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The identification card granted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) allows a foreign national to live and work permanently in the United States.
Not to be confused with a visa, which allows a person to travel or stay in the United States for a specified length of time and for a specific purpose, a green card allows the holder to live and seek employment in the United States indefinitely, sponsor immediate relatives, and work toward citizenship.
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According to USCIS, a person may be eligible to immigrate to the U.S. based on certain criteria:
» Through a qualified family member with preference given those who are immediate relatives of a U.S. citizen
» Based on a job offer or employment weighted toward those with extraordinary abilities, teaching and research credentials, and certain multinational executives and managers
» Through refugee or asylum status
» Other programs and categories such as a diversity program known as the Green Card lottery, and Afghan/Iraqi translator
Applicants may be ineligible due to criminal, security, or certain health-related reasons.
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