It can be tricky to navigate the terminology, phrases, and jargon associated with the U.S. immigration system. One word you might hear frequently is ‘lawful permanent resident’ status.
In 2019, there were approximately 13.6 million lawful permanent residents in the U.S., with over 1 million people added that same year.
So what exactly is a lawful permanent resident? A lawful permanent resident (LPR) is a non-U.S. citizen who is lawfully authorized to live and work permanently within the United States.
LPRs are also known as green card holders. Green cards are small green identification cards that have an individual’s personal information, photograph, fingerprint, and expiration date printed on it. The green card is formerly known as the alien registration card or Form I-551. It is issued by the U.S.’s Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
With lawful permanent residency, comes many benefits:
- They can accept offers of employment without any special restrictions (though some jobs are limited to just citizens).
- They can own property.
- They can attend and receive financial assistance from public colleges and universities.
- They are able to join the Armed Forces.
- They may even vote in local elections where U.S. citizenship is not required, but otherwise cannot vote in the U.S.
- They are protected by federal, state, and local U.S. laws.
It is important to note that while LPR status is indefinitely valid (unless abandoned or revoked), the green card only lasts 10 years and must be renewed. Green cards are also the first step to becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States.
So how does one become a lawful permanent resident and obtain a green card? There are various criteria needed and there are two paths to obtaining LPR status. An individual can apply while either abroad or present in the U.S. Applying abroad, individuals will apply through the U.S. Department of State (DOS) consular office. For those present in the U.S. applications are filed through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).
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Immigration policy is constantly changing, and it can be tricky to navigate alone. Here at ImmigrationUSA, we want to simplify that process for you by providing a team of expert lawyers and proprietary online software (MyEsq). Please contact us with any further questions regarding this article or your immigration journey.