What is a Green Card?

A Green Card grants lawful permanent residency in the U.S. and provides benefits such as the ability to live and work indefinitely, travel in and out of the U.S. (with some restrictions), and apply for U.S. citizenship after meeting eligibility requirements.

Green Card Categories

Green Cards can be obtained through different processes.

Employment-Based Green Cards

Issued to individuals with job offers, specialized skills, or exceptional abilities.

EB-1:For individuals with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors, researchers, or multinational executives.
EB-2:For professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability.
EB-3:For skilled workers, professionals, and other workers.
EB-4:For special immigrants (religious workers, certain juveniles, and others).
EB-5:For investors who create jobs in the U.S.

Family-Based Green Cards

For immediate relatives and family-sponsored immigrants.

Immediate Relatives:

Spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21 of U.S. citizens.

Family Preference Categories:

Includes extended family, such as siblings and married children.

Humanitarian Green Cards

For refugees, asylees, and exceptional cases.

Asylees and Refugees:

Granted to individuals fleeing persecution.

VAWA (Violence Against Women Act):

For abuse survivors married to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Special Cases:

Special Juvenile Immigrants, Victims of Human Trafficking, and Crime Victims (U Visa, T Visa holders)

Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery

Annual grants of Green Cards to individuals from underrepresented countries.

Other Special Green Card Programs

Cuban Adjustment Act, Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness, Registry (for people who have lived in the U.S. since before 1972), and others

How to Apply for a Green Card

Person submitting Green Card application

Processing Times

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Varies based on category, country of origin, and visa bulletin availability.
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Immediate relatives have faster processing than preference categories.
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EB-1 and EB-5 may be faster compared to other employment-based categories.
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Country quotas impact applicants from high-demand nations (India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines).

Green Card Benefits

Live and Work Permanently in the U.S.
Sponsor Relatives for Green Cards.
Travel Freely (with some restrictions).
Pathway to Citizenship after 3-5 years.
Social Security and Medicare eligibility after certain conditions.

Green Card Restrictions

Cannot vote in federal elections.
Must renew the card every 10 years (unless conditions apply).
Must maintain U.S. residence (extended stays abroad may lead to abandonment of residency).

Green Card Renewal & Replacement

Form I-90 is used for renewal (every 10 years).
Conditional Green Cards (2-year validity) require Form I-751 to remove conditions.

Green Card with American flag and wallet

Losing a Green Card

Voluntary abandonment (Form I-407).
Removal (deportation) due to criminal offenses, fraud, or violating U.S. laws.
Extended absence from the U.S. without maintaining ties.

How to Get U.S. Citizenship

After 5 years (or 3 years for spouses of U.S. citizens), Green Card holders can apply for naturalization using Form N-400.

Common Green Card Issues

Long Wait Times: Some categories take decades.
RFE (Request for Evidence): USCIS may ask for additional documents.
Denials & Appeals: Some cases are denied due to inadmissibility.
Fraudulent Applications: Fake marriages or misrepresentation can lead to permanent bans.