– What is a Green Card –
There are so many answers as to what is a green card, and so many researches done about green cards by immigrants and various persons who need green cards. In this article, we’ll answer your questions on what a green card is
Each year, the US administration grants many green cards. A green card from the U.S. will allow you to live and work as a permanent resident in the United States.
The legal status of permanent resident is not identical to citizenry. However, immigration benefits are offered, such as work permits. Various green card varieties are available.
This page describes what is a green card; who can apply for different green cards; and step by step the green card process.
What is a Green Card?
A green card is also called a permanent card. This is your paperwork when you are a legally resident permanent in the United States.
Permanent residence is a kind of visa for immigrants which permits foreign nationals to legally live and work in the United States.
After 3 or 5 years of permanent residency status, Green Card holders may also become U.S. citizens. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the United States shall be responsible for the approval of applications for green cards.
There are green familiar cards for both same and heterosexual couples, including marriage Green Cards. Humanitarian green cards, job-based green cards and other specific green card categories exist as well.
Difference Between Green Card and Citizenship
You won’t be an American citizen with a green card. A green card is evidence of your continuing USCIS residence in the USA.
You can live and work lawfully in the USA, but do not get voting permission during U.S. national elections while in permanent residence status.
In all state and national elections, a U.S. citizen can live, work, and vote.
Green card holders can become U.S. citizens by the naturalization procedure once they have been permanent residents for three to five years.
Benefits of a Green Card
Besides being able to live and work permanently in the United States, legal permanent residents benefit from many other perks. Include these:
1. Eventual ability to pursue U.S. citizenship after meeting the legal requirements
2. Further legal rights
3. Can social security collect after a time
4. Can sponsor certain relatives for the own green card
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How Long Does a Green Card Last?
Legitimate permanent residents can permanently work and live in the U.S. Every 10 years, people need to renew their green physical card.
Furthermore, the holders of green cards are normally eligible for citizenship 90 days prior to their fifth birthday as a legitimate permanent resident.
Types of Green Cards
There are many types of green cards, but the most common of them are:
1. Family-Based Green Cards
2. Employment-Based Green Cards
3. Humanitarian Green Cards
4. Diversity Lottery Green Cards
5. Longtime-Resident Green Cards
6. Other Green Cards
Family-Based Green Cards
Family cards allow U.S. green card holders’ immediate relatives and U.S. citizens to live and work in America.
“Immediate relatives” are close relatives, notably married couples, parents, children without a marriage, and children. This type of card may also be applied by U.S. citizens’ widows and widows.
For same-sex couples, there is no distinct process in the U.S. immigration law for marriage-based green cards.
As long as you can show that your U.S. citizen or your green cardholder spouse is truly and legally related, you can apply for the green card.
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Employment-Based Green Cards
If you are an immigrant who has outstanding knowledge of science, arts, learning, business or sports, you qualify under this category; You are a doctor who accepts to work for a certain amount of time.
An immigrant investor that has invested or is active in a new business enterprise in the US that will create full-time employment for at least ten eligible people at the level of 1 million dollars (or 500,000 dollars in a designated employment region).
It is also possible to get a U.S Green Card from your employer. There are also different employment cards.
1. EB-1: Priority Workers
2. EB-2: Professionals with advanced degrees and extraordinary ability & Physicians with a Physician National Interest Waiver
3. EB-3: Skilled, unskilled, and professional workers
4. EB-4: Special workers
5. EB-5: Investors
You should contact an immigration lawyer if you wish to file for a U.S. employment visa or your card.
Humanitarian Green Cards
In addition, based on humanitarian grounds, the US government offers foreign nationals green cards.
For this sort of card, people who seek refuge and asylum status, victims of abuse and crimes and victims of human trafficking may apply.
The process for requesting humane green cards is not straightforward.
The easiest way to do it would be to have an expert immigration lawyer. The USA.gov website offers free and affordable legal services.
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For Refugees and Asylum Seekers
People who are afraid, or have experienced persecution, within the United States, by applying for a visa from abroad (as refugees) or from within the United States — because of their ethnicity, religion, citizenship, political opinions or participation in a particular social group. (to remain as asylees).
After living in America physically for at least one year from being granted refugee status or asylum, people can apply for a card.
A green card is required. In the United States, refugees and asylum seek protection through these programs and may eventually apply for a card, as well as children and spouses (and in certain situations extended family members).
Human Trafficking or Abused Victims
You can apply for a card without your familiar abusive knowledge through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
A violent spouse, parent, or child may be an abusive relative who is a green card holder or US citizen. Without letting the abusive relative know, USCIS will process the card petitions.
In an abusive situation, VAWA applies largely to all applicants.
More Details
That means that VAWA may apply for a card not only for women but also LGBT-inclusive and transgender people, men, children and parents.
An immigration lawyer can help you apply for this type of green card on the US.gov website free or at a low cost.
Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline for any person you know is a victim of abuse. You will get guidance on action plans and legal assistance.
You can call the hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or, if you have a hearing disability, at 1-800-787-3224 (TTY).
For Crime Victims
A U visa for documented and undocumented foreign nationals is a special non-immigrant visa to seek protection from violent crimes such as sexual assaults, abducts and torture.
For your U visa eligibility, law enforcement officials must vouch. You must also agree to assist in the investigation and prosecution of law enforcement crimes against which you are looking.
The candidate must, however, meet other eligibility conditions, including examples, in order to be eligible to apply for a green card:
1. You must have spent at least three years physically in the USA since acquiring a U visa.
2. You shall not leave the United States until USCIS has accepted (or refused) your application from the moment you applied for a card.
3. They must not have declined, until USSCIS accepts (or denies) their green card application, to investigate or prosecute specific offences since they have got a U visa.
Diversity Lottery Green Card
The Visa Diversity (green card) lottery is another means to make permanent residents of foreign nationals.
A list of countries whose people may participate in the lottery for a diverse immigrant visa is published annually by the US Government Department.
The immigrants to the United States are small in these nations and only persons from the countries listed are eligible for the lots. 50,000 persons are chosen through the lottery.
You can try your luck and submit your entry for the Card lottery if your nation is included in the list.
Longtime-Resident Green Card
A green card can be applied for by foreign nationals who have been legally or unlawfully in the USA since 1 January 1972.
The US immigration law designates “long-time residents” foreigners and may apply to receive a card by a registration process.
If you meet these additional qualifying conditions as a long-term citizen, you can apply for a card:
1. You came into the U.S. before January 1, 1972, and you haven’t left.
2. By not engaging in significant criminal conduct such as murder, you’ve retained “excellent moral character.”
3. You have not committed crimes, such as human and drug trafficking and marriage fraud, that entitle you to be expelled under the Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA).
4. You have not committed crimes that disqualify you from becoming a U.S. citizen through naturalization.
Other Green Cards
In addition to the basic categories of cards mentioned, there are still a lot of different green cards for which you can apply.
Some groups termed “special immigrants” may petition for permanent residency under U.S. immigration law.
Examples include Cuban people, staff of specific international organisations, Canadian-born American Indians, religious workers, and Iraqi and Afghanistan citizens who have specifically served the U.S. government.
Card Application Process
Your card application process will differ from that of the next person according to the eligibility category that you are applying for.
The processing period of an application for a green card varies on the USCIS service centre or agency that handles the application and the particular type of card.
Still, these typical process steps are followed in most card applications:
Submitting a Petition
The initial step is normally to make a petition on behalf of the recipient by the card sponsor (green card applicant). This is usually the case for requests for cards based on family and job.
You have to demonstrate that you have a family link or a work relationship that makes you an eligible green card citizen, a permanent residence or an employer.
Recipient submits request
Following receipt and approval by USCIS of the request by the green card sponsor, the card applicant can now apply. Either you will file a status modification (where applicable) or a consular request (if applying from outside the U.S.).
If you ask for an annual card quota from the US Government, you may have to wait until you apply for a card to acquire a visa number.
Information regarding the current number of visas available is contained in the visa bulletin on the State Department website.
In addition, you will need to provide necessary supporting papers with your Card application form such as tax records, birth certificates and others. The USCIS webpage contains all this information.
Appointment with Biometrics
After submitting the application for the green card, the USCIS or your local U.S. consulate will appoint you for biometrics to gather your fingerprints, photos and signatures.
The US Government uses the FBI database to verify that you have no criminal activity in your record. Your biometric details. You may not be eligible for a card for the crime.
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Interview Session
One of the key aspects of the card procedure is the interview with the green card.
The interview with the green card will be done either in a USCIS office. Or, if you apply from outside the United States, a local U.S. embassy or consulate.
Working out the processes of your green card with an attorney will really be of help to you in more ways than one, try to find and also ask questions where you are confused.
Thanks for reading through this article. We hope this work was of some help to you, bookmark this page for future updates and also don’t forget to share.
StudentsandScholarship Team.
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