What is a Green Card?

For anyone who is in the process of seeking legal citizenship in the United States, the ultimate goal is to be on the receiving end of a green card as a lawful permanent resident of the US. The green card has attained an almost mythical status, with many movies and jokes being made about earning your green card, but what is a green card? Is it actually green?

Here is an overview of everything you could ever need to know about what a green card is, what it means to be eligible for a green card, and the requirements for earning a green card.

What is a Green Card?

A green card is actually officially known as a Permanent Resident Card. This is a document issued by the United States government that allows you to lawfully reside and work in the US on a permanent basis with the rights, benefits, and privileges afforded to American citizens. The green card is an official document issued by the government and looks much like a state-issued driver’s license or identification card.

Up until May 1, 2017, the cards that were issued were, in fact, a predominantly green color palette on both front and back but on May 1, 2017, the government began issuing what has been dubbed the Next Generation Green Cards. These new green cards retain the predominantly green color palette, but there are many new extra security precautions to ensure that the cards are tamper-proof. Some of these precautions include new embedded holographic images, as well as three transparent star-shaped windows of different sizes through the card. Optical variable inks that change in the light will also be added as part of the Statue of Liberty design in the background, as well as in the stripes of the American flag, also visible in the background.

Both versions of the green card are considered valid; however, for those who are in possession of the older version may want to obtain a replacement for the card to make sure that their Permanent Resident Card is tamper-proof and secure.

How is a Green Card Different Than a Visa or Other Citizenship Options?

When applying for a visa, this is a temporary path to entering the United States legally, and the visa is issued for a visitor to enter the United States and stay for a temporary period of time. Some visas may be renewed or extended at the end of the period of time, but for many visas, you are required to show significant ties to your home country and your intention to return to your home country at the end of the temporary period of time.

A green card is a permanent identification card that allows you to enter the United States and stay as long as you want. All green cards that were issued before May 1, 2017 do not have an expiration date. However, the Next Generation Green Cards do have an expiration date and must be renewed every ten years. If you have a green card that is going to expire in the next six months, you can find the green card renewal form here.

Am I Eligible for a Green Card?

There are a number of categories that may offer eligibility for a green card:

· Green Card Through Family

· Green Card Through Employment

· Green Card As a Special Immigrant

· Green Card Through Refugee or Asylee Status

· Green Card For Human Trafficking and Crime Victims

· Green Card for Victims of Abuse

· Green Card Through Other Categories

· Green Card Through Registry

Family

Immediate family members of a US citizen, including a spouse, unmarried child under the age of 21, the parent of a US citizen who is at least 21 years old, the brother or sister of a US citizen who is at least 21 years old, may be eligible for a Green Card.

The fiancé(e) of a US citizen, entering the US on a K1 visa, or entering the US on a K2 visa as the child of the fiancé(e), may be eligible for a Green Card.

A widow or widower who was married to a US citizen at the time of their death is eligible for a Green Card.

Victims of battery or extreme cruelty, in the cases of an abused spouse who is married to a US citizen, an abused child of a US citizen, or the abused parent of a US citizen, may be eligible for a Green Card.

Employment

Immigrant workers with extraordinary abilities in the arts, sciences, education, business or athletics, an outstanding professor or researcher, a multinational manager or executive under these categories, may be eligible for a Green Card.

A member of a profession that requires an advanced degree, someone who has exceptional abilities in the arts, sciences, or business, or immigrants seeking a national interest waiver, may be eligible for a Green Card.

An employee in a job that requires more than two years of training or experience, requires a bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent, or unskilled workers requiring less than two years of training or experience, may be eligible for a Green Card.

Physicians may be able to enter the United States on a Physician National Interest Waiver, if they agree to work full-time in a clinic practice to underserved communities for a set period of time, and may be eligible for a Green Card.

Immigrant investors who have invested or are in the process of investing more than $1 million (or $500,000 in certain employment areas) in a new commercial enterprise which will create positions for at least ten qualifying employees, may be eligible for a Green Card.

Special Immigrants

Special Immigrants include religious workers who are coming to work for a non-profit organization, Special Juvenile Immigrants who enter the US as a child that has been abused or neglected by their parent, and nationals of Iraq or Afghanistan who worked as translators or were employed for the US government in Iraq for at least one year or were Afghans employed by the International Security Force Agency, and may be eligible for a Green Card.

Special Immigrants also include international broadcasters intending to work in US media, and employees of an international organization or NATO, including family members of NATO-6 employees, and may be eligible for a Green Card.

Refugee or Asylee

A refugee who was admitted as a refugee at least one year ago may be eligible for a Green Card.

An asylum-seeker who was granted asylum status at least one year ago may be eligible for a Green Card.

Victim of Human Trafficking or Crime

Human trafficking victims who currently have a T nonimmigrant visa may be eligible for a Green Card.

Crime victims who currently have a U nonimmigrant visa may be eligible for a Green Card.

Victim of Abuse

Victims of abuse include the abused spouse of a US citizen, the abused child of a US citizen, and the abused parent of a US citizen (or lawful permanent resident) and may be eligible for a Green Card.

Special Immigrant Juveniles, or any child that has been abused, neglected or abandoned by their parents are considered eligible for green cards.

An abused child or spouse under the Cuban Adjustment Act, which includes the abused spouse or child of a Cuban native or citizen, may be eligible for a green card.

An abused spouse or child under the Haitian Refugee Immigrant Fairness Act (HRIFA), which is defined as the abused spouse or child of a lawful permanent resident who has received their Green Card under HRIFA, may be eligible for a Green Card.

Other Categories

Anyone who is selected for the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program in the Department of State’s diversity lottery may be eligible for a Green Card.

Anyone who is selected under the Cuban Adjustment Act, which includes all Cuban natives or citizens and their spouses and children, the abused spouse or child of a Cuban native or citizen, may be eligible for a Green Card.

Anyone who is a dependent of a Green Card holder under the Haitian Refugee Immigrant Fairness Act (HRIFA) may be eligible for a Green Card.

Lautenberg parolees, which are defined as nationals of the former Soviet Union, Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania may be eligible for a Green Card.

Native citizens of Vietnam, Cambodia, or Laos who were paroled into the US under the Orderly Departure Program, from a refugee camp in East Asia, or a displaced person camp under the UNHCR in Thailand may be eligible for a Green Card.

Anyone who has more than 50 percent American Indian blood and was born in Canada may be eligible for a Green Card.

A person born to a foreign diplomatic officer who is stationed in the US may be eligible for a Green Card.

Anyone who was stationed in the US as a foreign diplomat or high ranking official and unable to return home may be eligible for a Green Card.

Registry

You may be eligible to register for a Green Card if you have resided in the US continuously since before January 1, 1972.

How Do I Apply For a Green Card?

Anyone who is applying for a Green Card will usually need to fill out at least two forms: an immigrant petition and Form I-485, a Green Card application.

Depending on the type of petition you are applying for, you will need one of the following forms:

Form I-130, Petition for Alien RelativeForm I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien WorkerForm I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative PetitionForm I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special ImmigrantForm I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien EntrepreneurForm I-918, Petition of U Nonimmigrant StatusForm I-929, Petition for Qualifying Family Member of a U-1 Nonimmigrant

The next steps depend on whether the applicant is inside or outside of the United States.

If you are inside the US and already have an approved immigrant petition, file Form I-485, the Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

If you are outside of the US, you will need to follow the pathway known as Consular Processing, and apply at a US Department of State consulate abroad. You will still need to submit your immigrant petition and have it approved. You will need to receive a notification from the National Visa Center, and you may be required to submit additional supporting documentation and pay immigrant visa processing fees. Once a visa is available, the consulate will schedule you for an interview, and make a decision about your eligibility. Once your visa is approved, you will receive a Visa Packet (do not open this packet). You will need to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee, which varies depending on the type of visa you have been approved for. When you reach the port of entry into the US, submit your Visa Packet to the US Customs and Border Protection officer.

You should receive your Green Card within 45 days of arriving in the US. If you do not receive your Green Card within 45 days, contact the USCIS Contact Center or make an appointment at your local USCIS office.

Medical Examination and Vaccinations

In order to be eligible for a Green Card, applicants must be vaccinated to prevent the following diseases:

· Measles

· Mumps

· Rubella

· Polio

· Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids

· Pertussis

· Haemophilus influenza type B

· Hepatitis B

· Any other vaccine-preventable disease recommended by the Advisory Committee For Immunization Practices

After receiving these vaccinations and undergoing a medical examination, a civil surgeon or panel physician designated by the Department of State must record the results on Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record.

Recently, the USCIS made changes to the requirements for the medical examination and vaccination process. Before, Form I-693 was required to be submitted within 60 days of the immigrant application, and the record would be valid for two years. However, due to the lengthy visa application process, the form would often expire before the application was completed and many applicants had to get an updated Form I-693 signed by a civil surgeon.

Recent changes mean that any Form I-693 signed by a civil surgeon is valid for the period of time the application is in process, in order to increase efficiency. USCIS officers may request a new report within the two-year period if they believe the applicant may be inadmissible for health-related reasons.

What Happens Now?

The process of applying for and receiving a Green Card can take anywhere from a few months to ten years, depending on the pathway to citizenship you are following. Most Green Cards applied for as an immediate family member will only take a few months, as there are no yearly caps on how many Immediate Family Green Cards can be issued in one year. Diversity Green Cards are announced within seven months of the lottery, but the visa application process takes another seven months to complete. Employment-based Green Cards may take between one and four years, depending on yearly caps. Family preference cards for non-immediate family members may take between one and ten years depending on the yearly caps.

Receiving a Green Card is a lengthy and arduous process, so have patience. Know that you know exactly what requirements are necessary, make sure that you have all of your documentation in order, and you’ll be on your way to permanent residency in the United States.