Green cards
Visa holders have the option to adjust their status and become a legal permanent resident (green card holder) of the United States. The steps to becoming a permanent resident will vary by green card category and country of birth. The process can be lengthy.
The main green card sponsorship categories are:
Green card through family
Green card through a job (employer sponsored or self-sponsored)
Green card through diversity lottery (if country eligible)
Green card through refugee or asylee status
You can apply for a green card with or without sponsorship from a hospital.
If you would like a list of Mass General Brigham-recommended local immigration attorneys, please contact us. Employees that are eligible for a hospital-sponsored green card must use an approved attorney. The attorney represents both the employer and the individual, regardless of who pays the legal fees.
Using reputable local counsel is an important step in the green card process. As with all professions, there are many qualified, competent immigration lawyers, and some that are not. Immigration law is a complex field that is constantly changing, and it contains a variety of subspecialties, including employment, family, asylum, deportation, and more. Select a lawyer with a strong background in handling cases similar to yours and interpersonal skills you appreciate, including a genuine concern for your case. A green card is an investment in your future so do not decide on your attorney based solely on cost. Feel free to ask a firm about payment plans.
It is strongly advised to select a reputable local counsel who can accompany you to the green card interview (if required). Local lawyers know the personalities and procedures of the local immigration office better than someone across the country. It is recommended that those seeking self-filed green cards also utilize local counsel to avoid complications and ensure they have the opportunity to be represented by counsel at an interview (if applicable). Applicants applying for a green card in F or J status should consult with a reputable attorney. These visas do not allow for dual intent, and pursuing a green card may present additional complexities that require careful consideration and legal expertise.
Employer-sponsored, research-based green cards
A research-based green card (i.e., EB-1B, Outstanding Professors and Researcher) is an excellent option for individuals in faculty track roles, certain advanced-level weekly/monthly research positions, or clinicians with a strong research portfolio or high levels of clinical achievement.
You may qualify for a hospital-sponsored green card if the following requirements are met:
You have been working at your Mass General Brigham employer for at least one year
You have at least three (3) years of research experience
You have a permanent job. Note that roles such as research fellow, clinical fellow, and resident are considered temporary, as they are training positions. Since this type of role has a fixed termination date, it does not meet the USCIS definition of permanent
Your primary source of income is paid from the payroll system of the hospital
Funding paid by the hospital payroll system is secure for at least three (3) years
You are making valuable research or clinical contributions to the work of the hospital
Your department chair/senior leadership approves the sponsorship
If you are eligible and if your department agrees to the sponsorship:
You may ask your hospital department to contact our office for a green card support form, which they must complete and return to our office
Our office must represent the employer in support of your final green card application
Our office must sign the forms prepared by your immigration attorney (your supervisor or hospital department is not authorized to sign the final green card documents)
You must hire a Mass General Brigham-approved immigration attorney. Confirm your department’s policy on payment for the attorney and the filing fees. In many cases, employees are responsible for paying all or most legal fees (as permitted by law) even if the hospital has agreed to sponsor the green card. For a list of our approved attorneys, please contact us
Ideally, your immigration attorney should submit the green card application at least one year before your H-1B visa status reaches the six-year limit
Other employer-sponsored green cards (weekly, certain clinical roles, or non-research roles)
Employees who are non-academic or paid weekly do not need to satisfy the requirements listed above. However, they must have worked for their Mass General Brigham institution for at least one year and have a permanent job with secure funding.
Green card sponsorship for weekly-paid employees usually requires a Labor Certification. (Note: Nurses and physical therapists can bypass the market test, as these roles are considered shortage occupations. However, the steps listed must still be followed.) In some instances, this may also be the only path available for certain monthly employees, particularly those primarily engaged in clinical roles without active research involvement. This path entails the employer conducting recruitment and proving that no qualified American employees are available to fill the job.
For sponsorship approval, you must have the request approved and ask your supervisor or departmental administrator to contact GPS about policies and procedures. Your HR representative will also review the sponsorship request to determine feasibility.
If you are eligible and if your department and HR agree to sponsorship:
You may ask your hospital department to contact our office for a green card support form, which they must complete and return to our office. HR must also sign the form
Our office must represent the employer in support of your final green card application
Our office must sign the forms prepared by your immigration attorney (your supervisor or hospital department is not authorized to sign the final green card documents)
You must hire a Mass General Brigham-approved immigration attorney. Confirm your department’s policy on payment for the attorney and the filing fees. In many cases, employees are responsible for paying all or most legal fees (as permitted by law) even if the hospital has agreed to sponsor the green card. For a list of our approved attorneys, please contact us
Ideally, your immigration attorney should submit the green card application at least one year before your H-1B visa status reaches the six-year limit
