A foreign national can obtain a Green Card either through family sponsorship or through an employment based sponsor. When a foreign national is being sponsored either through a family based or employment based visa, the person can adjust his/her status from a non-immigrant to a permanent resident. Depending on the category and the type of relationship, a green card may be immediately available (as with an immediate relative) or if a visa is currently available based upon the visa bulletin. Under some categories, such as a non-immediate relative or if a visa is not available (as in an employment based petition), then the foreign national will have to wait until a visa is available before he/she can adjust status to be a green card holder. Also, if the petition is under an Employment Based (I-140) petition, with the exception of a few categories, a foreign national may also need to obtain a labor certificate through the PERM process before he/she can apply for adjustment of status.
