Immigrant visa

3 Ways to apply for legal immigration to USA One can immigrate to America and get a US Green Card, by securing a job in the country. This option is open to highly skilled foreign nationals The second way most people choose to immigrate to the United States is through marriage. Third you can immigrate to America if you are a family member of a US citizen or a permanent resident.  How to apply If a person wants to legally immigrate to the US, the first step is to apply for an immigrant VISA. Submit a petition Choose an agent Pay fees Submit application Collect financial documents Collect supporting documents Submit documents Conduct applicant interview According to USCIS, an application for permanent residence (Form I-485) will take anywhere from 7 months to 33 months to process.