subject: What is a Green Card? [print this page] What is a Green Card? What is a Green Card?
A person from another country who possesses a Green Card or Permanent Resident Card has the right to live and work permanently in the United States. This person has registered in the United States in accordance with United States immigration law. There is a process involved in obtaining a Green Card. An application must be filled out in order to qualify for a Green Card.
It is required to have necessary documents in order to be considered eligible for a Green Card. If an individual is not eligible for a Permanent Green Card, Conditional Green Cards are an option. Whenever a person travels between countries it is necessary to carry this Conditional or Permanent Green Card as proof that will give permission for reentry into the United States. There are also different methods of applying for a Green Card depending on whether a person is already in the United States and if a person is applying from outside of the United States.
There are different ways in which to apply for a Green Card through a relative, adoption, employment, marriage, investment, and/or a special immigrant. Often is the case where a person may have a combination of these choices for qualifying. If this happens to be the case, it is important to understand what type of application will be more likely approved and processed faster. A work visa, such as an H-1B Visa, must be issued by an applicant's sponsoring company when obtaining a Green Card through employment.
Once a Green Card is obtained, it gives you several privileges including: the right to live permanently in the United States, the right to work in the United States, the right to travel abroad for a certain period of time, the opportunity to apply for U.S. citizenship after a certain amount of years as a Green Card holder, and the right to petition for a Green Card for your spouse and any unmarried children under 21 years of age.
To determine how you can best prepare for your application, it is recommended to learn about the process and the different criteria of eligibility for Green Cards. It is a good idea to seek out legal assistance through an attorney specializing immigration and nationality to help you properly fill out the paperwork and handle the proceedings of obtaining a green card.
