All You Need To Know About The USA Green Card & Trump’s Bold Move
What is a Green Card?
A Green Card, officially known as a Permanent Resident Card, is a document issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that grants a foreign national the right to live and work permanently in the United States.
Green card holders are considered lawful permanent residents and can eventually apply for U.S. citizenship if they meet certain eligibility requirements. Green cards also provide the holder with certain rights and responsibilities, including the ability to sponsor certain family members for their own green cards.
What are the Benefits of Holding a Green Card?
In 2019, about 13.9 million people in the U.S. had green cards, and 9.1 million of them were eligible to become citizens. People usually get green cards in three ways: renewing an existing one, being a relative of a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or working in the U.S. on an employment visa.
Mentioned herein are some of the benefits of a Green Card:
- Eligibility for U.S. citizenship after three years if married to a U.S. citizen, or five years otherwise. Conditional permanent resident status may apply if recently married to a U.S. citizen and applied for a green card.
- Protection from deportation despite changes in immigration laws, is contingent on maintaining good conduct and adhering to legal standards.
- Retention of original citizenship without a requirement for renunciation.
- Equal legal protections as U.S. citizens.
- Ability to sponsor family members for green cards, with priority given to immediate relatives of U.S. citizens.
- Renewal requirement for green cards every 10 years.
- Simplified travel with the ability to leave and re-enter the U.S. within a 12-month period.
- Freedom to reside anywhere within the U.S. without mandatory reporting to state or local authorities.
- Eligibility for federal benefits such as social security and educational support, along with potential in-state tuition rates at select colleges.
- Enhanced employment opportunities encompassing roles with security clearances or within government sectors.
- Participation in the U.S. political process through campaign donations or volunteer work for electoral candidates.
Understanding Current U.S. Immigration Law
U.S. immigration laws are made by Congress and are covered under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Here’s a simple overview:
- Permission Required: Anyone wanting to immigrate to the U.S. needs to get approval from the U.S. government first.
- Ways to Immigrate: There are various ways to get permission to live in the U.S., such as through family sponsorship, employment, or other special categories.
- Rights with a Visa: Those with immigrant visas can live and work in the U.S. and eventually apply for citizenship if they choose.
- Undocumented Immigrants: People living in the U.S. without legal status are called undocumented immigrants. They usually can’t become legal residents or citizens while staying in the U.S. They risk deportation unless they qualify for asylum or temporary protected status.
For more details on the different types of immigrant visas, check the State Department’s website.
Current Wait Times for U.S. Immigration
- Spouses and Immediate Relatives Inside the U.S.: 10–23 months
- Applying from Outside the U.S.: 13.5–15 months
- Other Green Card Categories: Often much longer due to country caps
Donald Trump Pledges Green Cards for Foreign Graduates of U.S. Colleges
Throughout his presidency, Trump criticized the H-1B visa program, calling it a “theft of American prosperity.” However, former President Trump has now promised to give automatic green cards to foreign students graduating from U.S. colleges. This move aims to keep them from returning to their home countries, like India and China, where they could become multibillionaires. This shift in his immigration stance comes as a significant change ahead of the November presidential election, where immigration and deportation are key issues.
Despite his earlier anti-immigrant rhetoric, Trump has always supported a merit-based immigration system. He emphasized wanting to retain talented students from top schools like MIT and Harvard. Trump reiterated his policy of granting green cards to foreign students who earn degrees in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields from U.S. institutions.
Approximate Number of Indian Students in the U.S.
In the 2022-23 academic year, more than a million international students from over 210 countries are studying at U.S. colleges and universities, according to the latest Open Doors report by the Institute of International Education.
China remains the top country sending students to the U.S., with 289,526 students in 2022/23, a slight 0.2% decrease from the previous year. India is the second largest sender, reaching a record high of 268,923 students, marking a 35% increase from the previous year. Together, students from China and India make up 53% of all international students in the U.S., similar to the previous year’s figures.
Post-Green Card Responsibilities
Upon obtaining a green card, individuals assume specific responsibilities as permanent residents of the United States:
- Similar to U.S. citizens, green card holders are required to file income tax returns and report income to the IRS and state tax authorities.
- Compliance with U.S. federal laws, as well as state and local regulations, is mandatory.
- Male green card holders aged 18-25 must register for the Selective Service, despite the absence of a draft since 1973.
- It is imperative to carry the green card at all times; failure to do so may lead to a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail.
- Participation in any illegal activities aimed at altering the U.S. government is strictly prohibited, akin to the responsibilities of U.S. citizens.
Important Facts About Obtaining a Green Card
While green card holders can live and work in the United States and enjoy many benefits similar to U.S. citizens, they do not possess full citizenship rights. This includes:
- Green card holders cannot vote in U.S. elections.
- Their ability to sponsor family members for green cards is not as high a priority as U.S. citizens.
- Green cards cannot be transferred and do not automatically extend to children born outside the United States.
- Green card holders are ineligible to run for political office.
- They do not receive a U.S. passport.
- Those who leave the U.S. permanently after residing for 8 years or more may be subject to expatriation and exit taxes, similar to U.S. citizens renouncing their citizenship.
- While green card holders are generally protected from deportation, changes in U.S. immigration law could affect this protection.
- Green cards must be renewed every 10 years.
These are important distinctions for green card holders to be aware of while living in the United States.