What is a green card?

Immigrants talk constantly about getting a green card, there is a reason for this, if you want to live in the US you are going to have to get one. They are not easy to get but if you are successful you are on the road to becoming a citizen.

A green card is what qualifies you for permanent residency status in the United States. If you are planning to move to the US you are going to have to get one. Unfortunately this can be a challenge as there are only a small number of them granted each year. There are basically three ways that you can get a green card, you should know about all of them so that you can give yourself the best chance of being successful. The first two are through employment or a family member and have similar application processes. The third is though a lottery which needs to be applied for in a different way.

In order to get a green card through a family member or through employment you are first going to have to get an entry visa. This is something that you will apply for at the embassy in your own country. You actually can't apply directly you need to have your sponsor make the application on your behalf. Your sponsor will be either your family member or your employer depending on which program you are applying for. If your sponsor's application is successful you will be invited to complete the process.

In order to complete the application process for an entry visa you will have to go to the embassy for an interview. This is an important step so make sure that you take it seriously. The interview will in large part cover the information from your application in order to verify it. They will also want to make sure that you are likely to fit in and be a benefit to the United States. If you make it through the interview process they will do a background check, if you pass this you will given a visa and allowed to go to the US. Once you get to the US you will be able to apply for a green card.

The other way that you can get a green card is through the diversity lottery if your country is one that gets green cards in this way. You can apply for this program yourself so you don't need a sponsor. You will have to fill out the application and then go for an interview and have a background check done. If you pass this you will be entered into the lottery. If you are chosen as the winner of the lottery you will be granted a green card directly so you won't need a visa to go to the United States.