Is a green card the same as a work permit?

It is a rather common misconception that a green card is just another term for a work permit. As per immigration lawyers, this cannot be further from the truth. A green card is the highest level or immigration status you may attain as an immigrant apart from actually becoming an American citizen itself. On the other hand, a work permit simply means that despite being an immigrant you are authorized to work and live in the US.

There are also a lot of other differences between a green card and a work permit. Let us take a look at both.

What exactly is a green card?

A green card is the unofficial term for the Alien Registration Card, which was originally green but was changed to various colors over the years. However, the card is now green once again. This card identifies an individual as a lawful conditional or permanent resident of the United States and is easier to obtain with an immigration attorney.

Someone with a green card can also inherently enjoy the rights of someone with a work permit. He or she can work lawfully in the US. Furthermore, green card holders have some added advantages such as being able to travel in and out of America frequently with no hassle and being able to petition their spouse/children to also become green card holders. Most importantly, holding a green card ideally means that you are now eligible to apply for US citizenship.

Therefore, immigration lawyers express there is no point in applying for a work permit separately if you happen to already be a green card holder.

What is a work permit?

Now that we pretty much know what exactly a green card is and what it entails, let’s shift our focus to the work permit. As the name suggests, the work permit is a document that essentially allows an immigrant to work and live in America under the conditions specified.

Legal professionals say that the term ‘work permit’ is actually a non-formal way of referring to an employment authorization document. Practically speaking, it is much easier to get a work permit than to get a green card under the current US immigration system. This is somewhat logical. If you are going to do heinous things like the woman in San Bernardino, Tashfeen Malik, that can obviously ruin everything for you. Even talking about how you may agree with the terrorists or somehow sympathize with them can harm your chances of entering America legally.

Therefore, if you’re not keen on permanently settling down in the country or becoming an American citizen then you should simply choose to apply for a work permit rather than spend time, money, and effort on acquiring a green card. Once you have your work permit, if you do change your mind, then you can always still work towards a green card.

Whether you wish to apply for a green card or a work permit, it is prudent to seek the assistance of an immigration lawyer. This is the best way to ensure that you navigate through paperwork and processes involved without the risk of making any errors along the way. Immigration law is complex especially when it comes to the issuance of work permits or green cards, which is why you ought to seek legal recourse right from the beginning of the application process.

Why does it seems so much is complex in America nowadays? Certainly in the public sector, i.e. the government. The tax code is complicated and even kills jobs because of its complexity, the divorce system is tough, and the immigration process is hard to fathom as well. Not everything is simple like using Google or finding a legal representative on this fantastic digital legal resource center, which is this website: http://immigration.usattorneys.com/. You do not need the magic tough to figure out this website, just a tiny amount of your time and concentration.