A Green Card holder is a permanent resident that has been granted authorization to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis. As proof of that status, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) grants a person a permanent resident card, commonly called a "Green Card."
You can become a permanent resident in several ways, including:
- sponsorship by a family member or U.S. employer;
- refugee or asylee status or other humanitarian programs; or
- individual filing