- 1). Find a relative or an employer in the United States to sponsor your legal permanent residency. The relative needs to be a spouse, brother, sister, parent or child who is either a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident.
- 2). Have the relative or employer sponsor your permanent-residency petition with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. Have the sponsor fill out and file petition Form I-190 with USCIS, and disclose your criminal history.
- 3). Wait for a response from USCIS and cooperate. Take a biometrics exam or participate in an interview with a U.S. government official if necessary. Present any required documents including police reports, court papers and letters of recommendation.
- 4). Move to the United States when your application is approved. Live inside the U.S. for the required time period --- one year if you are enlisted in the military, three years if you are married to a U.S. citizen, or five years if you are a general permanent resident.
- 5). Visit the USCIS website and print out Form I-400. Fill out the form and include any required documents including proof of port of entry, proof of permanent residency and proof of physical residency inside the United States. Mail the application to the appropriate lock-box facility listed on the application; include a money order for $680 payable to the Department of Homeland Security.
- 6). Wait for a response from USCIS and cooperate. You may be required to take a biometrics exam or an interview. Be completely honest about your minor criminal history and cite the petty-crime exception.
- 7). If your application is approved, take the citizenship test. Finally, attend a citizenship ceremony to take an oath.
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