A “green card,” issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), provides proof of lawful permanent resident status, with authorization to live and work anywhere in the United States. Most green cards must be renewed every 10 years, but conditional green cards based on marriage or investment must be replaced after the first 2 years.

A lawful permanent resident, also known as a “green card holder,” is a foreign national who is authorized to live and work anywhere in the United States, sponsor certain relatives for their own green cards, and ultimately apply for U.S. citizenship.

A green card application may be denied by the U.S. government for several reasons, including but not limited to mistakes on the required forms, missing documents, insufficient financial resources, or failure to demonstrate eligibility.

Anyone who already has a valid work visa (for example, an H-1B or L-1 visa) can usually continue working in the United States even while applying for a U.S. green card. Otherwise, green card applicants aren’t allowed to start working in the United States until they obtain a work permit by filing Form I-765.

Yes, entrepreneurs who make an investment in a commercial enterprise in the United States can apply for a green card through an EB-5 Investor visa. The investment must create or preserve at least 10 permanent full-time jobs for qualified U.S. workers. Every year, USCIS can authorize up to 10,000 visas for eligible entrepreneurs. A commercial enterprise refers to a for-profit entity formed for the ongoing operation of a lawful business. To be eligible for an EB-5 visa, the entrepreneur must invest a minimum of $500,000 in a targeted employment area (rural or high unemployment area) or $1,000,000 anywhere in the United States.