Paths to legal status in the US
People come to the US many different ways. Each pathway has different rules for getting permanent residency (green card) and eventually citizenship. This hub organizes ALL the paths.
By your CURRENT situation
By SPECIFIC path
- Marriage to US citizen + Adjustment of Status
- Asylum (affirmative + defensive)
- U-visa for crime victims (Form I-918)
- Cancellation of Removal — EOIR-42B
- Green card to US citizenship (N-400 timeline)
Critical: this is information, not legal advice
These pages list what each path requires so you can self-identify which applies to you. We don’t make eligibility determinations — that’s unauthorized practice of law. For your specific situation:
- Free: pro bono via CLINIC, AILA, or local legal aid (see Legal aid by state)
- Affordable: BIA-accredited reps at nonprofits — low, nonprofit-set fees
- Private: immigration attorney — each firm sets its own fee and no national source publishes a range; get it in writing before you retain anyone
Last verified: 2026-05-25.
Related procedural information
- Consulate of your country in the US — passport renewal, consular ID, document apostille
- ITIN — file federal taxes without SSN — for people with a US filing or reporting obligation who aren’t eligible for an SSN
- USCIS form library — federal immigration forms (I-130, I-485, N-400, etc.)
- Find an immigration attorney — pro bono lists + AILA + BIA-recognized
- Know Your Rights — ICE encounters — constitutional protections