H-1B to Green Card

Route to Green Card

Pick a category, then clear four stages to permanent residency.
Choose your category

EB-2

Master's degree (or bachelor's + 5 yrs progressive experience), or exceptional ability.

EB-3

Skilled workers, professionals with a bachelor's degree, or other qualified workers.

EB-1 / EB-2 NIW

Extraordinary ability or National Interest Waiver.

Skips PERM
The process
1

PERM labor certification

Dept. of Labor

Employer tests the US job market to show no qualified, willing US worker is available, pays the prevailing wage and runs formal recruitment.

2

Form I-140 immigrant petition

USCIS

Employer petitions for you; NIW and EB-1A applicants can self-petition. Your priority date is the PERM filing date, or the I-140 filing date if PERM is skipped.

3

Wait for your priority date

Long wait for India

Track the monthly State Department Visa Bulletin. Per-country caps mean Indian applicants face multi-year backlogs.

4

I-485 or consular processing

Adjust status inside the US with Form I-485 (work and travel permits available while pending), or interview at a US consulate abroad.

Green card issued

Lawful permanent residence.