What You Need to Know About a US Green Card?

Find out about the permanent resident green card process. Provides the different 

paths in obtaining a permanent resident green card for the United States.

United States Green Cards are issued to lawful permanent residents of the United States and a permanent resident is a person who is allowed to legally live and work in the United States. Such permanent residents are granted permanent resident cards, as a proof of their lawful status. Though the permanent resident cards, issued to the permanent residents are not actually green, these cards are commonly known as Green Cards, because the identity documents that were earlier issued to permanent residents were green in color. Foreign nationals may become permanent residents based on sponsorship, through the Green Card lottery program or by making an investment in a US business venture. People who are granted refugee or asylee status in America, may also become lawful permanent residents.

Before you could apply for a US Green Card, you need check whether you are eligible to immigrate to America. That is because, certain foreign nationals who are considered inadmissible into the country may not be granted lawful status. Hence it is recommended to make sure that your are eligible to enter into the United States. If you feel that you are eligible to immigrate to America, you will have to file the required forms. If your US citizen or permanent resident relative in the United States, is willing to sponsor you for lawful status in America, the sponsor must file an application on your behalf. If you are planning to immigrate to the United States based on a job offer, the US employer who is offering you a job must file a petition for you.

You may also go for the Green Card lottery program, that grants immigrant visas to the winners of the lottery program. However, you can take part in Green Card lottery only if you meet the eligibility requirements. Similarly, United States allows foreign nationals to invest in US businesses and the foreign investors who invest in America, will become eligible for lawful status in the country. Moreover, the eligible dependents of the foreign investor also may become eligible for lawful status in America. You may become eligible for a US Green Card through one of the above mentioned ways. But you need to retain the permanent resident card granted to you.

These permanent resident cards expire every ten years and you need to apply for Green Card renewal before your card could expire. These Green Cards will allow the permanent residents to live anywhere in America and travel freely within the country. Though the permanent residents are allowed to travel abroad, there are a few limitations. However, Green Card holders are granted a variety of rights and they can remain in the country, forever. The status granted to Green Card holders will be revoked only if they fail to follow the US immigration laws and if they violate the laws.