The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) permits an individual to change his or her immigration status while in the United States from nonimmigrant or parolee (temporary) to immigrant (permanent). This process requires that the individual was inspected and admitted or paroled into the United States, and that this individual is able to meet all required qualifications for a green card (permanent residence) in a particular category. An eligible individual already in the United States can obtain permanent resident status (a green card) without having to return to his or her home country to complete visa processing.