For an individual to gain permanent residency within the United States, they must begin by filling out a Green Card form. This is an essential step in beginning the process for those that wish to gain a Green Card and live for an indefinite amount of time within the United States. To gain permanent residency status, it's essential that an individual first has a visa to legally work and live within the United States. Once they have a visa, they can apply for a Green Card and an important first step of that process is to fill out the Green Card form. This is where you will state your intent and in many cases must have an employer to sponsor your request and status. This process can be length and involve a lot of scrutiny, but it can end up in an individual working and living within the United States for their whole life.