Getting a green card almost always starts with someone else — most applicants need a qualifying relative, employer, or in rare cases themselves, to file an immigrant petition establishing the basis for their eligibility before the actual green card application can even begin. * Once that petition is approved and a visa is available in your specific category (some categories have waiting lists that stretch years due to annual caps), you move to the next stage. Where you are physically determines which path you take: if you're already in the U.S., you generally apply through "adjustment of status" directly with USCIS. If you're outside the U.S., you go through "consular processing" instead, working with the State Department and a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. * Eligibility categories vary widely in their requirements. Family-based immigration covers immediate relatives of U.S. citizens — spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents — along with broader family preference categories with longer wait times. Employment-based categories (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3) cover different tiers of work qualifications and job offers. Investor-based green cards, through the EB-5 program, require a qualifying financial investment that creates U.S. jobs. * Regardless of category, most applicants go through a biometrics appointment — fingerprints, a photo, and a signature — followed by an interview where an officer reviews the application and supporting evidence before issuing a decision. * Because eligibility requirements differ substantially by category, USCIS's own Green Card Eligibility Categories page is the most reliable way to confirm which specific pathway and requirements apply to your situation.