What is a Green Card?

An immigrant who is the holder of a Green Card (official name Permanent Resident Card) can live and work in the USA permanently. This official ID document benefits by giving nearly all the rights of a United States citizen, with few exceptions. The added benefit is that after three or five years, an immigrant is qualified for US citizenship. Thus, they need to apply for it through the process of naturalization. 

These are issued every year to more than one million people. Those who receive it are mostly family members of a citizen of the USA and then people who are seeking employment in this land. 

Benefits of a Green Card

Green Card is a popular immigrant visa due to its benefits. To know its advantages, check the list below.

• Permanent residency
• Family and unmarried children under 21 get automatically eligible for Green Card.
• Option of applying for US citizenship after five years. If you are a USA citizen spouse, you are required to wait only three years. 
• Endless Work Permit
• Right to study without risk at university and 80 per cent cheaper.
• Federal loan for students.
• Medicare benefits, also other government assistance.
• Easy exit and entry option without ESTA or a visa.
• Crisis security: not affected by travel embargoes.
• Simple to obtain commercial licenses and business.
  
  

Types of Green Card

There are many types of Green Card. But a few are the most common. 

1. What is the Green Card Lottery or Diversity Lottery Green Card?

The way of applying for this Green Card is through a lottery. To apply, the USA State Department publishes a list of certain countries. It includes those whose citizens have the lowest number of immigrants in the U.S. Only those nationals can apply for it whose country name is mentioned in the listing. Every year 50,000 people are selected by this process. 

2. Family-Based Green Card

Those who can apply under Family-Based Green Cards are close relatives of USA citizens and current Green Card holders. Eligible family members are parents, siblings and children.

3. Humanitarian Green Cards

It is for asylums, refugees, human trafficking, crime and abuse victims. The application procedure for humanitarian green cards is generally not easy. Thus, we recommend you consult an immigration consultant to apply for it. 

4. Longtime-Resident Green Card

Foreign citizens who have resided in the United States since January 1, 1972, either legally or illegally, are eligible to apply for this Green Card. Immigrants who fit this description are referred to as "longtime residents' ' under US immigration law and are eligible to apply for it. 

5. Employment-Based Green Card

Several subcategories of workers may apply for this Green Card. In some circumstances, their spouses and kids may also be eligible to apply for it. 

Processing Time

Its processing time depends on whether you are applying from inside or outside the USA. Usually, it may take months or more than two years to process.