Green Card

A Green Card is a Permanent Residence Visa (PRV) of the U.S.A.  Every year, the United States government grants 50,000 visas to individuals from eligible countries to work, study and live in the U.S. as part of the Diversity Visa Program (DVP).  The US uses a random computerized lottery system to pick who to give Green Cards to. American Green Card Lottery winners that get their green card may travel freely to and from the United States as they are considered permanent residents.

Topics related to US Immigration and Green Card include:

• Citizenship
• Naturalization
• Green Card
• Temporary Visas
• Work Visas
• Student Visas
• Deportation
• Resident Aliens

A Green Card gives an individual not a US citizen the legal right to live and work in the United States permanently.  It is possible to apply for many government jobs with a green card.  A recipient of a Green Card also has the right to sponsor some relatives for Green Cards.  You may keep your present citizenship, and you may apply for U.S. citizenship at a later time.  Green Card holders also receive health, education, and other benefits.

According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a green card provides a foreign-born resident of the United States with Lawful Permanent Residence (LPR) or green card.  If you are granted immigrant status, the USCIS has approved your petition and has issued you an immigrant visa number even if you are already in the United States.  Once you are in the United States, you can apply to amend your status to permanent resident.  If you are outside of the United States, you will be notified to go to the local US Consulate to complete the processing for an immigrant visa.

An applicant for adjustment to permanent resident status is legally entitled to apply for a work permit even while the case is pending.  Once your permanent residence status is granted you will no longer have to apply for a work permit.  If you need to travel outside the US while your application is pending, you will need to receive advance permission to return to the US in the form of a reentry visa called an Advance Parole.  If you travel outside the US without the permission of an Advance Parole, your petition for permanent residency will be considered abandoned by USCIS and you may be denied reentry into the US.

• The content of this article is for informational purposes only. If you have questions regarding permanent residency in the US, please contact a Green Card Lawyer.