What Is a Green Card?
A green card is officially known as a Lawful Permanent Resident Card. By having a green card, individuals can live and work permanently in the U.S.
Individuals who have a green card are also referred to as Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR).
What Are the Benefits of a Green Card?
In addition to being able to permanently live and work in the U.S., lawful permanent residents enjoy many other benefits. These include:
- Eventual ability to pursue U.S. citizenship after meeting the legal requirements
- Additional legal rights
- Can collect Social Security after a period of time
- Can sponsor certain relatives for the own green card
Types of Green Cards
There are three immigrant visa categories that are the basis for an employment-based (EB) green card application. They are:
- EB-1: Priority Workers
- EB-2: Advanced Workers
- EB-3: Skilled or Other Workers
What Is an EB-1?
- Individuals must meet the following eligibility criteria for the EB-1: Priority Worker category:
- Workers of extraordinary ability
(such as individuals with expertise in the sciences, arts,
education, business or athletics).
- The beneficiary must be national or internationally known for his or her achievements
- Outstanding university professors or researchers
- Executives or managers of multinational companies
What Is an EB-2?
Individuals must meet the following eligibility criteria for the EB-2: Advanced Workers category:
- Professionals who hold advanced degrees or a combination of a bachelor's degree and five years of post-bachelor's work experience
- Foreign nationals with exceptional ability in the sciences, arts of business
- Professionals whose work benefits the national interest of the U.S.
What Is an EB-3?
Individuals must meet the following eligibility criteria for the EB-3: Professionals, Skilled or Other Workers category:
- Professionals with a bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent who are filling a role that requires a college degree. Examples include engineers, architects and teachers.
- Skilled workers include foreign nationals with at least two years of training or work experience who may or may not hold a college degree
- Other or unskilled workers are those filling a job that requires less than two years of training or experience. Examples include nannies, housekeepers, groundskeepers and nurse's aides.
How Long Does a Green Card Last?
Lawful permanent residents can work and live in the U.S. indefinitely. Individuals need to renew their physical green card every 10 years.
More so, 90 days prior to their fifth anniversary as a lawful permanent resident, green card holders are typically eligible to apply for citizenship.
Originally published 21 August, 2020
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
