What Green card gives:
- The right to cross the border of the USA without the risk of being refused to enter the country on arrival in the airport (port) of the United States;
- The right to work legally in any company located in the territory of the USA;
- The right to start the business (corporation, joint-stock company, etc.);
- The right to apply to the authorities for assistance in education;
- An opportunity to pay for education less than foreign students (usually by 3-4 times);
- An opportunity to obtain citizenship after 5 years of living in the territory of the United States;
- The right to receive social privileges at retirement (it is necessary to work legally not less than 10 years);
- The right to have the real estate, vehicles, firearms and other things which the citizens of the USA have the right to own;
- The right for visa-free entry to the countries which USA signed the relevant agreements with.
Possession of the Green card (officially known as “The permanent resident card”) allows you to live and work permanently in the United States. Actions which you need to undertake to apply for the Green card will differ depending on your specific situation.
GreenCard example
To submit the application for receiving the Green Card you should correspond to one of the categories which are listed below.
Family Green card
| You can have the right to submit the application as … |
If you are… |
| The closest relative of the U.S. citizen |
- The spouse of the U.S. citizen;
- The unmarried child of the U.S. citizen aged till 21;
- The parent of the U.S. citizen who is not older than 21.
|
| Another relative of the U.S. citizen or the relative of the permanent resident |
- Member of the family of the U.S. citizen meaning that you are:
-
- unmarried son or daughter of the U.S. citizen, and you are 21 or older;
- married son or daughter of the U.S. citizen;
- brother or sister of the U.S. citizen who is not less than 21;
- Member of the family of the lawful permanent resident meaning that you are:
- the spouse of the lawful permanent resident;
- the unmarried child of the lawful permanent resident aged till 21;
- the unmarried son or daughter of the lawful permanent resident of 21 or older.
|
| Bride/groom of the U.S. citizen or groom\bride’s child |
- The person allowed in the USA as the bride/groom of the U.S. citizen (not the immigrant of K-1);
- The person allowed in the USA as the child from the bride/groom of the U.S. citizen (not the immigrant of K-2).
|
| Widow\widower of the U.S. citizen |
Widow or widower of the U.S. citizen, and you were married at the time of death of your spouse. |
| Victims of violence of the U.S. citizen or of the permanent resident |
- The victim is the spouse of the U.S. citizen or of the lawful permanent resident;
- The victim is the child (who is not married and is less than 21) of the U.S. citizen or of the lawful permanent resident;
- The victim is the parent of the citizen or of the permanent resident of the USA.
|
The green card on the basis of employment
| You can have the right to submit the application as … |
If you are… |
| Immigrant worker |
- Immigrant worker of the first category:
- has outstanding abilities in science, arts, education, business or track and field athletics, or;
- outstanding professor or researcher, or;
- international manager or head who matches certain criteria.
- Immigrant worker of the second category:
- the foreigner is the representative of a profession which demands an academic degree or;
- has outstanding abilities in science, arts or business, or;
- the foreign employee matches the national interests of the country;
- Immigrant worker of the third category:
- the qualified worker (i.e. work requires at least 2 years of training or working experience), or;
- the professional (i.e. work requires at least the degree of the bachelor of the USA or a foreign equivalent, and you are the representative of this profession), or;
- unqualified worker (i.e. the foreigner will carry out general labour requiring less than 2 years of training or working experience).
|
| Doctors |
Doctors who agree to work full time in special clinics during the certain period of time and also meet other requirements. |
| Investor |
The foreigner has invested or is actively investing not less than 1 million dollars (or 500,000 dollars into the targeted employment area) into the new commercial enterprise in the USA which will create full time vacancies for at least 10 qualified employees. |
The green card of the refugee or foreigner who received asylum in the territory of the USA
| Asylum |
The status was granted at least 1 year ago |
| Refugees |
The status was granted at least 1 year ago |
The green card for the victims of human trafficking and the victims of crime
| The victims of human trafficking |
There is nonimmigrant T visa |
| The victims of crimes |
There is nonimmigrant U visa |
Other ways of receiving the Green card are not relevant for the citizens of Ukraine and the CIS countries.
