Green Card Benefits
The US green card gives you a lot of benefits.
When you want to settle in the United States, a US Green Card can solve a lot of problems. Officially called a United States Permanent Resident Card, it grants individuals the privilege of settling down and receiving many benefits. Among other things, a Green Card holder can live and work in the USA and undergo the process of naturalization to become an American citizen.
Even those who do not become a US citizen will receive many of the same benefits enjoyed by those with American citizenship, although not all of them. What exactly are the benefits of being a Green Card holder in the United States? Read on to find out.
Table of Contents
What Are the Benefits of a US Green Card?
Below, are the benefits of being a US Green Card holder:
- Application for American citizenship after 5 years
- Protection from deportation
- Retention of your original citizenship
- Legal protection by the law
- Sponsorship of family members
- Easy travel to and from the US
- Right to live and travel anywhere in the US
- Eligibility for federal benefits
- Permission to work in the USA
- Access to educational programs in the US
- Apply for federal student financial aid
- Opportunity to buy a home in the US
- Option to start your own business in the USA
Responsibilities of Having a US Green Card
While there are many benefits of being a US Green Card holder, it is a status that comes with responsibilities, too. Permanent residents of the United States are required to do the following if they want to keep their residency:
- Report income and file income tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service and state tax bodies
- Obey the laws of the local jurisdiction, state of residence, and the United States
- Sign up for the Selective Service if you are male and aged 18 to 25
- Carry the Green Card on their person at all times
- Not engage in illegal activities to change the form of government
What Are Some Limitations of Having a US Green Card?
The benefits of a US Green Card are significant if you want to live stateside. However, this is a status that comes with the following certain limitations:
- No right to vote
- Lower priority when it comes to sponsoring family members to receive Green Cards
- Non-transferrable and not granted automatically to kids born outside of the country
- Not allowed to run for any political office
- No US passport
- Leaving the United States for over 12 months without authorization can result in loss of status
- Not guaranteed full protection from the threat of deportation (for example, if you commit a crime)
- Required renewal of the US Green Card every ten years
US Green Cards vs American Citizenship
Having a US Green Card is not the same as having American citizenship. Generally, Green Card holders are less privileged than US citizens when it comes to benefits from the government. Do not make the same mistake as people who use these two terms interchangeably.
A Green Card grants a non-citizen the right to live and work in the USA for an unlimited amount of time. A US permanent resident can enjoy more benefits than those on a work, study, or tourist visa. In the hierarchy of beneficiaries, however, American citizens remain at the top of the ladder.
Here are the key differences between US Green Card holders and American citizens:
- Voting rights
Only US citizens have the right to vote in the United States. If a US Green Card holder wants to vote on any level of the electoral process, they will have to undergo the naturalization process first.
- International travel
American citizens can freely travel internationally. For a US Green Card holder, travel is trickier. In general, they are not allowed to travel abroad for periods longer than six months per year if they wish to retain their permanent residency.
- Naturalization
US citizens were either born stateside or born to at least one American parent. Green Card holders are foreigners who are permitted to settle in the country for an unlimited period of time. The latter can eventually receive American citizenship through naturalization.
- Security
A US Green Card holder may lose their status if they commit certain violations or crimes. This may lead to removal proceedings and even deportation. Meanwhile, an American citizen can typically only lose citizenship by renouncing it, running for public office abroad, or entering military service elsewhere.
Other Things to Know
There are several tracks available to people who meet certain requirements. Here are some of them:
- Green Card Lottery
55,000 Green Cards are given out annually via the Diversity Visa Lottery also called the Green Card Lottery. Citizens born in specific countries with particular educational backgrounds are eligible to apply
- Family Members
You can apply for a Green Card if you are related to a US citizen, with certain restrictions based on age and civil status. Around 480,000 of these are given out yearly.
- Certain Job Skills
Each year, 140,000 Green Cards are given to people with specific job skills. A US company can sponsor or assist with the Green Card application process.
- Refugees
People experiencing persecution in their country of origin may receive refugee status and apply for Green Cards after staying on US soil for a year.
Conclusion
There are many advantages of possessing US Green Card status, which is why so many people apply for permanent residency every year. But remember that this status comes with limitations and responsibilities. If you plan to settle in the United States, a US Green Card will make your life much easier.
When it comes to having US Green Card vs American citizenship benefits, the latter is better in general. However, gaining US permanent residency makes you a step closer to obtaining American citizenship.
Advantages Of Green Card (FAQ’s)
Who cannot obtain a Green Card?
People with certain criminal convictions in their home country are inadmissible for a Green Card. They are those who have committed serious crimes like aggravated felonies, crimes that involve illegal drugs, crimes that involve “moral turpitude,” and acts of terrorism. A person with a health concern transmissible to other people might also be denied. Applicants who intentionally provide incorrect information on the application are denied as well.
Is a Green Card better than a visa?
In general, a Green Card is better than a US visa if you plan to live and work in the United States. While it is not quite as powerful as American citizenship, permanent residency still grants the holder more rights and benefits from the government than people who are staying on a US visa. Furthermore, Green Card holders can live and work in the USA for an unlimited amount of time, whereas a US visa is issued for a limited time period. Despite this, remember that there are also certain limitations like the inability to travel abroad for extended periods.
Can I travel to Europe with a US Green Card?
The answer to this depends on your passport. If you are a national of a country without a visa-free regime with the European Union, you will need to apply for a Schengen Visa first. This is true even when traveling outside of the Schengen area. Your ability to travel to a certain place will depend on the passport that you hold, although some countries lift restrictions for Green Card holders.
Can I use my Green Card as a passport?
No, you may not use the Green Card as your passport. These are different documents used for different things. The Green Card shows your status as a permanent resident of the United States and can be used as official identification while living in the USA. When traveling abroad, you always need to carry your valid passport issued by your country of citizenship. If you have not undergone naturalization, you remain a national of the country of your origin. While both can be used as proof of identity, they are not interchangeable.
Can I get a US passport with a Green Card?
No, you may not apply for a US passport if you are a Green Card holder. Only US citizens can get a US passport and the benefits that accompany this document. If you are a US permanent resident, you need to become an American citizen through naturalization first before you can enjoy the benefits of traveling with a US passport. Without American citizenship, you should use a passport issued by your country of origin.
Which countries I can travel to with US Green Card?
If you are a US Green Card holder, you will need to travel with a passport issued by the country of your origin. Despite this, the US Green Card can grant you access to certain countries that might otherwise require a visa.
Here are countries and regions that waive visa requirements for US permanent residents: Aruba and Curacao, the Balkans, the British Virgin Islands, Canada, Costa Rica, Georgia, Mexico, Peru, and Singapore.
Can US Green Card holders buy a house in the United States?
Yes, US Green Card holders may purchase a house in the United States. Permanent residents are eligible to apply for the same kinds of loans that citizens are, given that you provide credit history, employment history, and proof of income. This includes FHA and Fannie Mae loans. The latter has a non-citizen borrower eligibility guide that you can use to see if you meet the qualifications.
How soon can I become a US citizen after I receive a Green Card?
The answer varies depending on your situation. In general, however, you can apply for US citizenship if you have been holding a United States Permanent Resident Card for a minimum of five years. On the other hand, the requirement is only three years if you are filing as a spouse of an American citizen. You can apply for naturalization on Form N-400 90 calendar days before completing these time requirements.
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