Applying for a Green Card Through the Registry Program

The immigration law established a process for noncitizens present in the United States since January 1, 1972, to apply for Legal Permanent Resident Status also known as a Green Card.

The process even allows for noncitizens who are present in the United States unlawfully or without status to apply for the Green Card.

A noncitizen may be eligible to receive a Green Card under the Registry Law if the noncitizen is able to meet the following criteria:

• The noncitizen entered the United States prior to January 1, 1972.
• The noncitizen has resided in the United States continuously since entry into the United States.
• The noncitizen is a person of good moral character. We discuss factors that affect a finding of good moral character here.
• The noncitizen is not ineligible for citizenship through naturalization. We discuss naturalization here.
• The noncitizen is not ineligible for under certain grounds having to do with a conviction for certain crimes or is not eligible for a waiver for having been convicted of a disqualifying crime.
• The noncitizen is not deportable for participating in terrorist activities or disqualified for a green card for participating in Nazi persecution, genocide the commission of any act of torture or extrajudicial killing, or for being an immoral person, subversive, violator of a narcotics law or noncitizen smuggler.

A registry applicant is not subject to a medical exam or required to submit a financial affidavit of support. If you believe you qualify, you will need to provide with the form I-485 a copy of government issued photo identification, a birth certificate, evidence that you entered the United States prior to January 1, 1972, which can be your passport with a copy of a nonimmigrant visa or I-94 arrival/departure record. Finally, evidence to establish continuous residence since entry such as bills, lease agreements, pay stubs, tax returns showing your presence in the United States since 1972.