Info about Green Cards
Green Cards - The United State's Immigration Policy
If you or a loved one have recently immigrated to the United States of America, you know what a green card is. For those of you that haven't, a green card is a small (often the size of a large credit card) piece of paper that allows you to stay in the United States for a designated period of time. All green cards allow permanent residency for ten years, meaning that, after you get one, you can stay as a permanent resident in the United States until the time comes to re-apply.
A green card is a sort of visa that gives you all of the rights and benefits of a full-time citizen. This includes the right to work. There are many ways to get a green card but some of the more advertised ways include: Sponsorship by an employer, Investment, Sponsorship by a close family member or friend in the United States, The Diversity Visa Lottery Program and Asylum or Refugee status.
According to the to the United State's Department of Immigration, obtaining a green card and becoming a permanent citizen gives you multiple rights. Included in them are the following: The right to live and work permanently anywhere in the U.S., The right to apply to become a U.S. citizen once you are eligible, The right to request visas for your husband or wife and unmarried children to live in the U.S., The right to social security and Medicare benefits if you are eligible, The right to own property in the U.S., The right to apply for a driver's license in your state or territory, The right to leave the U.S. and return again under certain conditions, The right to attend public school and college, The right to join certain branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and the right to purchase or own a firearm so long as it complies with federal and state laws
Obtaining a green card does not just give you rights, but also responsibilities. Some of them are: obey all federal and state laws, pay all income taxes, Register with the Selective Service (U.S. Armed Forces) if you are a male between the ages of eighteen and twenty-six, Maintain your immigration status, Carry proof of your permanent resident status at all times and provide the Department of Homeland Security with notification online or in writing within ten days after you move.
If you are in need of a green card in order to secure your permanent residency, you can both go into your local Department of Immigration and fill out the form, or you can purchase your green card application online. Online applications can cost anywhere from thirty to sixty dollars. Some of the most reputable companies charge about forty-five dollars to apply online. If you decide to apply for a green card via the Internet, make sure that (before you submit any information!) the address bar says "Https://" instead of the normal "Http://". "Https://" shows that you are submitting your information over a secure connection and it will not get sent to unsavory people.