In addition, you'll have to provide photos and various documents, such as a copy of your visa petition approval or asylum approval, a job letter from the employer who petitioned you saying the job is still open, your birth certificate, copies of certain pages of your passport, and more. It depends on what category you're applying under.

After you've assembled everything (and made a copy for your records), you'll mail it to a USCIS service center. Months later, you'll be called in to have your fingerprints taken, and later still, you'll be called to your local USCIS office for an interview. If everything is in order, you will be approved for a green card at the end of your interview. The actual green card will be sent to you by mail, usually months later.

(U.S. embassies and consulates outside your home country will normally refuse to accept your application, unless you can show a compelling reason why you are unable to apply at home, for example, because the U.S. has no diplomatic relationship with the government of your homeland.)

The consulate will then send you additional forms to fill out. and will notify you of the date and time for your interview, and give you instructions on getting a medical exam and photos beforehand. You'll have to prepare various documents to bring to your interview, such as your passport, police certificates, your birth and marriage certificates, and more. It depends on what category you're applying under.