Obtaining a U.S. Green Card remains a goal for many people throughout the world. All over the world, anyone who has obtained or is about to obtain a U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card), now has the opportunity to live and work legally and build a future in America permanently. What exactly is a Green Card? A U.S. Green Card (Permanent Resident Card) indicates that a foreign national has been granted lawful permanent resident (LPR) status in the United States. A Green Card is one of the most critical elements of the path to U.S. citizenship, providing the essential building blocks of an individual’s life in America until they reach full citizenship status.

This post provides a thorough guide to the primary function of the Green Card, as well as its main categories, while providing examples of what differentiates Green Cards from U.S. citizenship.

Rights and Responsibilities of a Green Card Holder

A Green Card allows an individual to legally reside and work in the United States as a permanent resident; however, it is important to understand understand what these rights and responsibilities are:

Rights: As a Green Card holder, you can live and work as a permanent resident of the United States, own real estate, send your children to public schools or universities, and obtain a state driver's license. As a Green Card holder, you will also qualify for certain social benefit programs offered by the United States, as well as afford to bring your immediate family members to the United States as permanent residents.

Responsibilities: Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) are required to comply with all federal, state, and local laws in the United States and file Federal Income Tax returns. Additionally, every Green Card holder is encouraged to support the Democratic government in the United States and males aged 18 to 25 must register with the Selective Service. Furthermore, every Lawful Permanent Resident must maintain their residency within the United States, and at all times, carry their Green Card with them as proof of their residency.

Green Card Types and the Pathways Leading to Them

There are many ways to become a permanent resident of the United States, the majority of which have very specific eligibility requirements. This article covers the major categories for becoming a permanent resident of the United States:

1. Family-Based Green Cards

This is the most common way to become a permanent resident; a U.S. citizen or green card (LPR) holder sponsors his/her qualifying family member (or in some cases, members). The first category, Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens, consists of spouses, unmarried children under 21 years old, and parents (if the U.S. citizen is 21 years old or older). There are no annual limits on these visas, meaning they are processed at a faster rate than other types of family-based green cards.

Family Preference includes Family Preference A, unmarried adult children (and their children) of U.S. citizens, and Family Preference B, spouses and unmarried children of LPRs. Family Preference C (married children of U.S. citizens) and Family Preference D (siblings of adult U.S. citizens) have annual limits on the number of green cards available each year, resulting in lengthy wait times of many years for applicants from some countries.

2. Employment-Based Immigration 

Immigrant green cards (a.k.a. a permanent residency visa) can be used by people outside the U. S. who cannot find work in the U.S., by people in the U.S. who have a job on hold, and by persons with skills that are in demand in the U.S.

Immigrant visas based on employment are broken down into 5 categories known as EB-5 (1-5). Each category has its own set of qualifications for that category (i.e. EB-1 through EB-5).

EB-1 Visa: Priority Workers: Individuals with extraordinary ability, outstanding researcher/professor, and executives of a multinational company.

EB-2 Visa : Professionals with Advanced Degrees: Individuals that have received an advanced degree or possess exceptional ability in the arts or sciences, business, and/or technology.

EB-3 Visa: Skilled Workers, Professionals and Other Workers: Professionals with a bachelor's degree, skilled workers that have a minimum of 2 years experience in the field, and unskilled workers for jobs that cannot be filled by U.S. workers.

EB-4 Visa: Special Immigrants: This includes religious workers or clergy, some employees of the U.S. Foreign Service posts, and others in similar categories. EB-4 immigrants usually qualify under one of the 5 above categories.

EB-5 Visa: Immigrant Investor: Program benefits those that can provide an EB-5 Visa as an option to live in the United States. The EB-5 Investment Visa allows immigrants to come to the U.S. by way of an investment in a new commercial enterprise that will create a minimum of ten (10) full-time jobs for American Workers. The investment amount is between $800,000 and $1,050,000.

Green Cards vs Citizenship: The Key Distinction

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Conclusion 

A Green Card is the legal residency document that allows you to live permanently in the US. You will have a good quality of life and have a number of rights and responsibilities. The Green Card will allow you to live in the US for the rest of your life. In general, a Green Card creates an opportunity for you to obtain long-term status or residence; however, a Green Card should be considered as one step in a long-term journey, not the last step in a journey of becoming a US citizen with full rights. It is crucial to fully understand the process of obtaining a Green Card and the advantages and disadvantages. An experienced attorney may help you navigate the process of obtaining your Green Card as well as create a path to achieve your goal of living permanently in the US.