Green Cards VS Visas
Green Cards and Visas are two totally different items. Often there is confusion over the two, as far as how and when each is used. Which document a person needs will depend on why he or she wants to be in the United States. A Visa is generally easier to get than a Green Card.
Green Card
A Green Card gives the holder of the card the legal right to live and work in the United States. The holder of the card is considered a legal resident of the country. The card holder may also keep citizenship from the country he or she comes from. A person with this card can leave the United States and come back. However, there is a certain period of time within which the person must return to the United States. After having a Green Card for a certain period of time, the holder of the card is able to apply to become a citizen of the United States.
Once a person becomes a citizen, the person is able to file a petition to obtain a Green Card for a spouse or children in order to allow them to come into the country as well. Other ways to obtain a green card, besides having a family member petition to obtain one for you, is through the Green Card lottery. If someone is in the country on a work Visa, the employer of this person can also petition for him or her to receive a Green Card. A Green card must be renewed every 10 years.
Visa
A Visa allows temporary entry into the United States. Reasons that one would be issued a Visa would be for tourism, business, education, and medical reasons. While a Green Card is good for 10 years, a Visa is only good for a few months. Once the Visa expires, the person must leave the country. While in the country, the person holding the Visa can go to school, work or vacation in the United States. A Visa is much easier to obtain than a Green Card.
There are two types of Visas available; the immigrant Visa and the non-immigrant Visa. The non-immigrant Visa is given to a person who intends to come to the United States for a certain purpose and then go back to another country. An immigrant Visa is given to one who wants to make the United States his or her permanent home.