The United States has a rich history of immigration and is therefore immensely culturally diverse. Many individuals seek opportunities to live and work permanently in the country. While a family-preference green card through marriage is a common pathway to immigration, there are many other options to pursue. You may be wondering how to get a green card in the USA without marriage.
A California immigration attorney can work closely with you to learn the details of your case and goals, in addition to informing you of your options, including explaining how to get a green card in the USA without marriage.
A green card gives immigrants lawful permanent resident status, and immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, including spouses, can apply for one. However, there are other, more indirect routes to lawful permanent residence available to those without U.S. citizen family members.
Marriage is just one of the many pathways to obtaining an immigrant visa, pursuing lawful permanent residence, and eventually seeking naturalization. Other options include work-based visas, the visa lottery, and asylum or refugee visas. Consider the following options that can be viably pursued by those seeking green cards:
It is important to note that not all immigration visas require a family or company sponsor to be eligible. There are various immigration pathways that do not require a spouse to be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
Whether you are already located in the U.S. and trying to adjust your immigration status or are trying to find a channel to travel into the country legally, a dedicated U.S. immigration lawyer can help you understand your options. Even pursuing options such as a non-immigrant visa can help you make connections that could lead to an immigrant visa in the future to secure long-term residency.
When it comes to lawful permanent residents and individuals eligible to naturalize, California leads the numbers. According to recent DHS data, California had 2.89 million lawful permanent residents in 2023, accounting for roughly 23% of the total lawful permanent resident population in the United States. Of those lawful permanent residents, 2.16 million were eligible to naturalize.
These figures show how crucial California is in the immigration landscape and how many people are actually going through the green card and citizenship processes throughout the Golden State. It is precisely because California has such a massive immigrant population that the system is under extreme pressure, making reliable legal help more valuable than ever.
As of early 2026, California remains home to over 10.9 million immigrants, which is approximately 28 percent of our state’s total population. While many people navigate the process successfully, hiring a lawyer is often the difference between a smooth transition and a multi-year legal nightmare for the following reasons:
Although it can be overwhelming to navigate U.S. immigration law, you do not have to go through the process alone. The dedicated legal team at U.S. Law Center has decades of combined experience assisting individuals and their loved ones who are facing deportation, seeking humanitarian protections, obtaining green cards, and building a secure future in the nation they call home.
Based in Orange County and led by award-winning Attorney Sanjay Sobti, our firm is renowned for its multilingual representation, personalized attention to each case, and compassionate legal support. We have successfully represented thousands of clients, helping individuals secure lawful permanent residence status through non-traditional avenues that do not involve marriage.
If you are interested in applying for a green card but are unsure which category is right for you, we are eager to meet with you to understand your specific case details, concerns, and goals. Together, we can come up with a foolproof plan that helps you build your future right here in sunny Southern California.
Adjustment of Status (AOS) (I‑485) is the process of applying for permanent resident status, or getting a green card, while you are physically inside the United States. It requires lawful entry, which means you must generally have been “inspected and admitted” or paroled into the U.S. Individual factual circumstances matter.
Consular processing (DS‑260) is the path for obtaining a green card when you are applying from outside the United States. Someone may apply through a U.S. consulate abroad after obtaining approval of the petition.
It may be helpful to determine which situation applies to your circumstances:
Are you already in the U.S.? Then, if eligible, you may apply for an adjustment of status as a lawful permanent resident with a green card.
Are you outside the U.S.? Then you may typically be eligible for consular processing.
Do you have prior immigration violations? You may be flagged as high-risk, and your situation’s outcome is fact-specific. Speaking to a knowledgeable immigration lawyer.
Unfortunately, even those who qualify for a visa may still wait years because of three interconnected concepts:
Even if your date is current, you may experience a final approval delay. People may “qualify,” but they may still wait a long time. While you aren’t required to hire a lawyer, they can provide substantial help through this complex system.
Although many people may try to work through the green card application process on their own, thinking they can save on attorney costs, this can ultimately be far more costly down the line. By working with an empathetic, detail-oriented immigration attorney, you can dramatically improve your chances of a successful application, reducing the risk of costly delays or mistakes. Here is what makes legal guidance so important:
Working with an experienced and knowledgeable legal professional can help you move forward in the process with clarity and confidence, offering you peace of mind as you pursue your future in the United States.
A: The U.S. diversity lottery offers a path to permanent residence in the United States and is offered to individuals who come from countries that have been historically underrepresented in the US immigration process. Fifty thousand visas are offered annually at random, and there are usually between 13 million and 20 million applicants. You can increase your chances of winning by encouraging your spouse and children to apply if they are eligible.
A: The most common way to obtain a United States green card is by taking the family-based immigration pathway. However, one must be a close family member of a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident, such as a spouse, child, parent, or sibling, to qualify for this visa.
It’s important to note that the preference for processing the application depends on whether the sponsor is a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident, and on the particular family relationship with them.
A: Certain immigrant visas can be applied for that allow applicants to sponsor themselves instead of having to find someone to sponsor them. Foreign investors who meet certain criteria and individuals who can demonstrate exceptional abilities or skills in a particular field can sponsor themselves. Individuals who have been victims of criminal activities, as well as those granted refugee or asylum status, can apply for a green card without a sponsor.
A: The California Transparent Review of Unjust Transfers and Holds (TRUTH) Act was implemented in 2017 as a means to protect foreign nationals who were being detained by local law enforcement and transferred over to federal immigration authorities.
Under the TRUTH Act, local law enforcement is required to inform those detained of their rights and to provide them with access to an attorney. The TRUTH Act also establishes a committee to oversee enforcement and provide feedback on implementation improvements.
Starting and building a life in the United States can be full of uncertainties for immigrants. Whether you are working on finding legal pathways to go to the United States or are already based in the area and would like to change your immigration status, hiring an immigration lawyer at U.S. Law Center can assist you each step of the way.
Contact our knowledgeable and deeply experienced immigration team by filling out our online form to schedule your consultation.
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