• The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) allows eligible foreign nationals to adjust their non-immigrant visa status to become permanent residents. Typically, those eligible for an adjustment of status for U.S. permanent residency include foreign nationals who are immediate relatives of U.S. citizens or permanent residents, or those for whom U.S. employers file a Form I-140, a Petition for Alien Worker. Changing your immigration status allows you to enjoy certain privileges.
  
  

Employment

• One important effect of an immigration status change is your eligibility for employment. While some non-immigrant visas allow foreign nationals to work in the United States, non-immigrant visas are generally very restrictive. Changing your status from a non-immigrant visa status to an immigrant visa status allows you to work for any U.S. employer without restriction.
  
  

Immigration

• Since non-immigrant visa holders cannot apply for immigration benefits for their immediate relatives, becoming an immigrant visa holder allows you to petition for immigration benefits on behalf of your foreign relatives. This can be helpful to you if you would like to reunite with your foreign relatives.
  
  

Citizenship

• The first step to becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen is to become a permanent resident. Changing your immigration status to a permanent resident status allows you to apply for U.S. citizenship after meeting specific residency requirements. If you become a U.S. permanent resident and are not married to a U.S. citizen, you are eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship status after living in the United States for five years. If you are a permanent resident and are married to a U.S. citizen, you can apply to become U.S. citizen after three years of being married to your U.S. citizen spouse.