Generally the green card process is a complex process. Green card allows you to stay permanently in US and work over there. Just from historical point of view, this card used to be green in colour from where it derives its name.

To be on the safer side and to prevent any ill-happenings caused by resident’s green card is issued after a long checking of one’s identity which shall be clean over years. The processes that we discuss here to get a green card for Indians in US will focus on investment from an alien entrepreneur and green card lottery. However it is worth nothing that Indians are ineligible to apply for green card lottery because in past five years more than 50000 green cards were given to Indian immigrants so this process cannot be used to procure a green card.

To get a green card as an entrepreneur:

1. The investor must demonstrate a qualified investment made in a new commercial enterprise. A sum of at least one million US Dollars must be invested in new enterprise or at least five hundred thousand dollars must be invested in a site where unemployment has been experienced for 50% population. The investor might also buy an existing firm resulting in new enterprise.
2. Jobs must be created for the residents of US and lot of business through export etc. must be offered.
3. If the above mentioned criteria are satisfied with some additional terms and conditions then the applicant can fill up I-526 form to further process his application. With this application all the documents supporting his earlier projects and finances are submitted. All his income, property and bank balance statement are given to prove his investment. 3000 green cards per year are issued in this category.
4. Once the form I-526 is approved the applicant is given a condition green card that is valid for a period of 2 years and has to be renewed after that.
5. To become a lawfully permanent resident I-829 form has to be filled along with application for renewal of green card on its second anniversary.

Nevertheless, there are limitations for those who wish to leave the country for quite a long time, whether it is for work purpose or vacation. They need to know how long they can stay outside the country without losing their Green Card or permanent resident status.

So, in order for them to avoid the risk of losing the status, they need to get a document called “Reentry Permit” from the USCIS before traveling.

It is not so easy for Indians to get their US Green Card. This is because they need to undergo some processes which sometimes may take years to obtain it.

Many Indian software engineers who hold H1B or any H1 visa think that they need not to worry about applying for Green Card since they have a total of six years and only worry about it until their third or fourth year.

This is wrong as you should apply as early as you can since many Indian immigrants suddenly change their mind to stay in US after three years working. You should start applying within the first year. Do keep your English version of your birth certificate, education degrees and experience letters in hand.

One more thing, if you are planning on getting married, it is advisable for you to get married while you are holding your H1 visa and before the approval of your Green Card.

This is because, your wife/husband-to-be will enter the United States using H4 visa which is the spouse visa. Therefore, the time before your application of I-485 (final step to get Green Card) is the best time to get married.

For your information, the process of obtaining Green Card involves three stages which is Labor Certification, I-140, and I-485. So, you can add your wife/husband-to-be the application of your I-485 so that you and her/him will obtain the Green Cards together.

Nowadays, it is quite hard to get a Green Card. So, you have to apply for your Green Card as early as you can. After you already got your Green Card, you can start applying for US citizenship after five years of the approval of your Green Card. Lastly, you might also want to consider for the application of Indian overseas citizenship.