Understanding the Difference between a Visa and a Green Card
When it comes to immigration, the difference between a visa and a green card is significant. While a visa grants you the right to enter the United States, a green card is the gold standard and represents a pathway to citizenship. Immigration law is extremely complex and continues to evolve, which makes it important to work closely with our experienced Camp Hill immigration attorneys at Tanner Law Offices.
Visas
For a foreign citizen to enter the United States, either temporarily (as a nonimmigrant) or permanently (as an immigrant), they typically require a visa. The primary forms of visas available include the following:
- Tourism visas
- Student visas
- Business visas
- Work visas
Visitor Visas
Visitor visas are temporary and are generally used for tourism, business, or medical care. Student visas, on the other hand, allow academic pursuits. Work visas, on the other hand, allow those who fill specialized occupations to enter the country. Examples include agricultural work, intra-company transfers, and those with extraordinary abilities.
Immigrant Visas
Immigrant visas are more permanent. These can be family-based, meaning being an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident. There are also employment-based immigrant visas, which apply to employees sponsored by their employers and to immigrants who bring valuable skills.
The Green Card
The official name of what is generally called a green card is a permanent resident card, and it comes with wide-ranging benefits. Anyone who receives a green card has the right to live and work permanently in any part of the country they choose. Holders have the standing of permanent residents, which means that they can legally live and work in the United States indefinitely. They may also be eligible to apply for citizenship after a specific amount of time has passed. Our laws also protect them.
Several points are important to keep in mind regarding green cards, including:
- Green cards impose no limitations in terms of accepting jobs, starting businesses, traveling freely, and owning property in the United States.
- Those who hold green cards for five years can apply for citizenship, and this time constraint is abbreviated to three years for other cardholders, including but not limited to those who are married to U.S. citizens.
- Green card holders do not have the standing to vote in federal elections, and they can lose their permanent resident status if they commit certain crimes or leave the country for too long.
- Green card holders are responsible for renewing their cards every 10 years, or every 2 years for those with conditional status. They are also required to notify USCIS of any address changes and to pay taxes.
Our Dedicated Immigration Lawyers are on Your Side
Our Camp Hill immigration attorneys at Tanner Law Offices will spare no effort in our commitment to bolstering your rights and to helping you secure the immigration status you’re pursuing. We are on your side and here to help, so please don’t delay reaching out for more information by contacting us online or giving our firm a call at 717-731-8114 today.