Last Updated on October 4, 2024
What Is a Green Card?
A green card is officially known as a Lawful Permanent Resident Card. By having a green card, individuals can live and work permanently in the U.S.
An individual who has a green card is also referred to as Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR).
What Are the Benefits of a Green Card?
In addition to being able to permanently live and work in the U.S., lawful permanent residents enjoy many other benefits. These include:
- Eventual ability to pursue U.S. citizenship after meeting the legal requirements
- Additional legal rights
- Can collect Social Security after a period of time
- Can sponsor certain relatives for their own green card
Types of Green Cards
These are the three most common immigrant visa categories that are the basis for an employment-based (EB) green card application. They are:
- EB-1: Priority Workers
- EB-2: Advanced Workers
- EB-3: Skilled or Other Workers
What Is the EB-1 Visa?
Individuals must meet the following eligibility criteria for the EB-1: Priority Worker category:
- Workers of extraordinary ability (such as individuals with expertise in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics).
- The beneficiary must be nationally or internationally known for his or her achievements.
- Outstanding university professors or researchers.
- Executives or managers of multinational companies.
What Is the EB-2 Visa?
Individuals must meet the following eligibility criteria for the EB-2: Advanced Workers category:
- Professionals who hold advanced degrees or a combination of a bachelor’s degree and five years of post-bachelor work experience.
- Foreign nationals with exceptional ability in the sciences, arts or business.
- Professionals whose work benefits the national interest of the U.S.
What Is the EB-3 Visa?
Individuals must meet the following eligibility criteria for the EB-3: Professionals, Skilled or Other Workers category:
- Professionals with a bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent who are filling a role that requires a college degree. Examples include engineers, architects and teachers.
- Skilled workers include foreign nationals with at least two years of training or work experience who may or may not hold a college degree.
- Other or unskilled workers are those filling a job that requires less than two years of training or experience. Examples include nannies, housekeepers, groundskeepers and nurse’s aides.
How Much Does a Green Card Cost?
The following chart provides current green card pricing information, effective April 1, 2024:
Please see the fee glossary in our ABCs of Immigration Guide for more details.
Green Card Premium Processing
Expedited application processing time varies by EB-1 green card category. Most categories have a 15-calendar day processing time. However, the EB-1C manager/executive and EB-2 National Interest Waiver categories receive 45- business day processing.
USCIS will either approve, issue a request for evidence (RFE) or deny the petition within specified calendar days.
How Long Does a Green Card Last?
Lawful permanent residents can work and live in the U.S. indefinitely. Individuals need to renew their physical green card every 10 years.
More so, 90 days before their fifth anniversary as a lawful permanent resident, a green card holder is typically eligible to apply for citizenship.
About Envoy Global and the Green Card Process
Envoy Global helps navigate the complexities of the green card process through its secure technology platform and partnership skilled immigration professionals. For more information on simplifying your company’s immigration program and obtaining a green card for skilled foreign talent, check out our ABCs of Immigration guide.
Envoy is pleased to provide you with this information, which was prepared in collaboration with Corporate Immigration Partners, P.C., a U.S. law firm who provides services through the Envoy Platform (the “U.S. Law Firm”).
Content in this publication is for informational purposes only and not intended as legal advice, nor should it be relied on as such. Envoy is not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. If you would like guidance on how this information may impact your particular situation and you are a client of the U.S. Law Firm, consult your attorney. If you are not a client of the U.S. Law Firm working with Envoy, consult another qualified professional. This website does not create an attorney-client relationship with the U.S. Law Firm.
