US PR means permanent resident status, known as a green card, and most people get it through a family petition, an employer petition or the Diversity Visa lottery. The State Department immigrant visa fee is $325 for family cases and $345 for employment cases, and USCIS charges separate filing fees.
The United States has no program called “PR.” The term is used by people who come from countries like Canada, where permanent residents are called PRs. In the US, the same status is a green card, and the person holding one is a Lawful Permanent Resident. This guide explains the main ways to get a green card, how family and employment waiting lines work, what the Diversity Visa lottery looks like for 2027, what fees to expect, the difference between applying abroad and adjusting status inside the US, and the mistakes that sink cases. The visa fees and waiting dates come from the State Department and the October 2026 Visa Bulletin. The USCIS filing fees and the lottery court order come from private sources, because the public USCIS pages were not current, so confirm them on USCIS and State Department pages before you act. If you are American and sponsoring a relative, your own passport comes first, and our US passport guide covers how to get or renew one.
What Is US PR?
US PR is lawful permanent residence, which lets a foreign national live in the United States on a permanent basis. The card is called a green card, and people sometimes shorten it to PR.
A green card holder is not a citizen. The State Department separates immigrant visas, which lead to permanent residence, from nonimmigrant visas, which are temporary. If you are inside the US on a valid status, you may be able to adjust to a green card without leaving. If you are abroad, you usually go through consular processing: the petition is approved by USCIS, the case moves to the National Visa Center, and you attend an interview at a US embassy or consulate. If you only want a temporary stay, read our guides to the US work visa or US business visa instead.
How Can You Get US PR?
The main routes are family sponsorship, employment sponsorship and the Diversity Visa lottery. Each has its own rules and waiting time.
The routes are:
- Family: A US citizen or green card holder who is at least 21 can petition for certain relatives. Immediate relatives of US citizens are not subject to a yearly cap. Our US family visa guide covers this route in detail.
- Employment: An employer, or in some cases the worker, files a petition for a preference category. These categories have yearly limits, and the Visa Bulletin shows the waiting dates.
- Diversity Visa: The State Department says up to 55,000 immigrants can enter each year from countries with low rates of immigration to the US.
- Other routes: Humanitarian paths, such as refugee status or asylum, and special immigrant categories exist. Check the USCIS website for the rules that fit your case.
The right route depends on your relatives, your skills and your country of birth. People who are in the US on a temporary visa should also check whether their status allows them to adjust.
How Long Is the Wait for an Employment Green Card?
Waiting times depend on the category and your country of birth, and the monthly Visa Bulletin shows the cut-off dates. The table lists the October 2026 final action dates for the employment-based categories.
| Category | All countries | China | India |
| EB-1 | Current | July 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 |
| EB-2 | January 1, 2025 | October 1, 2021 | November 1, 2013 |
| EB-3 | May 15, 2024 | January 8, 2022 | January 1, 2014 |
| Other Workers | January 1, 2022 | October 1, 2019 | January 1, 2014 |
| EB-4 | December 15, 2022 | December 15, 2022 | December 15, 2022 |
| EB-5 unreserved | Current | December 1, 2016 | December 1, 2023 |
“Current” means a visa number is available to anyone with an approved petition. A date means the category is oversubscribed, and numbers are authorized only for applicants whose priority date is earlier than the listed date. The EB-5 set-aside categories for rural areas, high unemployment areas and infrastructure were also current for all listed countries. The gap between India and the rest of the world is large in EB-2, which is why India-born applicants plan for very long waits.
Family preference categories have their own dates. In October 2026, the family F1 date for most countries was January 22, 2020, the F2A date was September 22, 2026, the F2B date was August 22, 2019, the F3 date was October 22, 2014 and the F4 date was October 22, 2011. USCIS announces each month whether applicants in the US may use the Dates for Filing chart instead of the Final Action chart.
What Is the Diversity Visa Lottery?
The Diversity Visa program is a lottery that gives up to 55,000 immigrant visas a year to people from countries with low rates of immigration to the US. The DV-2027 entry period has been delayed.
The State Department said on November 5, 2025 that it was changing the DV entry process and would announce the DV-2027 registration dates as soon as practicable. The visa application period for selected people stays October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027. A law firm article dated October 16, 2026 reports that a federal court in California ordered the State Department to announce the dates by October 29, 2026, open registration on November 1, 2026 for at least 30 days and notify selectees by December 3, 2026, though the order could change on appeal. The State Department had not published the dates when that article was written, so check travel.state.gov before you rely on any of this.
The same source says a rule effective April 10, 2026 requires entrants to give their passport details and upload a scan of the passport’s biographic page, and that a rule effective September 16, 2025 adds a $1 fee per entry, so DV-2027 would be the first lottery to charge it. Earlier State Department pages describe entry as free. Selectees who win still pay the $330 application fee and must pass the same interview checks as other immigrants. Entering more than once disqualifies all your entries, so submit only one.
What Is the Gold Card?
The Gold Card is a reported high-payment route to a green card, and as of late 2025 it was not open to applicants. Check current guidance before you consider it.
A law firm article from November 2025 reported a new Form I-140G for the program, with a $1 million gift per person, $2 million for a company sponsoring an employee, and a $15,000 USCIS petition fee. The same article said approval alone is not enough, because applicants still need a visa number in the EB-1 or EB-2 category under the Visa Bulletin. That article is now almost a year old, so treat every number as unconfirmed until you see current USCIS guidance. Do not send money to anyone who promises a Gold Card or any other guaranteed green card.
How Much Does US PR Cost?
The State Department immigrant visa application fee is $325 for family cases and $345 for employment cases, and USCIS adds its own fees. The affidavit of support review is $120 when reviewed domestically.
The State Department lists these amounts:
- Family-based immigrant visa application, based on an approved I-130, I-600 or I-800: $325.
- Employment-based application, based on an approved I-140 or I-526: $345.
- Affidavit of Support review, only when reviewed domestically: $120.
- Diversity Visa application fee, per selectee: $330.
For people who adjust status inside the US, a private immigration site dated September 2026 lists the Form I-485 fee at $1,440 for adults filing by paper or $1,390 online, and $950 or $900 for children under 14 who file with a parent. The same source lists $260 for a work permit and $630 by paper or $580 online for advance parole. These figures come from a private source, so confirm them on the USCIS fee schedule. Medical exams, translations and courier costs are extra. For other US visa costs, see our guide to visa prices in the USA.
Should You Apply From Abroad or Adjust Status?
Apply abroad if you live outside the US, and adjust status if you are already in the US in a status that allows it. The two paths use different forms and fees.
Consular processing runs through the National Visa Center and ends at an embassy interview. Adjustment of status runs through USCIS, with the filing fee above. Do not assume you can switch. A person on a visitor visa who plans to stay and apply for a green card may face problems, so ask a lawyer before you make plans. Our US business visa guide explains why B-1 holders are not allowed to work or plan a long stay. Keep your passport valid throughout, and if it is close to expiry, American applicants can use our passport renewal guide.
What Documents Do You Usually Need?
Expect a valid passport, civil documents, police certificates, a medical exam and proof of the qualifying relationship or job. Your checklist depends on the route.
Common items include:
- A valid passport.
- Birth, marriage and divorce documents where relevant.
- Police certificates from the countries where you lived.
- A medical exam by an approved physician.
- Passport-style photos.
- An affidavit of support from the sponsor in family cases.
- A job offer or employer petition in employment cases.
Our visa documents checklist tool helps you keep papers in one place, and the visa processing time calculator gives a rough idea of timing. Translate every document that is not in English.
What Mistakes Delay or Sink a Green Card Case?
Choosing the wrong route, missing a priority date and filing incomplete papers cause most delays. Check each item before you file.
- Assuming a green card holder can sponsor a parent or sibling. Only US citizens can.
- Relying on old Visa Bulletin dates instead of the current month.
- Entering the Diversity Visa lottery more than once.
- Paying a middleman who promises a guaranteed green card or an early Gold Card slot.
- Working on a visitor visa and then applying for a green card.
- Missing deadlines for selectee paperwork after a lottery win.
- Submitting forms without the fee in the accepted payment method.
When unsure, use the official source. The State Department’s page on family immigration is a good starting point, and our Canada PR guide shows how another country handles permanent residence.
FAQs
What is US PR?
It is lawful permanent residence, called a green card. The holder can live in the United States permanently but is not a citizen.
How can I get US PR?
Through a family petition, an employer petition, the Diversity Visa lottery or certain humanitarian and special categories.
How much does a US green card cost?
The State Department fee is $325 for family cases and $345 for employment cases. USCIS adds separate fees, such as the Form I-485 fee for people adjusting status.
How long does it take to get US PR?
It depends on the route. Immediate relatives have no cap, while preference categories wait for cut-off dates in the Visa Bulletin.
How many Diversity Visas are given each year?
Up to 55,000 immigrants can enter each year from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.
Can I enter the Diversity Visa lottery more than once?
No. Submitting more than one entry during the registration period disqualifies all of that person’s entries.
Is the Gold Card available?
As of a November 2025 report it was not open. Check current USCIS guidance before relying on it.
Conclusion
US PR is a green card, and the main routes are family, employment and the Diversity Visa lottery. Check the Visa Bulletin for your category, budget for the State Department and USCIS fees, and confirm the DV-2027 registration dates on the State Department website before you apply. Avoid anyone who guarantees a green card.
