What is a Green Card? The American Citizen Guide

The Green Card is the golden ticket to the ride called the American Dream Express.

All men are created equal and you can believe this noble notion when you get to hold your very own Green Card. It is the legal proof that you have become an American citizen. When you own a Green Card, you are permitted to live permanently in the United States of America. You are recognized by the US government as an individual who has the same rights as those of a natural-born citizen. This is definitely good news! You can have your American dream and create a new life in this land of opportunities.

Origin of the Green Card

The idea of a free and abundant life in the United States was as prevalent in the past as it is now.  It was even evident in the culture of many non-US citizens who chose to live in the country. In the eighties, it was part of the people’s consciousness in different fields including film and music. Songs like Illegal Alien and Englishman in New York gaining popularity is proof of that. The former song created in 1987 by an English rock group called Genesis and the latter released by Sting, a famous English artist, in 1988.

It is interesting to know that it was only in 1940 when the US government required the first form of registration for non-US citizens. When it was introduced, it was in the form of a receipt card called Form AR-3. After World War II, the first version of the Green Card emerged and it was an official proof that an individual can work and live in the United States for an indefinite period of time. Variations of the Green Card were created according to the prevailing needs of the time in the years 1951, 1977, 1989, and 1997.

The 2010 version is what we now recognize as the modern Green Card. It is issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to eligible applicants. Widely known around the world, thousands of people every year go through a rigid process just to get it.

The United States Permanent Resident Card

(Green Card) (May 2010)

Advantages of Owning a Green Card

Getting your own Green Card is similar to winning a lottery. It evokes the same feelings of triumph and joy. After waiting a long time betting on your favorite numbers, you finally won the grand prize. For many people, getting a Green Card is the fulfillment of a dream especially if they have tried and failed several times.

Thousands of workers from around the world and within the US are eager to be recognized as legal citizens. The US is a great country to live in because it cares for its people in the form of scholarship grants, innumerable job opportunities, modern health care facilities, full social security benefits, and more significantly, a chance for a better and more successful life.

Increase Opportunity for Further Education

Owning a green card is equivalent to a chance or two of joining a university degree and graduate program. Even getting to prestigious schools in the country is no longer a distant dream because you will be accepted based on merit just like any other US citizen.

So many doors will open for you including the ones that will allow you to pursue further studies in promising educational programs. You can study modern engineering, medicine, information technology, etc. Being a graduate of a good university can be the best prerequisite for starting a career in any of the booming industries in the US. In addition, you’ll have the privilege of meeting brilliant minds in your university who may well be you colleagues, business partners, or corporate connections in the future.

Build a Career and Succeed

Most people travel to the US to work for the best companies in the world and gain valuable experience. Others have their minds set on building a lucrative career in the fields of architecture, engineering, technology, design, and the hospitality industry. Artists and musicians alike covet the fame and the fortune that is characteristic of the opportunities available in this corner of the globe. The fact that Hollywood is located in US soil is a manifestation of these desires.

Applying for work without a Green Card is not going to take you where you want to go. If you can obtain the card, you will be on equal footing with any of the talented, smart, and hardworking citizens of this country in terms of getting hired. Since the card acts as legal proof of your citizenship and your permission to gain employment, you will have a good chance of landing your dream job. Your Green Card coupled with your wit and self-confidence is the leverage you need to succeed.

Freedom to Take the Entrepreneurial Path

Nowadays, so many people want to be entrepreneurs and this is especially true in the United States. When you think of the diverse target market in the country, starting a business is a great option. If you are from another country and you want to open a restaurant for your local cuisine, you can expect hundreds of curious and eager customers. The food industry is thriving and fashion, design, and music are not far behind either. The dynamic and varied taste of the people is so irresistible a factor not to take advantage of for your entrepreneurial journey. You can’t start a business without having the necessary legal documents and here is where the need for the Green Card comes in. Your proof of identification as well as your legal right to create a viable business opportunity for yourself lies in owning an authentic Green Card. Get your hopes up and know that you will eventually obtain this elusive card. You can rely on our help in this area. After that, you will see the realization of your grand business ideas.

Find a Home and Create a New Life

The variety of real estate properties in the United States is incredible. You can choose to live near the coast, in the big city, or in a suburban town. Ideally, as you create a new life, you can buy a house when you relocate here. If finances will not permit that at this time, you can rent a property first.

Landlords and landladies would generally ask their tenants to provide proof of identity. If you are a foreigner, you are expected to produce a Green Card. They will be more at ease if you show it to them because it simply means that you have legal permission from the US government to reside here. Buying property is a similar challenge although it is stricter because you have to submit and show more legal documents.

A simple Green Card affords you all of these rights and privileges. Just believe that they are yours for the taking if you respect the rules of this country and get the golden ticket soon. We are about to show you how it’s done. You can trust that you are not alone in this process. We are here to lend a hand.

Disclaimer: Travel-Abroad is a travel blog which aggregates related travel news, photos, updates, scholarship programs, VISA application and important info for our visitors. We do not offer direct employment, VISA procurement or offer physical travel assistance. We also do not charge you or request money and would not refer you to any agent either.