12 benefits of being a Green Card holder

This article is about benefits of being a Green Card holder. The United States of America is one of the most popular countries for immigrants in the world and a green card is the most sought-after document for those who want to fulfill their dream of living in the United States.

A US green card allows a person to live and work in the United States and begin the process of becoming a US citizen. This card makes the holder a permanent resident of the United States, who is entitled to many, but not all, of the same benefits as a citizen.

Green card versus US citizenship

Green Card and U.S. Citizenship gives you the right to live and work in the United States. However, there is a major difference between the two.

If you want to immigrate to the United States permanently, getting a green card is the first step in that direction. Green card holders often wait years before applying for US citizenship, through the naturalization process.

Other Qualifying Paths to U.S. Citizenship including:

• Born in the United States
• Born outside the United States to a U.S. citizen
• Living as a child in the United States when one parent is free. The only way for a foreign national to become a US citizen without holding immigration status is to serve in the US military.

Benefits of being a US citizen

US citizenship gives you the permanent right to live in the United States. This is the highest status you can get under US immigration law. Some notable benefits of US citizenship include:

• It gives you the right to vote.
• Compared to green card holders, you can also sponsor more foreign family members to stay with you in the United States.
• Unlike green card holders, US citizens cannot be deported. An immigrant’s citizenship can be revoked if it was obtained fraudulently.

If your country allows dual citizenship, you can apply to become a U.S. citizen without giving up your current citizenship. As a green card holder, you get many benefits, including:

12 Benefits of being a US green card holder

1. You can live in any of the 50 states of the United States.
2. You can enter and leave the United States at any time; Immigration officials cannot refuse you entry.
3. You do not need to fill out Form I-94 and you do not have to worry about your authorized stay expiring. A Green Card status is valid for life, although the card must be renewed every 10 years.
4. You are allowed to work in the United States without the need for employer support, and you have no restrictions on the type of work and weekly hours of work. Some services are only open to US citizens and green card holders due to security requirements; this provides more job opportunities for green card holders.
5. You can request financial support from the government to continue your practice. College and university tuition for green card holders is usually three or four times more than for foreigners.
6. You can start your own business or even create a company. If you have worked for 40 minutes, or about 10 years, you are eligible for Social Security and retirement benefits.
7. Unlike a temporary work permit holder, you don’t have to worry about changes in immigration laws. You can sponsor your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 for permanent status.
8. Many banks insist that a non-citizen possess a green card or long-term visa as a requirement for granting loans, some banks offer green card holders interest rate. This allows green cardholders to get home loans easily, and at low interest rates.
9. Some US states require you to get a green card to get permission to work in certain jobs, such as an insurance agent or real estate agent. Having a green card removes all obstacles to hold these conditions.
10. Most health and life insurance companies in the United States only offer policies to immigrants if they have a green card. You can buy a car, own property, and get a firearms license, just like any American citizen.
11. You can get involved in political campaigns
12. Except for the right to vote, a green card gives you almost all the legal rights that US citizens have.

The duty of having a green card

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  Once you have a green card, you must take on certain duties as a permanent resident of the United States.
• Green card holders, like US citizens, must file tax returns and report their income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and state tax authorities.
• Green card holders are required to comply with the laws of the United States, their state of residence, and their local jurisdiction.
• Male green card holders, ages 18 to 25, must register with Selective Service. (Note that the United States has not had a job since 1973).
• Green card holders must carry a valid green card at all times. Not having a green card can land you in jail for up to 30 days.
• Green card holders, like US citizens, cannot participate in any attempt to change the form of government through illegal means.

Limitations of being a green card holder include:

While green card holders can live and work in the United States and receive many benefits as a US citizen, permanent residents are not US citizens and, as such , lacks all the rights of a citizen.

• Green card holders are not eligible to vote. Green card holders do not have priority as US citizens in sponsoring other family members to obtain a green card.
• Green cards themselves are not transferable, and children born outside the United States are not automatically transferred. Green card holders cannot run for office.
• Green card holders do not receive a U.S. passport. Green card holders who leave the United States permanently after 8 years or more will be subject to expatriation and exit taxation, just like a U.S. citizens who are renouncing citizenship.
• There is no full protection against deportation for green card holders. But as a reminder, green card holders are protected from deportation if US immigration laws change.
• Green cards must be renewed every 10 years.