What is a Green Card?

A green card permits the holder to have lawful permanent resident status in the United States. In fact, many people ask, “what is a green card” and put simply, this is a card that is green in color and officially known as the permanent resident card. The cards expire after ten years (although permanent resident status does not).

Those who hold a green card have been through a process that allows them to legally stay in America, but they may have obtained the green card through different means.

For some, they may have participated in the diversity visa lottery program. This allows immigrants from eligible countries to participate in a lottery with the chance of winning a green card to start a new life in the United States.

Some people may have applied for a green card due to the fact they are married to an American citizen or have been offered work through an American employer. There are a number of paths to go down when considering the best way to obtain a green card.

Once issued with a green card, you can stay study and work in the United States on the proviso that you do not violate any of the terms that come with holding permanent resident status. The next question we get as asked is “what is a green card condition”? There are a number of green card conditions. It is important that you do not move to any other country with the intention of living there permanently. You are not allowed to live outside of the United States for a period of more than one year without a re-entry permit or returning visitor visa. There are also rules to ensure that you do not mark yourself as a “non-resident” on your tax returns and you must file tax returns if you live outside of the United States for a period of time.

However, what is a green card if it doesn’t allow you to experience the American Dream? For those asking, “what is a green card”, we do think it represents a passport to a new life. The process can be exciting but also has a degree of complexity. It is therefore critical that whilst you can complete the process yourself, you do enlist help if you think it is needed. Every year, tens of thousands of people apply for a green card, so it is important to ensure your application is accurate.