Green Card

Permanent residents (green card holders) are non-US citizens who have been authorized to live and work permanently in the United States. Most people get the green card through employment, investment or family based. Other ways to get a green card are political asylum based, refugee based, adoption based or diversity lottery based.

In order to complete the process, the individual must leave the US and complete the process outside the US. For those who have overstayed their visa or who have committed a felony, leaving the United States often results in several years of not being permitted to re-enter or barred permanently from entering the US, which are difficult to overcome.

Some immigrants are eligible to apply for their green card, and adjust status to that of a green card holder, while living in the United States.