Generally, you need a green card to live in the U.S. And you need an underlying legal path to apply for a green card - such as a petitioning relative, an employment-based petition, status as an asylee or refugee, or through investment.
If you opt not to live in the U.S. permanently, you could enter as a visitor as long as you maintain your primary residence outside of the U.S. But, you would not be able to work if you do this, and your stays in the U.S. would have to be for less than 6 months at a time.
Answered on Feb 07th, 2014 at 1:17 PM