Visas and green cards are documents that give you the right to enter and stay in the United States. As far as if a visa or green card is ‘better,’ it depends on what your travel and life plans are.
You need a visa of one kind or another to enter the United States, and a green card is required if you want to live in the US permanently and work. You also need a visa when first entering the United States when you are planning to get a green card. There also are immigrant and non-immigrant visas, and understanding the differences between them is important. More information about these documents are below, and contact us if you have questions about visas and green cards.
US Visa Overview
A visa is an entry permit to come into the United States. There are several types of US visas that allow people in other countries to travel to the US for various reasons and periods of time. There are immigrant visas and non-immigrant visas.
All visas are issued by US consulates and embassies overseas, and people who want to travel to the US need to set up an appointment and go to the interview personally. They also must submit an application and the required supporting documents for the kind of visa they want.
Non-Immigrant Visa
The most common non-immigrant visas are as follows. These visas have a limited time you can stay in the US:
- B-1 business visas
- B-2 tourist visas
- Combined B-1/B-2 visas
- H visas for temporary workers
If you want to stay in the United States temporarily for pleasure or business, you need to apply for a non-immigrant visa.
Immigrant Visa
The other type is an immigrant visa which allows you to move to the US permanently and work. Foreigners who want to live in the United States must get an immigrant visa before they enter the US.
It is more difficult to get an immigrant visa than a non-immigrant one. The application is complex and you probably need a sponsor. Most foreign nationals have to have an immigrant visa before they eventually receive a green card.
Green Card Overview
A green card is a permit that provides permanent residence in the US and the ability to work. It is a physical card that resembles a US driver’s license. Having a green card gives you most of the same rights as American citizens, including the right to vote. Most green card holders may apply for citizenship within three to five years.
To get a green card, you usually need to have an immigrant visa already before applying for permanent residence. After you have an immigrant visa and enter the country, you can apply for a green card. You can get a green card in these ways:
- Family
- Work
- Humanitarian reasons
- Lottery
The easiest way to get a green card is to have an immediate family member sponsor you. For example, if you got married to an American citizen overseas, your spouse can sponsor you for a green card. However, you also can apply for a green card tied to your job in the US.
The lottery chooses 50,000 people from underserved countries around the world every year. You also may apply for a green card if you are a refugee, asylum seeker, or human trafficking victim.
Visa or Green Card Summary
An immigrant visa is best if you want to move to the United States permanently and work. If you want to visit the US temporarily, the best choice is a non-immigrant visa. Remember that you still need to have a visa initially if you want to get a green card eventually.