Green Cards and Permanent Residence

A green card grants lawful permanent residence in the United States, allowing someone to live and work here indefinitely without the time limits that come with a visa. It is a status many immigrants pursue as a step toward eventually applying for citizenship, and it carries its own set of rules about how it is obtained, maintained, and, in some cases, lost.

Qualifying for a green card depends on which category applies to you, since the law recognizes several distinct routes rather than one single process. Family relationships, job offers and employment sponsorship, refugee or asylum status, and a handful of other special categories each come with their own eligibility rules, forms, and waiting periods. For a look at how these different paths work and what separates them, see Getting a Green Card.

Life after approval brings its own responsibilities, including keeping the card current, understanding travel restrictions, and knowing the conditions under which permanent residence can be reviewed or revoked. Because the underlying paths to obtaining status shape so much of what comes afterward, that same starting point is the place to begin understanding the full picture.