What is a Green Card and how do I get one?
Permanent residence status, symbolized to many people by the so-called “green card”, which is actually pink, confers on foreign nationals the right to live and work in the U.S. without time limitations. The two most common ways to obtain permanent residence is by close family ties to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or through employment with a U.S.-based employer. For purposes of this discussion, the employment based visa will be our focus. There are two main phases to the process. Phase I: The alien must be sponsored by the employer, who files a petition with INS to have the alien classified as a person qualified to immigrate. Phase II: Once the alien is found qualified to immigrate, he or she may proceed to apply for permanent resident status. This can been done through Consular Processing or by Adjustment of Status. Once the immigrant visa is issued, the permanent resident may then travel freely on the visa, and my accept employment without restrictions. It is not clearly stat
