What is a Green Card?

With the continuing issue of immigration in the United States, more and more people are still applying for a "Green Card". However, what is a "Green Card" anyway?

Formally known as the Permanent Resident Card, a Green Card discloses information that provides proof of a person's lawful permanent resident status in the United States. Having a Green Card means a person has the right to live and work permanently in the USA.

However, Green Card holders should follow applicable immigration laws and be properly registered with the US government. They are also entitled to depart the United States either for vacation or work purposes, but there are limitations on how long they can stay outside the country without losing permanent resident status. In doing so, a document called a "Reentry Permit" must be obtained from the USCIS.

How to obtain a "Green Card" - There are several ways to have an American Green Card. One can apply for a Green Card either through Marriage with an American citizen, relatives already living in the United States, employment, investment, or participating in an annual Green Card Lottery.

Bear in mind that each path has strict requirements that one should follow and in some cases only a limited number of immigrants are granted with a permanent residency status. The process of applying for a Green Card can also be confusing and very costly.

Green Card through marriage - Over 450,000 US citizen marry foreign-born individuals and petition to their spouse's respective US embassies for them to obtain a permanent residency in the US. Being an "immediate relative" under immigration laws, the annual quota does not apply to spouses of US citizens.

Green Card through relatives - This process is possible if one has close relatives or family members already residing in the United States either by birth or through naturalization.

That family member can be one's spouse, a widow or widower, sibling (even half-sibling), son or daughter (including illegitimate children), stepson or stepdaughter, stepparent, adopted son or daughter, adopted parent, father or mother, and even a battered or abused spouse or child.

Green Card through employment - An employment-based Green Card Application is done in three steps: certifying proof that there are no qualified American citizens suitable for the position; getting a petition proving that one qualifies for a Green Card and that a job has been offered to him or her; and the Green Card application itself.

Green Card through investment - Also called the Fifth Preference Green Card, the EB-5 visa is available to anyone who invest a certain amount of money to the United States by creating a business or expanding one that already exists. The investor must be active in the management of the company, and should meet a minimum qualifying amount and separately responsible for the creation of new jobs.

Green Card Lottery - Every year, the United States Government issues 55,000 permanent resident cards to eligible foreign residents. Some countries are excluded from the lottery to ensure diversity of the overall pool of immigrants coming to the United States.

Applicants are selected randomly by a computer-generated draw. Once selected, the main applicant, his or her spouse, and all unmarried children under 21 years of age will have a chance to apply for permanent resident status in the United States.