What is an American Green Card?

What is a green card? The term has been used informally for what is officially known as a United States Permanent Resident Card or formerly as an Alien Registration (Receipt) Card. More broadly, the term can be used to refer to the process by which an alien becomes a legal resident of the United States. (Actually, from 1964-2011 the identification cards used to prove citizenship were not green.)

To obtain a green card for USA, one has to (1) fill out and submit a green card form or in other words, an immigration petition, (2) be placed on a visa waiting list (this step can take a very long time) and (3) apply for permanent status. He or she then receives an official green card.

There is also a green card for family program whereby non-resident spouses of cardholders and any children they have together can legally be brought into the country. However, the spouses are normally separated for a period of a few years, during which time the Department of State must approve an immigration visa for that person.

The Immigration Act of 1990 created the EB-5 Visa, a program intended to encourage more foreign capital to flow into the country. Under this program, the immigrant, plus any spouse and children he or she may have brought in, is given a conditional green card. They can live and work anywhere in the United States, and retire with no geographical or work restrictions.

As mentioned above, the purpose of the EB-5 Visa was to bring in foreign capital, so it is essentially an investment program. The applicant is required to make an investment in a company that was created after the law came into effect or else start up a completely new one. He must invest at least $1 million and create jobs for at least 10. A Regional Center program also exists by which the investment can indirectly create at least 10 jobs.

If the conditions of the EB-5 are not met within the established period, the applicant and any dependents are deported. Otherwise, they may take up permanent residence in the country.

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