What Is A Green Card?

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What Is A Green Card?

A green card is, technically, a United States Permanent Resident Card. This card serves as identification for one who is a lawful permanent resident (LPR) of the U.S. Holders of this card may conditionally reside and work in the U.S. This card was previously referred to as the Alien Registration Receipt Card and still may be called form I-551. Although the green card has not been green since 1978, the term remains commonly used.

Other Citizenship and Naturalization FAQs

Q: Who Has Citizenship By Birth?
A: Persons who are born in the United States are citizens at birth unless they are born to foreign diplomats. A person who is born abroad to TWO US citizens is a US … More
Q: Who Is An Alien For Purposes Of United States Immigration?
A: An alien is any individual who is not a citizen or a national of the U.S. Within the category of alien are several distinctions: Legal alien: one who is … More
Q: How Do I Become A Naturalized Citizen?
A: If you are not a US citizen by birth or did not acquire citizenship automatically after birth, you may still be eligible to become a citizen through the normal … More
Q: What Is An Immigration Visa?
A: Immigrant and nonimmigrant are the two types of visas. The granting or denying of visas helps achieve the goals of immigration laws. Nonimmigrant visas are … More
Q: How Long Does It Take To Become Naturalized?
A: The time it takes to be naturalized varies from one local USCIS Service Center to another. More
Q: Who Determines Whether Or Not My Request(S) For Entry Into The U.S. Will Be Granted?
A: The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the agency responsible for approving immigrant entry into the U.S. USCIS is a bureau … More
Q: Where Can I Be Fingerprinted?
A: After the USCIS has received your application, the USCIS will notify you of the location where you should get fingerprinted. More
Q: How Do I Know If My Immigration Problem Involves The Department Of State, Uscis, Or The Department Of Labor?
A: The answer depends on whether the problem involves a visa, a petition requesting permission to enter the United States, or labor certification.If the problem involves … More
Q: Should I Hire A Lawyer?
A: Yes, whether you are filing forms because you were a child born abroad to one or two parents who are U.S. citizens, filing for natural or adopted children born abroad, … More
Q: How Do Most People Become U.S. Citizens?
A: One way in which citizenship may be achieved is by birth in the U.S., or birth to parents who are U.S. citizens. If neither of these situations applies, one may … More