What is a Green Card?

The Green Card originated during World War II and was created to make immigration rules more stringent. Congress enacted the Alien Registration Act in the year 1940 and laid the foundation for the first immigration law requirements. The provisions of the Alien Registration Act determined whether an immigrant was allowed to legally reside in the USA or not. At that time, this Permanent Resident Card was known as ‘Alien Card’ or ‘Alien registration Receipt Card’. According to the provisions of the Act of 1940, on entering the USA, every immigrant was checked and issued an identification card. The name ‘Green Card’ became synonymous with the US immigration visa because the first permits issued were actually bright green in colour. 

Holding a Green Card allows an individual to live and work in the United States of America, permanently. This Green Card is officially known as a ‘Lawful Permanent Resident Card’. It is an nothing but an id card that indicates a person’s status to permanently work and live in the USA. The bureaucratic name for a Green Card is ‘Form I-551’ and Green Card holders are known as ‘permanent residents’.

Here, it is pertinent to note that individuals holding a Green Card can emigrate to the USA and stay there for as long as they like. In simple words, a person who wishes to permanently live and work in the USA requires a Green Card. Further, any individual who holds a non-immigrant visa is dependent on their job or the purpose of their stay in the USA. However, the situation is different with a Green Card as it gives the holder total freedom of choosing their workplace and where they want to live in the USA without any limits.

To answer the question of how to obtain a Green Card can be answered in two ways, namely - 
1. Through the workplace
2. Through a family reunion 
It must be noted that different requirements must be met based on the category that is selected. Though the process of obtaining a Green Card is a lengthy one, it is not too complex. To apply for a Green Card, one must go through the U.S. immigration authorities at the ‘United States Citizenship and Immigration Services’ which is also known as the USCIS. After getting a Green Card, the permanent resident is required to carry their Green Card at all times.