There is often confusion concerning the differences between green card holders and those with citizenship status. 6 min read
There are a number of advantages of a green card for US immigrants. All immigrants must hold a green card before becoming eligible to apply for US citizenship.3 min read
The green card is officially called a permanent resident card and serves as proof that you have status as a legal permanent resident of the United States.8 min read
In a Nutshell
More than a million people in the United States live in lawful permanent resident status. People become permanent residents in different ways,- through marriage, close family members, employment, and others. There are several benefits of holding a green card. This article explains green card benefits, the responsibilities of having a green card, and some limitations green card holders face.
The Primary Benefits of Having a Green Card
Having a U.S. green card (permanent resident card) is very advantageous. The main benefit is that the green card holder can permanently live and work in the United States. Eventually, you can also apply to become a U.S. citizen. Here are the primary benefits of a green card:
What Are the Responsibilities of Green Card Holders?
Although you can live and work in the United States and enjoy most of the same benefits as U.S. citizens, you do not yet have the full rights of a citizen. These are some of the limitations you will face as a green card holder:
Официальное название грин-карты – United States Permanent Resident Card. Так что же это? Это документ, удостоверяющий личность, который подтверждает наличие вида на жительство в США у человека, не являющегося гражданином страны, но имеющего равные с ним права. Исключение составляет лишь право голосовать на выборах.
Держатель грин-карты (вида на жительство) является постоянным резидентом США.
Как иностранному гражданину получить грин-карту?
Существует множество способов получения вида на жительство в США: лотерея, работа, брак, родственные связи, инвестиции, статус беженца.
Проживание на территории США на законных основаниях
Наличие грин-карты дает право законно проживать в США в течение 10 лет, после чего грин-карта продлевается. Однако владелец грин-карты должен сообщать о переезде: при смене адреса необходимо в течение 10 дней сообщить в иммиграционную службу о новом месте своего проживания.
Свободное пересечение границ Соединённых Штатов
Держатель грин-карты может беспрепятственно въезжать и выезжать на территорию США. Важная деталь: при отсутствии в США более полугода, владельцу грин-карты необходимо предоставить иммиграционной службе вескую причину своего длительного отсутствия.
При нахождении за пределами территории США более одного года, считается, что резидент добровольно отказывается от грин-карты. Кроме того, в подобном случае общий срок пребывания на территории страны прерывается. Этот нюанс в дальнейшем может негативно повлиять на получение гражданства.
Одинаковые права с гражданином США, кроме права голосовать
Став владельцем грин-карты, резидент получает все права гражданина США, кроме права голосовать. Постоянный резидент США имеет право на защиту семьи, деловых интересов американским законодательством, право пересекать границу без визы, брать кредиты, ипотеку на выгодных условиях, скидки, гранты и стипендии при обучении, право работать, открывать свой бизнес и многое другое.
Возможность стать гражданином США
Для подачи пакета документов на получение гражданства США необходимо прожить в статусе постоянного резидента (владельца грин-карты) более пяти лет, пребывая ежегодно на территории США не менее полугода. Также необходимо проживать на территории штата, где подаётся заявление на гражданство, как минимум 3 месяца до момента подачи заявки.
Свободно работать на территории США
Владелец грин-карты имеет право работать на любой должности, кроме политической.
Чтобы трудоустроить иностранного гражданина, работодателю необходимо оформлять разрешение. Держатель грин-карты, как законный резидент страны, может занимать любую должность (за исключением политической), без необходимости сбора дополнительной документации и затрат.
Право на пенсию и социальные льготы
После 10 лет трудового стажа обладатель грин-карты может претендовать на пенсию и социальные льготы, например, на финансовую помощь по инвалидности, нетрудоспособности, потере заработка и прочее.
В Америке система страхования одна из самых развитых в мире. Большинство американцев страхуют практически всё: здоровье, жизнь, имущество и т.д. Оформить страховку можно с любым миграционным статусом, однако, при наличии грин-карты условия и стоимость страхования будут выгодно отличаться.
Сниженный процент по кредиту
При наличии грин-карты оформление кредита становится значительно проще, а банковский процент существенно снижается.
Иностранным гражданам американские банки также предоставляют кредиты, но на более жёстких условиях. Например, процент по кредиту на жилье для граждан и резидентов США будет составлять примерно от 3% до 4,5%. Для иностранных граждан процент по займу будет начинаться от 7%.
Заёмщику без грин-карты придётся вносить залог до 40% от суммы кредита, в то время как для резидента США первый взнос составит около 10% или будет отсутствовать вовсе.
У детей владельца грин-карты есть возможность бесплатного образования в государственных и муниципальных школах, а также в некоторых колледжах и университетах. Стоимость обучения в государственных университетах для владельцев грин-карт значительно ниже, чем для иностранных студентов.
Некоторые университеты могут существенно снижать цену для резидентов штата, в котором они расположены. Разница может составлять от 10% до 200%.
Университеты самостоятельно устанавливают требования по определению статуса резидента. В большинстве случаев это факт проживания семьи и уплаты налогов на протяжении более двух лет в штате, где расположен университет.
Для туристов с грин-картой безвизовый въезд может осуществляться в следующие страны: Багамы, Доминиканская республика, Канада, Коста-Рика, Ямайка, Мексика и пр.
Грин-карта США для всей семьи через инвестиции
Главные обязанности резидента США (держателя грин-карты):
Наличие грин-карты дает много преимуществ и значительно облегчает жизнь в США. При желании, уже через 5 лет можно получить паспорт и стать полноправным гражданином Соединённых Штатов Америки или же каждые 10 лет продлевать уже имеющуюся грин-карту и оставаться постоянным резидентом.
Your green card interview will take place at a USCIS field office or U.S. consulate or embassy closest to you, depending on whether you applied from inside or outside the U.S. The interviewing officer will ask you questions about what you put on your application and whether anything has changed between the time you filed and your interview date. This article explains what you need to know about the interview process and how to prepare for it.
What is a green card interview, and when does it happen?
A Green Card interview is the U.S. government’s way of meeting the Green Card applicant in person to verify that the applicant is eligible to become a permanent resident and that all of the information on their application is valid. This interview is usually the final step of the Green Card application and normally happens 7 to 15 months after filing.
Who needs to go to a Green Card interview?
The Green Card interview will be held at a local USCIS office or at the U.S. embassy or consulate closest to the address you listed on your application. Whoever’s name is listed on the interview appointment notice must attend the interview.
In some family-based Green Card applications, both the petitioner(sponsor) and the beneficiary(applicant) must appear for the interview, unless they both live in different countries. This is usually the case for marriage-base applications, because the government will use the interview to determine if your marriage is authentic and needs to speak with both of you to do so.
If you live in the U.S. and are filing for a Family Green Card for your parent, child, spouse, or sibling who lives outside the U.S., you do not need to accompany them to their Green Card interview.
For employment-based Green Cards, only employees must attend the interview.
Sometimes, depending on your immigration situation, you may not be required to attend a Green Card interview at all. Asylees, for instance, may not need to have a Green Card interview. The U.S. government will let you know if you need to attend an interview.
Who can you bring to your Green Card interview?
If you are not fluent in English and will need help to understand what is happening at your interview, you can bring an interpreter with you to your Green Card interview. According to interview guidelines, the interpreter must strictly translate what the interviewing officer asks, without adding their own opinion, commentary, or answer to their translation. The interpreter must bring their government-issued I.D.and complete an interpreter’s oath and privacy statement at the interview. If the USCIS officer is fluent in your language, they may choose to interview you in that language, and you may not need an interpreter after all.
Can you bring a lawyer?
Yes, you can bring a lawyer with you to your Green Card interview if you would like. If you have some criminal or immigration issues on your record, it may be a good idea to attend your interview with a lawyer so that they can help you explain these issues. Your lawyer must complete and submit Form G-28, Notice of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative so they can go with you to the interview. Check out usa.gov for free or low-cost immigration lawyers.
Can you bring friends or family members who are not part of your application?
In most cases, the only people who should attend the Green Card interview are those whose names are listed on the interview appointment notice that USCIS or NVC sent, interpreters, and lawyers. If you have a disability, you may attend the interview with a legal guardian or friend. Call the USCIS office or U.S. embassy or consulate where you will be interviewing ahead of time to make these preparations.
Will you be able to interview with your spouse?
If you apply for a marriage-based Green Card, both you and your spouse must attend the interview. The interview process can go a couple of different ways when you and your spouse arrive. You may be interviewed together by the same interviewer at the same time. You may also be interviewed separately, either by the same interviewer but at different times, or by a different interviewing officer at the same time or different times
What should you bring to your Green Card interview?
There are some documents that you must bring to your Green Card interview, and others that would be helpful to have with you, depending on your case type. This section outlines the documents you’ll need in two separate checklists: one for interviews inside the U.S. and one for interviews at a U.S. embassy or consulate outside the U.S.
If you are applying from inside of the U. through Adjustment of Status
- Form I-130
- Form I-864
- Form I-131
- Form I-765
- Form I-944
If you are applying from outside of the U. through Consular Processing
- Form I-130
- Form I-864
- DS-261
- DS-5540
What other documents should you bring?
In addition to the required documents above, it’s a good idea to bring a few other supporting documents whether you’re playing inside the U.S. or from abroad. At the interview, the USCIS officer or Embassy official will ask if you have had any life changes that may have affected your application and may have caused an answer on your application to change since you applied. They are looking for things like a change of employer, change of address, birth of a new child, etc. It’s a good idea to bring documents that reflect these changes with you to the interview. You should speak with an immigration lawyer or law firm before your interview if you have had any run-ins with the law or with U.S. immigration officials since you applied, as these could cause the interviewing officer to deny your application.
What questions will the interviewing officer ask at your Green Card interview?
Your interviewer will either be a USCIS immigration officer (if your interview is in the United States) or a consular officer (if your interview is outside the United States), who is specifically-trained for your application type. For all application types, the goal of the interview questions is to make sure that the information that you provided on your application is consistent with your answers at the interview.
The interviewing officer will also have a secondary objective that will be different for each application type. If you are applying for a Marriage Green Card, your interviewer will ask questions to make sure that your marriage is the real deal and not just an attempt to get a Green Card. For other family-based Green Cards, the interviewer will ask questions to confirm that you are related to your sponsor in the way that you claim. For humanitarian Green Cards like those issued under VAWA or Asylum laws, the interviewer will ask questions to make sure that you actually need a Green Card to get the safety and protection that you are asking for in your application. In all cases, your interviewer wants to know if you are truly eligible for the Green Card you are applying for and will ask you questions to that end.
You should be ready for questions that can get very personal. The interviewing officer may dig into the circumstances surrounding your entry into the U.S., your previous immigration history, and any past arrests. You should be as honest as possible. If the interviewer asks you a question that you don’t know the answer to, it is better to admit that you don’t know the answer than to make something up.
Here are some sample Green Card interview questions to give you a sense of what you can expect:
Questions about you
The Green Card interview is a big deal, and so you should arrive for your interview well prepared. That is true for anyone who must attend the interview. If you are interviewing for a marriage green card, for example, you and your spouse should prepare for the interview together. This is so you don’t contradict each other in your responses and make the interviewer suspicious that your relationship isn’t legitimate.
The Green Card interview may feel intimidating, but with a little practice, you will be able to ace yours! Here are a few tips to help you prepare.
Getting ready for the interview
When preparing for your interview, you should assemble copies of the forms and original documents that you included in your application, as well as any documents you need to show changes since you applied.
If you are applying for a Family Green Card, gather everything you need to prove your relationship with your sponsor is real and legitimate. Include any marriage certificates, birth certificates, joint bank account statements, holiday itineraries, phone records between you and your spouse, wedding photos, proposal photos, etc.
If you’re applying for a humanitarian green card, bring any documents that help prove that you need protection and safety in the US. In all cases.
In general. the more documents you bring to prove that your claim to a Green Card is legitimate, the better.
It’s a good idea to arrange your forms, photos, and documents in chronological order for your easy reference during the interview. You could arrange any photos in a photo album, and any other documents in a folder – whichever works best for you in terms of organization. The more organized you are, the easier it will be for you to answer the interviewing officer’s questions in a way that supports your case.
During the interview
The biggest tip to take with you to the interview is to be open and honest with the interviewing officer. Answer each question the officer asks you truthfully and completely, no half-truths. Your goal is to present yourself as honestly as possible. You need to be open about any mistakes, struggles, or difficulties you’ve faced in your life and relationships, even if it is uncomfortable or you are worried that honesty will hurt your application. Dishonesty will hurt it even more and may ruin your chances of living in the U.S.
Be prepared for some very personal questions. If you’re applying for a Marriage Green Card, for example, the interviewing officer is trying to get a sense of what your relationship with your spouse is like. That may lead to some uncomfortable questions. The office may ask you about your reproductive health, the contraceptives you use, or a tattoo that your spouse.
If you find that a question is too intrusive, you can let the interviewing officer know. It is okay to speak your mind because that shows the officer that you are being honest. They may still require you to answer the question, but at least they will know that you are trying to work with them.
No matter what, though, you should answer their questions honestly. If things get awkward, remember your goal, take a deep breath, and tell the truth!
The Green Card interview is your time to shine, and we can help you get there with a rock-solid application.
What happens after your Green Card interview?
Five different things could happen after your Green Card adjustment of status interview:
The government approves your application
If the interview goes well, the U.S. government will approve your Green Card case. In many cases, the interviewing officer will let you know that your case is approved at your interview! You can expect to receive your Green Card in the mail some 2 to 3 weeks after your case is approved.
The government asks you to come back for another interview
The government may decide to invite you for a second interview if they believe there’s more to verify in your background or your relationship with your spouse or family member. If that happens, you will receive a new appointment notice from USCIS or your local U.S. embassy or consulate in the mail.
The government asks you for more information
Instead of a second interview, the U.S. government may send you a Request for Evidence (RFE). An RFE asks you to provide additional information so that the government can make a final decision on your case. If you receive an RFE, it will tell you what you need to submit, and by what date. Some common things that the government will request are additional supporting documents like proof that your family relationship is authentic, birth certificates, criminal records, and financial statements. It is very important that you submit everything the RFE asks for before the due date. If you don’t, the government will probably deny your application.
The government takes some time to review your application in more detail
The interviewing officer may let you know that they need to review your application further, and so you will not be receiving a final decision just yet. If that happens, the government will notify you of additional steps for your application, or their final decision, by mail within a few weeks.
The government denies your application
If the interviewing officer determines that you are no longer eligible for a Green Card, they will often allow you to provide extra information to make your case at a later date. However, they may also deny your application on the spot.
If they deny your application you may have a chance to appeal their decision. But it’s not a good idea to file an appeal on your own if you can avoid it. You can find a skilled immigration lawyer to guide you through the appeal process at USA.gov. Many can even help at low or no cost depending on your ability to pay!
The best way to be ready for your Green Card interview is to prepare well ahead of time. If your interview is in the U.S., review USCIS’s interview guidelines. If your interview is at a U.S. embassy or consulate outside the U.S, review the NVC’s interview guidelines.
Dual Citizenship
It is important to note that the United States will not stop someone from keeping citizenship in another country after becoming a U.S. citizen nor can it cancel the U.S. citizenship status based on the fact that someone becomes a citizen of another country. However, one thing to keep in mind is whether or not the other country will allow the individual to have dual citizenship in that respective country as well as in the United States.
Apply for a Green Card With Legal Help
If you want to be a permanent resident of the U.S., you need a green card. However, the application process is difficult for many. Make applying for a green card easier by posting your legal need through UpCounsel.
The Different Types of Green Cards
1. Employment-Based Green Cards
In order to receive a green card based on employment, the applicant must be sponsored by a United States employer. This goes through a labor certification process, though in certain situations, exceptions may exist. 140,000 employment-based green cards are granted each year. Most these visas are reserved for certain professions, experts in a given field, or workers whose skills are in high-demand in the United States.
2. Family Green Cards
Those who have family members in the United States can be sponsored by those relatives and receive a green card for permanent residency. Family members who can serve as sponsors include parents, siblings, children, or spouses. If the sponsor is a green card holder and not a citizen, they must be the child or spouse of the applicant.
3. Marriage-Based Green Cards
Those immigrants who marry a United States citizen or a green card holder are eligible to receive permanent residency based on this marriage. This applies to both traditional couples and same-sex marriages since the Supreme Court recognized same-sex marriage as a Constitutional right. This process involves Form I-130, Form I-485, or some combination of both after applying for a K-1 visa to get into the country and marry.
Green cards granted in this way are temporary and good for two years. In order to remove this limitation, holders must file Form I-751 within 90 days of expiry to gain permanent status.
4. EB-5 Investment Cards
First created in 1990 as part of an overhaul of the nation’s immigration program, this visa was to help create jobs in the U.S. It was originally only available to those who invested at least $1 million and created at least 10 jobs. A provision for rural areas and areas of high unemployment allows for spending only $500,000.
Starting in 1992, the program extended to companies who could pool investors’ money and function as regional centers. This permitted centers to use jobs created indirectly towards EB-5 applications.
For example:Rather than opening a factory that directly employed 10 people, an investor can claim that putting money towards a construction project helps to feed other local businesses and create jobs.
Roughly 95 percent of EB-5 visas are awarded through these “indirect job creation” investments.
5. DV-Lottery Cards
If selected, you go through an interview process and demonstrate your ability to get a green card. It’s important to act fast, as more people get approved than there are visas, and they’re awarded on a first come, first-served basis after the lottery.
6. Special Immigrants
Other classes of people qualify for special immigrant classification for a green card.
- foreign med school graduates who were in the U.S. prior to 1978
- those who have lived continuously in the U.S. since 1972
In addition, refugees who face persecution or danger to life or well-being in their home country due to political opinions, social groupings, religion, race, or nationality can apply for political asylum, which can lead to a green card.
Determining Eligibility
The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) outlines who is eligible for a green card. The most common means of acquiring one is through marriage, but in general, you must be able to enter the U.S. through a job, making investments in U.S. interests, being a refugee, or having another pre-established form of eligibility. You must have no criminal background, be in good health, be mentally stable, and able to hold a job.
If your parents are citizens of the United states and you’re either married or over 21, or if your brothers or sisters are citizens, you are considered a ‘preference relative’. This makes you eligible for a green card when they become available in your category. However, you should expect to wait a long time to receive your green card. Your relative must be willing to sponsor you and support you financially.
Spouses of U.S. permanent residents and unmarried adult children of parents who are permanent residents are also considered preference relatives. The same stipulations apply to these immigrants. Annual limits mean you should expect to wait to receive your green card.
Foreign workers who have received a job offer from a U.S. employer may be eligible for a green card. You will, however, have to have the right qualifications and background. In addition, your employer must be willing to sponsor you and demonstrate that the position can’t be filled by a U.S. worker. If you don’t qualify for a green card, you may be able to get a temporary work visa such as an H-1B.
Lawful Permanent Residence
Qualifying for a green card in the U.S. can be rather difficult because there are few categories of those who can apply for green cards; moreover, the USCIS limits the number of green cards given out each year. Some other considerations to keep in mind when applying for green card status include the fact that the process is lengthy and complex. Furthermore, even if you fall into one of the qualified categories, the USCIS may still deem you inadmissible for green card status. This inadmissibility status may be due to the perceived risk based on a criminal or terrorist background, prior immigration violations, health problems, financial issues, etc.
Green Card for Refugees
The U.S. government will also offer refugee status to those who are in fear of or have experienced persecution in their home country based on religion, nationality, race, political beliefs, or membership in a certain social group. Green cards can be issued to refugees after they have been in the U.S. for one year.
What is a Green Card?
A green card is a document that allows immigrants to stay in the United States permanently.
The green card is officially called a permanent resident card and serves as proof that you have status as a legal permanent resident of the United States. It affords you immigration benefits, including the right to work and live in the U.S. Any immigrant who is at least 18 years old must carry the green card on their person all the time.
The process to get a green card undergoes frequent revisions and changes, from the steps you need to take to the waiting periods. It’s best to first decide which type of green card you need and then research the requirements for that type.
Currently, the various types of green cards are those based on employment,family, marriage, those under the EB-5 investment program, and those granted through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (also called the green card lottery).
There are certain forms and processes that applicants complete to receive a green card. These vary based on the type of card you are seeking. These include submitting an application with the proper forms and supporting documents and paying a filing fee.
Everything You Need to Know
Green card vs. citizenship – there are similarities and differences between both. More specifically, a green card holder has every legal right to live and work in the United States. It is an immigration process for becoming a citizen. Therefore, most people who are green card holders eventually become citizens.
Green Card Lottery
●Have at least a high-school education, 12 years of elementary and secondary study or two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring a minimum of two years training or experience.
Renewal or Replacement of a Green Card
Your green card, though it’s called “permanent residency,” must be renewed every 10 years. This is done by filing Form I-90. Likewise, if you lose your green card, you need to file Form I-90 to replace it. If you allow your expiration date to pass, your resident status is revoked. Apply for your renewal as soon as you can to prevent this from happening. You should fill out Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Residence Card.
Green Cards for Family Members
This is one of the most common categories of green card eligibility, and there is no limited to the number of green cards you can obtain for family members as long as those family members fit certain criteria. This includes:
●Spouses and widows/widowers of U.S. citizens
●Children and step-children who are both unmarried and under the age of 21
●Stepparents- the marriage must have occurred before the child was 18 years of age.
●Adopted children- the adoption must have taken place before the age of 16.
There are green cards that are given out to other relatives of U.S. citizens and green card holders, referred to as preference relatives. These generally have longer wait periods as only 480,000 of these green cards are given out to preference relatives each year. These are given on a first come first served basis; the wait tends to range from three to 24 years. The siblings of U.S. citizens usually wait the longest. Below are the preferences:
●Unmarried children of a U.S. citizen who are 21 years of age or older
●Spouses and unmarried children of a green card holder
●Married children with one or more parents who are U.S. citizens
●Siblings of U.S. citizens, in which the citizen is at least 21 years of age.
The Rights of Green Card Holders
Green card holders have certain rights and expectations that go with their status.
Green Card vs. Citizenship
A green card and U.S. citizenship both give you the legal right to live and work in the United States. However, there are some fundamental differences between the two.
If you are looking to permanently immigrate to the U.S., obtaining a green card is the first step toward it. Green card holders usually have to wait several years before becoming eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship, through the process of naturalization.
Other eligible ways of being a U.S. citizen include:
The only way a foreigner can become a U.S. citizen without holding any immigration status is by serving in the U.S. military.
Benefits of Having U. Citizenship
U.S. citizenship gives you the permanent right to live in the U.S. It’s the highest status you can get under the U.S. immigration laws.
If you need help with obtaining a green card, you can post your legal need on UpCounsel’s marketplace. UpCounsel accepts only the top 5 percent of lawyers to its site. Lawyers on UpCounsel come from law schools such as Harvard Law and Yale Law and average 14 years of legal experience, including work with or on behalf of companies like Google, Menlo Ventures, and Airbnb.
Visas vs. Green Cards
Visas and green cards aren’t the same, though they do somewhat overlap. A visa gives you the ability to enter the United States for a vacation, employment, studying, or other reasons. Some people gain visas for refugee status or because they are seeking political asylum. It appears as a stamp or number on your passport showing that you are eligible to stay in the nation for a certain period.
Green cards, however, give you a number of rights similar to those held by United States citizens. They are good for 10 years at a time and are renewable through a fairly basic process. However, if you get a green card, you can’t maintain a primary residence elsewhere. You must live primarily in the United States.
Those seeking citizenship need to live in the U.S. for at least five years, which means applying for a green card while seeking a path to naturalization.
Green Card Controversies
EB-5 Green Card Controversies
There’s been controversy in Congress about various aspects of the green card program. Among these is the EB-5, also known as the immigrant investor program. This program allows immigrants to get a card if they make certain financial investments towards job creation in the U.S. This has been interpreted as allowing wealthy people to simply buy legal immigrant status.
As foreign interests in this program have dramatically increased over the past several years, the program has been questioned more, particularly in light of certain highly public failures. Since the recession in 2008, the number of EB-5 applications has skyrocketed, with the program awarding its full 10,000-card quota in 2014 for the first time.
Most people who apply for EB-5 visas are Chinese investors, with over 9,000 awarded in 2014. The next highest number is investors from South Korea, who received 225 visas. This is seen as unfair when the jobs created aren’t tangible and there are plenty of direct job creation opportunities to fill the quota.
Marriage-Based Green Card Controversies
There are those who engage in marriages just to gain entry into the United States and an expedited path to citizenship. This practice is illegal and has the potential to endanger the future of marriage-based residency.
Two recent executive orders seek to limit or prohibit immigration from specific nations. While both executive orders were halted by the federal courts, they do present uncertainty to certain immigrants. One of the rules in the orders bars permanent resident card holders. The orders effectively strip you of your rights as a green card holder, which is one of the reasons they’re being challenged in court.
Green Card and Citizenship Differences
There are a total of 140,000 green cards available every year for those with certain job skills that are needed in the U.S. For those who receive a job offer from a U.S. business, the company itself must either sponsor or assist the non-citizen in obtaining green card status. Below are the preferences for job skill:
●People of extraordinary ability in the arts, science, education, business, or athletics; exceptional professors and researchers; and managers/executives of multinational companies.
●Those with an advanced degree or exceptional ability.
●Professional and skilled or unskilled workers.
●Religious workers and other misc. categories of workers, titled “special immigrants”.
●Investors who can provide $1 million financing into a U.S. business or $500,000 in a business that is in a locally depressed area (EB-5). Such an investment must create at least ten new jobs.
Advantages of Green Card
There are a number of advantages of a green card for U.S. immigrants. All immigrants must hold a green card before becoming eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship. If your home country allows dual citizenship, you can apply to become a U.S. citizen, without having to give up your current nationality.
Green Card Removal Proceedings
If you need help finding an immigration attorney and learning more about the differences and similarities between green card and citizenship, you can post your legal need on UpCounsel’s marketplace. UpCounsel accepts only the top 5 percent of lawyers to its site. Lawyers on UpCounsel come from law schools such as Harvard Law and Yale Law and average 14 years of legal experience, including work with or on behalf of companies like Google, Menlo Ventures, and Airbnb.
Benefits of Becoming a U. Citizen
●Citizens cannot be deported to their home country; however, the one way in which they can in fact be deported is if the individual commits fraud in obtaining citizenship.
●As a U.S. citizen, you can vote in every election.
●You can apply for loans, scholarships, grants, and any other type of financial assistance that a U.S. citizen can apply for.
●As a U.S. citizen, you can file immigration petitions for your family to join you in the U.S. You can also obtain citizenship for your children who are born outside of the U.S.
●You can travel freely within the U.S. or internationally.
●You can obtain health and other medical insurance, retirement insurance, and any other type of benefit you wish to have.
●You can work as a federal or state employee.
Factors to Consider
There are many things you need to submit to earn a green card. These include the application, supporting documentation, and required fees. However, this can vary depending on how you become eligible.
For instance, those applying due to marriage first need to apply for a K-1 visa and then actually get married. After this, you apply for your conditional Green Card. Once you have been married long enough, you can request a status change and a permanent green card. The person applying for the green card also needs to file a Petition for Alien Fiancè(e), Form I-129F.
Employment based green card applicants need their employer to apply on their behalf in addition to filing themselves. As you can see, many forms must be filed, both by you and your sponsor.