There are two types of visas: Non-immigrant visas : These allow the holder to visit the United States for specific purposes, such as work, education, medical reasons or business trips, and for a specific amount of time with a clear departure date. They are temporary documents that do not allow the holder to permanently live in the United States.
Immigrant visas : More difficult to obtain, this type of visa allows travel to the United States to live there permanently and is part of the process in getting a green card. This visa must be obtained prior to traveling to the United States, and the process for getting this type of visa is more extensive. Usually the holder has been sponsored by a family member. Alone, an immigrant visa is not a path to citizenship. Types of green cards are more extensive than visas, and include, but are not limited to: Family-based: Close relatives of current U.
These include immediate family members, such as parents, siblings, children and also widows and widowers of either citizens or green card holders.
Employment-based: Certain types of workers, and in some cases, their immediate family, may be given green cards tied to their jobs. Humanitarian green card holders: Refugees, asylum seekers, and those victims of human trafficking, crime or abuse are eligible to receive green cards.
Green card lottery winners: Each year, the U. Priority is given to those from countries that have had little immigration to the United States in recent years. Learn more about the Diversity Visa Lottery. Visas should be obtained before travel. They are what permit entry into the United States, and are typically a stamp in a passport. Visas do not necessarily allow for an open-ended stay.
Visa applications of both kinds must be completed at the US consulate or embassy in your country of residence. These applications are also followed by a visa interview, during which you must present all supporting documents before entering a waiting period that could stretch anywhere from a few days to a few months. Immigrant visa applications also begin at the embassy or consulate in your permanent resident card's home country and follow many of the same steps with some key differences.
In the meantime, you will need to file petitions if applying on family or employment grounds, choose an agent, which can include a family member of your sponsoring employer, and then pay your application fees. As you can see from the points already discussed, the main difference between a visa and a green card has to be the fact that one represents residency, while the other merely makes travel within the US that bit easier.
Admittedly, immigrant visas can open the doors for green cards, but they never represent residency in themselves. Other variations to consider include:. Green cards, by proxy, do not come with expiration dates. While cards themselves are only relevant for ten years, residency is permanent and simply requires application for a new card using Form I when that period ends. In fact, the only potential expiration date on a green card comes from crimes committed or those who fall within EB-5 visa category for approval.
By comparison, non-immigrant visas will last for no longer than a few years, while immigrant visas are valid for just six months after their interview date. Visas are, primarily, intended to add ease to the process of travel around the US.
A green card holder must live permanently in the US, or they forfeit their residency. As such, green cards make for a more stable life in the US, while visas are only really viable for those passing through, or aiming to apply for a green card at some stage.
Ultimately, deciding between a green card and a visa comes down to key considerations including:. The terms Green Card and immigration visa can be used interchangeably. An immigration visa or Green Card is much harder to obtain than a B1 visitor visa or another nonimmigrant visa, for example. This is because there are only a select number of immigrant visas allotted each year with strict eligibility requirements, and also every immigrant visa needs to be petitioned for by a citizen of the United States.
That, however, excludes the winners of Diversity Visa Lottery , asylum immigrants , and refugees. In general, one secures an immigrant visa through family sponsorship , special immigration status , or employer sponsorship. Once you have had an immigrant visa issued in your name, you will be eligible for applying for a green card. Next Post Previous Post. We do not represent any legal authority nor do we purport to act as legal counsel or advisor or any other form of legal representation.
Our company provides a self-help software which provides detailed information regarding the process of how to correctly complete an immigration form and we only provide technical support in relation to the above. Therefore it is not a substitute for and does not replace legal advice. Clients will be able to request a refund, as long as they meet the requirements stated in the Refund Policy.
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