What's a green card, and why do you need one to work in the United States? A green card authorizes an individual to live and work in the United States permanently.

A green card is valid for ten years and must be renewed subsequently. A green card holder can apply for U.S. citizenship after five years as a lawful permanent resident.

What is a Green Card?

A green card is formally known as a Permanent Residence Card or USCIS Form I-551. The reason it's called a green card is that the original card was made of green paper. The card has been other colors and redesigned many times since it was first issued, but it never stopped being known as a green card.

Today, it is still green but not made of paper. Also, it has graphics and fraud-resistant security features that are highly secure and more tamper-resistant than the ones that were previously used.

A green card holder (or permanent resident) does not hold the same status as a United States citizen. However, people with a green card can apply for citizenship after a number of years of residency, with exceptions made for those who marry U.S. citizens or come to the country as refugees.

While green cards can be obtained through family, investment, refugee status, and other special conditions, green cards can also be obtained through employment. Here's more information about the different types of green cards and how to receive a green card through employment.

Green Card Application Process

The green card application process differs based on the method in which one seeks to obtain a green card. The steps will depend on your personal circumstances.

Generally, an employer will fill out an I-140 approval notice, which grants the employer the option to employ a foreign national on a permanent basis. In some instances, foreign nationals with exceptional abilities can self-petition for an I-140 filing.

Once the petition is approved, the foreign national can apply for a green card through Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence, or Adjust Status. With this application, the foreign national can request to remove any conditional requirements from his or her status.

The annual Green Card Lottery program (officially the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program) is another opportunity for potential immigrants to become permanent legal residents of the U.S. This program runs each year and provides green cards to applicants who are randomly selected in a lottery process.