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A green card is slang for a “lawful permanent resident” card. When an individual obtains lawful permanent residence, they have legal and lawful U.S. residency. In most cases, individuals must file a petition to obtain lawful permanent resident status, which can be done through family, employment, or other means. When non-immigrants file, they typically receive lawful temporary status in the United States. In most cases, temporary status is used for employment purposes and often expires after a few years. When applying for a green card, it is recommended to work with a team of immigration attorneys, as the process is long and can be complicated.

Citizenship and lawful permanent residence are two different things. If you are a lawful permanent resident and you’d like to apply for citizenship, you must ensure that you are eligible. Most people are qualified after maintaining lawful permanent residency status for five years or three years if that status is based on marriage to a U.S. citizen. You must also show that you are a person of good moral character and promise to defend and honor the U.S. Constitution. In some cases, you may be tested on your written and oral English as well as your knowledge of American history.

If you are the victim of a crime in the United States but do not have status, there are several visas you can apply for to protect yourself. U visas are explicitly meant to protect victims of abuse, including mental, physical, and emotional abuse. U visas can also be issued to family members to protect them from deportation. T visas are issued to victims of human trafficking and their family members. Both visas have eligibility requirements that you must meet, including the willingness to comply with law enforcement during the investigation and prosecution of the crimes against you.

A Notice to Appear (NTA) is a document issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). An NTA serves as a notice that the court will start removal proceedings for an individual with the eventual goal of deportation. The NTA will explain why the government is beginning these proceedings and also give notice of when the proceedings will happen. If you receive a Notice to Appear, it is essential to contact an immigration attorney immediately. Receiving an NTA does not automatically mean you will be deported, but you must work with an immigration attorney to prove to a judge why you should stay and the hardships a deportation would bring upon your family.

If you are a lawful permanent resident, do not register to vote until you have consulted with an immigration attorney. Most lawful permanent residents can vote in local and state elections, as they do not require proof of U.S. citizenship. Registering to vote in federal elections could result in deportation proceedings, even if you were unaware of the potential consequences. If you have already registered to vote but are not a United States citizen, contact an experienced immigration attorney for more information.

In most cases, a U.S. citizen can sponsor their spouse, parent, sibling, child, or fiance for a visa to stay in the United States. Any individuals in the United States with lawful permanent residency (a green card) can sponsor their spouse or unmarried children for residency. All U.S. citizens and permanent residents who agree to sponsor a relative must have a certain level of income and earnings, as many visas do not allow for work authorization. If you sponsor a relative, you essentially agree to support them financially until they can work in the United States.

Naturalization is the process of becoming a United States citizen if you already have a U.S. visa. To be eligible for naturalization, you must have had a green card for a certain period of time and have demonstrated good moral character for the entire period. You must also pass an English literary test and an American history test, as well as go through an interview with government officials. If you pass your tests and interview, you must take an Oath of Allegiance to the United States.

The diversity lottery is a United States program that allows foreign nationals to enter the United States. Every year, foreign nationals who qualify for the lottery are placed into a pool and randomly selected. Those who are chosen receive available visas. The diversity lottery can issue up to 55,000 diversity visas annually and only issues visas to countries with low immigration rates to the United States. No single country can receive more than seven percent of the diversity lottery visas in one year.