What is a Green Card?

A green card is an identification card issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to individuals who are legally permitted to live and work permanently in the United States. The term green card comes from its original color and has been used since the card's inception. From 1950 to 1964, the cards were green, but afterwards, they were issued in various colors, such as blue, yellow, and pink, while still being referred to as green cards. In 2010, the cards returned to their original green color due to their popularity. The US Green Card must be renewed every ten years, before its expiration date.

What are the Requirements for a Green Card?

You have to be a Permanent resident of the United States for a green card, and those who are 18 years or older are required to carry their green cards at all times. If any green card holder is found without the card, they may face a fine or even jail time. The penalty for not carrying a green card can be a fine of $100 or up to 30 days in jail. Green cards must be renewed every 10 years, so it’s important to complete the green card renewal process before the card expires. Interestingly, the green card status of the cards issued between 1979 and 1989 is non-expiring, which means they never need to be renewed.

How Does a Green Card Work?

Individuals can fill out the green card application only if they are eligible for it. They can be eligible through work, family, refugee, or many special programs. One such program is the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, which includes a lottery system in which 55,000 visas are made available every year for underrepresented countries. You can also get a green card if you make investments in the US of a certain amount, and then you can be a permanent resident of the US.

How Many Types of Green Cards?

1. Family-Based Green Card
2. Employment-Based Green Card
3. Humanitarian Green Cards
4. Diversity Lottery Green Card
5. Longtime-Resident Green Card
6. Other Green Cards