTech program at affordable tuition fees as compared to other BTech colleges in the USA. The MIT BTech fees is around INR 50 L to INR 52 L.