What Is a Green Card?

A Green Card allows entry to the United States under lawful permanent residency. The person who holds a green card is authorized to both live and work in the United States on a permanent basis. A United States Permanent Resident card or known in the past as an Alien Registration Card is basically an identification cards that provides proof that the alien or immigrant has a legal permanent status to be in the country. Green Card also applies to the immigration process of becoming a legal resident. Just because you have a green card it doesn't make you a citizen it does provide legal residence. You would have to take the US Citizenship Test to become a United States Citizen.

A Green Card will have the following information: Resident within the United States or Permanent Resident Commuter. The name of the issuing country, a 9-digit Alien ID number. The application receipt number and the immigrant case number. On the second line you will have the date of birth, assumed to be a check digit number, gender, expiration date, country of birth, on the next line you will have last name, middle and first name. First initial of the person's mother and father.

Any person who has been granted a Green Card can apply for citizenship after 5 years of residency has passed. If you are married to a US citizen the wait to take the test is 3 years and 4 years if you received your Green Card under asylum status. Green Card holders can apply as early as 90 days before meeting the residency requirements. By obtaining citizenship, you have more rights as well as more obligations than a person with just a Green Card. Though Green Card Holders cannot vote in federal or state elections. All males with Green Cards ages 18 to 26 must register with the Selective Service System.

All Green Card holders must pay federal and state taxes on their worldwide income just like a United States citizen, there may be certain conditions that can place a Green Card Holder up for deportation but these proceedings do not and will not apply to US Citizens and that is why it is important to get the citizenship. The process of getting the Green Card may take months and maybe years. In the meantime there are 2 different permits that one can get while waiting for their application to be processed. Here are some of the steps that are included in the process for getting the Green Card

  • Immigrant Petition: The USCIS has to approve the petition by qualifying a relative or employer who will act as their sponsor,
  • Immigrant Visa Availability: Unless the applicant is an immediate relative the immigrant must have an immigrant visa number from the National Visa Center of the United States Department of State.
  • Immigrant Visa Adjudication: This step requires the immigrant number is available and the applicant has to apply with the USCIS to have them adjust the applicant's current status.