What is a Green Card? | Green Card Meaning on DV Lottery, The Diversity Visa Program (DV Lottery) is congressionally-mandated and allows up to 55,000 persons from nations that are historically underrepresented in terms of migration to the United States of America to qualify each year for immigrant visas which are also known as Green Cards.
What is a Green Card? | Green Card Meaning on DV Lottery
What is a Green Card?
The United States Permanent Resident Card (official: Form I-551, colloquial: Green Card) is an identification document of the United States. Upon application, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issues the document to persons who are not yet U.S. citizens but who have settled in the United States with the intention of immigrating. Holders of the card are known as Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) or in short Permanent Residents. The name Green Card is derived from the first ID cards, which bore green lettering and a greenish colored photo.
The Green Card differs from other visas in allowing its holder to stay and work in the USA for an unlimited period of time; it is not pasted into the passport like any other visa, but forms an independent identification document. The legal status of permanent residence in the USA is the middle of three stages on the way to being naturalized:
- Immigrant visa
- Permanent Residency with Green Card
- US citizenship
Advantages of a Green Card
The US Green Card is one of the most sought-after immigration visas worldwide. Holders of this Permanent Resident Card can benefit from a variety of advantages:
- unlimited entry to the USA – no need for a US Visa or ESTA anymore!
- Live without restrictions in any US state.
- Holding of the previous citizenship.
- After three or five years you can apply for US citizenship.
As an employee
- Work visa is no longer required.
- Free choice of employer.
- Indefinite employment contracts and change of employer are no problem.
- Less strict work requirements than for other non-Americans.
As a self-employed person
Certain limited permits, such as business licenses or trade licenses, can be obtained more easily and quickly.
As a student
- Studying in the US without a student visa.
- Tuition fees can be reduced by up to 80%.
As a pensioner
- Legal and permanent immigration for retirement.
- Entitlement to pension insurance earned in the USA and in your home country, e.g. Germany.
- Entitlement to medical care and other state social benefits.
Note: For this entitlement you must have lived in the USA for at least five years
