Definition and Eligibility

 

A "Permanent Resident" of the United States is someone who has been lawfully admitted into the United States or has adjusted status as a "lawful permanent resident" (or "green card" holder). Applications for U.S. permanent residency are made on a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) form called an "Immigrant Petition," and generally will be "employment-based" or "family-based." A U.S. employer can file employment-based immigrant petitions based on an offer of permanent, full-time employment. "Permanent," as defined by regulations (8 CFR 204.5 (i)(2)), means "either tenured, tenure-track, or for a term of indefinite or unlimited duration, and in which the employee will ordinarily have an expectation of continued employment unless there is good cause for termination." The petitioning typically entails a specific recruitment process and submission of extensive and time-intensive petitions/applications to one or more federal agencies for adjudication. For more detailed information on permanent residency, see the 500²ÊƱÍø will sponsor employees for permanent residence at the request of the department chairperson and if the position is considered permanent, with a minimum of three years' funding supporting the position.