Green Cards 101

I am a faithful reader of this forum and have learned a great deal here. I do still have problems wrapping my brain around the whole green card process though, and knowing what things mean (like I-140, I-485) and what order they happen in.

Can someone point me in the direction of an online primer for employment based green cards for those currently in the US working? I'm looking for a simple step by step guide to help me understand how it all works.

Sadly, the one thing I DO understand is retrogression! :)

Thank you!

I am assuming that you are on a TN if you are working in the US right now. There is an announcement from USCIS from May 5, 2008 that states that there is a proposal to bring TN's to three years instead of one year and that would give you a possible track to the green card. Currently with retrogression without visas available you can't apply for I-140 (that is the employer petition for the green card) and the I-485 (the adjustment of status to the green card) which typically need to be filed concurrently in order to maintain your status while you are waiting. The I-140 only states that your employer is petitioning you for a particular job but does not grant you work status or the ability to stay in the US. You always need some other type of status in addition that allows you to work and live in the US. The I-485 does that but is not available right now. But if the TN does extend to three years in the future you would be able to file the I-140 and then just wait for your category to be current which it should do at some point in those three years and then file the I-485 when you are able to do so. The I-485 would adjust your status from a TN to a green card. And once the I-485 is approved you would be given a green card. That is kind of the process in a nutshell but you may have more questions that seem unclear. You could PM me if you have more questions.

The announcement for the USCIS proposal can be found at:

http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/TNworkers_update_050608.pdf

Good luck!!!

A lot of canadians apply for I140 on TN. Nebraska center has a memo on this. An approved I140 can't prevent TN renewal. Just kept renewing tn until PD is current.

Alberta are recruiting US nurses. One person told me the whole Canadian green card process takes about half a year, much faster than US. A canadian RN told me she makes 150K a yrear. Wow, considering the Canadian dollars is getting stronger, maybe it is better to work in Canada.