Lifestyles
Important Facts about US Green Card
Named such due to its historic green color, the US Green Card is proof of legal permanent residency in the United States. There are several corridors available for green card application, and you may take one that fits your situation best. In this article, we’ll explain some basic important facts about the US Green Card.
US Green Card eligibility
Foreign nationals may get permanent residency in the US if they:
- Are sponsored by a family member
- Are employed or hired by an American organization
- Have made a major investment in the US economy
- Have won the Diversity Visa Lottery
- Are a refugee referred by the UNHCR, or have applied for asylum
Eligibility through the DV Lottery
Each year, around 50,000 foreign nationals are granted the right to immigrate to the United States through winning the Diversity Visa lottery.
Only people from countries with low immigration rates to the United States (less than 50,000 immigrants in the past five years) qualify to enter this lottery. Winners may apply for permanent residence, not only for themselves but also for their spouse and unmarried children younger than 21 years old.
DV lottery scams
Scammers are making use of the lottery’s more open nature relative to other corridors of applying for a US Green Card to trick unknowing people, so be aware of those who try to impersonate the US government, or offer free application services, funds, and other free perks that may sound “too good to be true”.
DV lottery photo issues
While it seems that photos you use simply have to be clear and can be used to identify you, the photo you use to apply for the DV lottery has to fulfill certain specific US Dept of State requirements. Photos that do not fulfill requirements may cause your application to be rejected even before the lottery takes place.
US Green Card photo requirements
As with the photos used in DV lottery applications, there are specific requirements in place for US Green Card photos. To make sure your photo fulfills the requirements, you may use this online passport photo service.
The rights it gives the holder
Permanent residence grants you specific rights different from the rights of a US citizen. Here are the rights granted to US permanent residents:
- Permanently reside in the US, given that they do not commit crimes that may make their PR status removable
- Petition or sponsor immediate family members to become permanent residents of the US
- Serve in the United States Armed Forces
- Work in the US (except in federal jobs and some jobs related to it)
- Receive equal protection under US law
- Travel freely outside the US for up to a year
There are rights granted to a citizen, but not to a permanent residence. For example, the right to vote is not available for PRs. However, permanent residence is a path to citizenship for foreign nationals, given that they satisfy the requirements.
It is removable
With all the perks and rights life in the United States and the US Green Card gives to its holder, it is logical that the US government expects permanent residents to obey US laws.
The permanent residence status may be removed if a permanent resident faces criminal conviction, especially if it is a serious crime or aggravated felony.
US Green Cards quotas
As many people are looking to become permanent residents of the United States, the US government enacts quotas based on the applicant’s home country and the US’ current needs. For example, no more than seven percent of issued visas can be issued to one country. This is why applications from mainland China, Mexico, India, and the Philippines are especially backlogged.
The categories most available for applications are usually employment-based immigrant visas, such as highly skilled and educated workers, religious workers, and investors.
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