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By Vipul Jain | 19 Sep, 2025
A green card is a document that confirms a person's status as a lawful permanent resident of the US. It is a card issued by the United States government.
In this blog, we will cover all the information you want to know about a Green Card, including its fees, types of Green Cards, and the application process for a Green Card in the US for permanent residence.
A Green card is a valid document issued by the U.S. government that provides you with a pathway to U.S. citizenship, which takes about 3-5 years. It is also known as a Permanent Resident Card.
This card helps the permanent resident status holder to live, work, or study in the US for an indefinite time.
Note: Some people think that a Green Card is like a Visa, but a Green Card and a Visa are different things.
If you want to fill out a green card application, then there are mainly two types of applications.
Given below is the detailed information about various types of Green cards in the US.
A family-based green card can be applied for by close relatives of green card holders and US citizens. For a family-based green card, family members, including parents, children, spouse, and siblings, can receive a Green card.
On the family-based green card, widows and widowers, who are married to U.S. citizens, can get a green card, but they must prove that their marriage was legal.
However, some family members are not eligible to apply for a green card on a family basis. It includes uncles, aunts, cousins, and grandparents. They can apply for a Green card if they have close relations with a Green card holder, a US citizen, or are eligible to apply for another type of Green card.
A long-time resident green card refers to the people who have physically lived in the US, either documented or undocumented, since January 1, 1972. They can apply for a green card or a permanent resident card through a process called registry.
Here are some of the eligibility criteria that you must meet to apply for a green card through a process called registry.
The employment-based green card includes many subcategories of workers who can apply for a permanent resident card. In some cases, spouses and their children can be eligible to apply for a green card. See the table given below for more information:
| Category | Jobs offered |
|---|---|
| E-1 Priority workers | They can get jobs in science, arts, business, athletics, education, arts, and as professors and research managers, and executives. |
| EB-2 Professional with advanced degrees and exceptional abilities. | Position requires a master's degree, bachelor's degree, minimum of 5 years of experience in sciences, business, or arts. Position of national Interest. |
| EB-2 with a Special waiver for Physicians | Who can work in the undeserved area full-time for a limited time period and meet different eligibility criteria. |
| EB-3 Skilled and unskilled professional workers | position requires a master's degree, a bachelor's degree, and a minimum of 5 years of experience in arts, science, and business. Position of national interest. |
| EB-4 Special workers | Religious workers, media professionals, ministers, Afghanistan, and Iraq nationals who served in the US government. Other employees, family members, and retirees. |
| EB-5 Investors | A Non-US national who has invested a minimum of 1 million $ in a US business that will create full-time positions for a minimum of 10 workers. |
For Military Family Members (PIP): Parole in Place (PIP) provides a way to lawfully obtain permanent resident status to military families. It includes undocumented spouses, children, and parents of the US military service members (ready reserve, selected reserve, veterans, and active duty).
Under the humanitarian green card for military family members, individuals can apply for parole without leaving the US. This allows them to have a permanent resident status if they are eligible.
However, PIP doesn't provide you with a green card, but it removes hurdles and makes the pathway to permanent residency easier for the family members.
For Refugees and Asylees: For the people who have fear or have been persecuted in their home country because of political opinion, race, religion, or nationality. They can seek protection in the US by applying for a visa abroad (as a refugee) or within the USA (as an asylee).
If they have physically stayed in the USA for a minimum of one year after getting refugee status or asylum, then they can apply for a US permanent resident card and seek protection in the US.
For Human Trafficking Victims: The victims of human trafficking who are residing in the US lawfully or unlawfully can apply for a T visa to stay in the US for a duration of 4 years. However, there is one condition for the T visa that, for human trafficking, they must help to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators. If the victim is below the age of 18 years, then he or she doesn't need help.
To apply for the Permanent Resident card for applicants present in the US, and have a short period of time from the following given below:
Their eligibility criteria also include good moral character means they don't have not committed any criminal offense, like murder, fraud, from the time they get a T visa until the approval of a green card.
Many family members are also eligible to apply for a green card as long as both the victim and relatives satisfy all the requirements.
For Crime Victims: The victims of crime or mental abuse living in the US lawfully or unlawfully can get protection by applying for a U visa. To get a U visa, victims must obtain a certificate from the law enforcement agency.
As applicants for T visas, U visa applicants also agree to help investigate and prosecute those people who are committing crimes like kidnapping, murder, torture, and sexual assault.
The victim, who wants to apply for a green card, must fulfill the eligibility requirements given below:
The crime victim's spouse, parents, children, and siblings can also be eligible to apply for a green card as long as both the victim and relatives satisfy all the requirements.
For Abuse Victims: The victims of domestic violence (extreme cruelty) can apply for the green card, which would allow them to seek protection and relief under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
This law is generally created for the benefit of women, but also helps men and children who are a part of victims of abuse.
An abuse victim can apply for a green card without the permission of an abusive relative, which includes:
For the safety of the victim, USCIS will not notify the abusive relative of the application.
The diversity lottery green card program, which is also known as the Green Card Lottery. Every year, the US government chooses 50,000 people randomly from a pool. It includes six locations, like Asia, South Africa, and Oceania.
Most of the applicants generally cast their votes from their home country. However, some people are from the US, living with a different immigration status.
The US government has also taken measures to issue other types of green cards. It includes Permanent resident cards for special immigrants, religious workers, media professionals, Afghanistan and Iraq nationals, and people who served in an international organization.
Other includes a green card for the American Indians who were born in India, and Cuban citizens.
There are typically five ways to get a U.S. green card. Each of them has their requirements and separate visas. Moving further, let's know about them.
These are the different pathways through which you can apply for a U.S. green card. Furthermore, let's now know the process to apply for permanent residency in the country.
Also want to know about USCIS Case Status Check Now!Generally, the processing time for a green card application is from months to many years. However, the major impact of the green card processing time depends on the application type, like as where the application is submitted. Whether it is from the USA or outside the US.
For the green card application, applied in the US, the processing time for the application will be 8.2 months. The process can also take longer for the application of spouses of US green card holders, US citizens, relatives, and green card holders on an employment basis.
For the US citizens, relatives, and spouses who are applying for a green card application outside the US through consular processing need to wait about 14.5 months for the processing of the application.
For the spouses of US green card apply for a green card outside the U.S., they have to wait for 35 months for the green card application process.
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Chat NowIf an applicant is applying for a green card, then the fees to file a government-based green card are 3005$ if he or she is applying in the US, and 1340$ for the applicant applying outside the US.
To apply for a green card, you need to follow the steps given below:
As stated above, the green card is renewed every 10 years. One should renew it within the expiration of 6 months. For the Renew Green Card process, two methods are available: online application or mail-in format. To renew your card, follow the below-mentioned process:
This is how you can renew your green card. Also, through your USCIS online account number, you can check the USCIS case status of your application. For this, you just need to make an online account on the USCIS website, and through the number you can track down your applications.
Also Want to Know About India Power of Attorney Services in USA Check Now!A green card holder is a resident of the US but not an American citizen. Having this by your side provides you with lots of perks. However, with perks, it does bring some responsibilities that you need to follow. Here the following blog consists of all of the information regarding the card. Moreover, if you need guidance or assistance in any NRI services contact Visament. The experts here hold great knowledge of all these processes and aid you in your smooth travel in the US.
The green card allows its holders to work and live in the USA permanently while a visa provides them with a temporary stay for specific reasons like travel, education, or work.
Individuals who have a criminal records, medical issues, public charges, and bad immigration history cannot apply for a U.S. green card.
The quickest way to get a green card is through employment-based visas (EB- visa). In this an individual can self-sponsor themselves, meaning they do not require employment proof or a Labor Certification.
Yes, generally it is considered difficult to get a U.S. green card as the process is complex, consumes a lot of time, and is highly competitive depending on the visa category you applied for. Also, the application process is not straightforward and needs careful documentation and planning.
A green card also known as a permanent resident card allows a foreign individual the right to work and live in the country. In addition, provides the path to becoming a U.S. Citizen after a specific period generally 3-5 years. In contrast to this, U.S. citizenship is the highest legal status of the country and provides individuals with complete rights, responsibilities, and privileges. They can hold public office, serve on juries, and vote in elections. Also, they are eligible to get many state and federal government grants, benefits, and scholarships.
A green card holder must permanently live and move to the United States otherwise he/she may lose their card. In addition, they cannot stay outside the country for more than 6 consecutive months.
A green card can be applied for through Family, through employment, as a special immigrant, Refugee, or asylee status, human trafficking, crime victims, victims of abuse, through registry, and other categories.
To apply for a US citizenship, you must be a valid permanent resident of the US for a period of 5 years. After the completion of 5 years of tenure, you can apply for US citizenship.
To get a green card, you need to follow some steps, which are. First, you need to file a petition, or someone on your behalf has to file an immigrant petition for you, then you need to fill out the green card application, with USCIS, or visa application, and submit your application after the approval of your petition. After that, you need to book an appointment for your biometrics, submit your biometrics, like fingerprints, photos, and signature, then attend an interview with the immigration officials, and wait to get a decision for your application
No, you don't need an immigration lawyer to get a green card. USCIS has made the application process easier so that individuals can apply on their own. However, if you want to get an immigration lawyer, then you can hire one and complete your application process with an easy process and avoid any mistakes.
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