What Are the Differences Between a Green Card and US Visa?

The main difference between a Green Card and a visa is that a Green Card is a permanent residence permit that allows you to become a US citizen. In contrast, a visa is a short-term permit issued for temporary visits. 

There are several other differences between a visa and a Green Card such as:

Differences in Types of Green Card and Types of US Visas

There are four main types of Green Cards that the US issues: 

• Green Card for family purposes. 
• Green Card for employment purposes. 
• Green Card for returning residents.
• Green Card for the diversity visa.

In comparison, the US has over 100 visa categories where some of the most popular visas include:

• Visitor B1/B2 visa. B visas are issued temporarily to allow you to visit the US for recreational purposes or business purposes.
• Student visa F1. A student visa is issued to a foreigner admitted to a US study program— usually valid for a year up to two years after you enter the country.
• Exchange visitor visa J1. The exchange visitor visa is for persons attending an exchange program in the US or taking part in a particular educational program. 

Difference in Processing Fees

The application fee for a US visa is $160— without including processing fees which differ from visa to visa. On the other hand, the filing fee for a Green Card from outside of the US is $1,200, plus additional fees as shown below: 

• Filing form fee: $535
• Biometrics: $85
• Medical examination fee: $200-$500

There might be other expenses you have to pay for your Green Card especially if you get the help of an immigration lawyer with your case.

How Does a Green Card Look Like VS a Visa?

A green card is very similar to an ID in size and form; it’s usually in plastic and has a greenish color— hence the name “Green Card.” A visa is usually a sticker or a stamp attached to your passport. 

Here is a side-by-side comparison of how a Green Card looks versus a visa:

Application Process Differences

The application process is more complicated for a Green Card than a visa. Firstly, to apply for a Green Card, you must have a US sponsor for the permit, while you don’t need a sponsor for a visa. 

Then, you are required to provide a few extra documents for your Green Card than for your visa application. Additionally, you receive an NVC (National Visa Center) package from the US for your Green Card, which is not necessary for a visa. However, both applications are initially submitted at a local US embassy in your country. 

Green Card Validity vs US Visa Validity

A Green Card is valid for ten years from the date of issuance, but if you are a conditional permanent resident, then your card is valid for two years— after which you have to renew your Green Card. 

In comparison, your visa is valid for 180 days— US visas can be issued for ten years with multiple entries, but you are still allowed to stay in the country for only 180 days per entry. 

Green Card Processing Time VS Visa

It takes around five weeks (sometimes more) to process your US visa compared to a Green Card which may take up to three years. 

Traveling with a Green Card VS Traveling With a US Visa

If you hold a Green Card, you can travel freely from the US to other countries, but you must have your card with you along with the passport issued from your home country. Additionally, you visit several countries without a visa as a Green Card holder: 

• Canada
• Mexico
• Costa Rica
• Georgia
• The British Virgin Islands
• Aruba and Curaçao
• The Balkans
• Singapore
• Peru

A US visa is issued to travel to the US. Still, it allows you to visit some other countries.

Find out where else you can go with a US visa.

Green Card VS Visa VS Citizenship

Here are the main differences between a US visa, Green Card, and citizenship:

• A US visa is for short-term visits, and it only offers a pathway to permanent residence in specific cases, i.e., a work visa. 
• A Green Card is a permanent residence permit that allows you to become a citizen in the US after five years of living in the country. 
• US citizenship allows you to become a US national and obtain a US passport. 

Working With a Green Card VS a Visa

You can freely work in the US with your Green Card but not with a visa. You can only work with a US visa if you apply for an immigrant visa that offers a pathway to permanent residence and eventually to citizenship, such as a spouse visa. 

Benefits of Green Card VS Visa

You can benefit from a Green Card in the following ways:

• Have the same rights as a US citizen (without voting).
• Travel freely back and forth from the US. 
• Have the option to become a US citizen after five years. 

The benefits of a Green Card are more significant than that of a visa for those that want to make the United States their permanent home. However, if you do not want to become a permanent resident in the US, then you need a visa. 

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The Green Card is a document which allows you to move permanently to the US and stay there. With the Green Card you can move to any state in the US, find jobs to work and earn income, as well as settle down with your family.

Additionally, you can also travel in and out of the US. However, you are not allowed to stay outside of the US for more than one year, otherwise your Green Card will expire and you will have to go through the process of applying again.

What are the Types of Green Cards for USA?

There are different types of US Green Cards depending on your situation and how you will obtain it. There are basically four categories of Green Cards, each one with their separate visas and requirements:

• Family sponsored Green Cards – this Green Card is given to you if you have close family in the US and you want to reunite with them. This type of Green Card is given only to immediate family, such as spouses, children, siblings, or parents of a US citizen or a US permanent resident.
• Employment sponsored Green Cards – this Green Card is given to you if you have found a job in the US from your home country. Your employer will pay for the forms and application procedure and will sponsor you to stay in the US. With an employment-sponsored Green Card you are bound to that employer and you must work for that company until your contract expires. Only after your sponsorship conditions are completed, you can find a different job with a different employer.
• Returning resident Green Card – this Green Card is for those who previously had a Green Card but travelled outside of the US and did not come back for more than one year for reasons beyond their control. Reasons beyond your control are if you have been detained in another country or are not being allowed to come back for family or cultural reasons. You must prove that you had no opportunity to come back through various documents to be granted this visa.
• Diversity Visa Green Card – every year the US holds a visa lottery for citizens of countries with low immigration rates to the US. If you apply for this lottery and get a diversity visa, then you are on your way to getting a Green Card.

Do I Qualify to Apply for a Green Card?

For whichever USA Green Card you choose to apply, there are various requirements that you must fulfill. Each US immigrant visa has its own particular set of conditions that you must fulfill, but there are also a few that you must have for each visa, as detailed below:

• You must live in a foreign country – most people seeking a Green Card must apply from their home country. If you are within the US, there are other requirements that you must meet.
• If you are in the US, you must have a dual intent visa – a dual intent visa is one that is temporary, but allows you to apply for a Green Card after a certain period of time. An example of a dual intent visa is the H-1B visa.
• For family-based Green Cards, you must have a family member living in the US – your family member must either be your fiancé/spouse, your child, your sibling, or your biological or adoptive parent. The family member must be a US citizen or a US permanent resident and willing to sponsor your application forms. Additionally, the family member must prove that they are financially able to support you for the first few months after you move to the US, until you find a job.
  • The family member must be at least 21 years old and must have a valid US address – if your family member is under 21 years old, then they are not allowed to sponsor you for a Green Card. Also, your family member must be currently living in the US and present a valid US address where you would also be moving once you get the Green Card.
• For employment-based Green Cards, you must have a job offer – if you have found a job in the US, then you must have proof of it. This includes a signed contract or a signed letter from your employer stating when you will start working after you get your Green Card. Oral agreements are not accepted by any US institution when it comes to Green Cards, so make sure that you have a valid document which proves you have a job in the US.
  • Your employer must meet minimum conditions on financial stability – even if you have a job, you must make sure that your employer has enough money to pay your salary. The US institutions responsible for Green Cards and immigrant visas will request financial statements from the company sponsoring your visa. If the financial statements show that the employer does not have enough money to pay your salary, then you will not get an approved Green Card.
• If you were in the US in the past, you must have respected all laws and regulations and not overstayed your visa.
• You must not have a criminal past.

How to Apply for a Green Card?

After you have gone through the types of US immigrant visas, reviewed the requirements and decided which one you can apply for, you must start the Green Card process. For most Green Card applications, there are a few steps you must take, as follows:

Have a sponsor petition for you

Your sponsor must petition on your behalf – this petition can be from a family member or employer. The form for family-sponsored petitions is Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relatives, while the form for employment-based petitions is Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker. The petition must be filed with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Green Card fee must be paid.

Receive the NVC Package

If the petition is approved, NVC will send you a package – USCIS will go through the petition and will decide whether you qualify. If they approve your petition, your documents will go to the National Visa Center (NVC), which will send you a package to your country of residence. The package will contain all instructions and forms which you must fill out for your application. NVC will not send this package until your priority date is current.

Apply for a visa at the US embassy

You must apply for the visa at a US Embassy – following the instructions from the NVC package, you will pay all necessary application fees and apply at a US Embassy in your country of residence. You will submit supporting documents as well as have your visa interview.

Travel to the US

If your visa is approved, you must travel to the US with your arrival package – if after you have completed all the steps, your visa is approved, the US Embassy will give you an arrival package. You cannot open the arrival package but must bring it with you when you first travel to the US. Only a US immigration official at a port of entry is allowed to open it and decide whether you are allowed to enter the US or not. Remember that even if you have a visa, it does not guarantee that you will be allowed to enter the US. The immigration officials at any US port of entry have the authority to decide.

Once in the US, you must file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status to USCIS. This form is the one which will get you the permanent residence card. After USCIS processes your request for one to four weeks, you will get your Green Card in the mail.

Traveling Abroad as a Green Card Holder

As a green card holder, you will have a restricted period within which you can remain outside the US. The standard period you can travel abroad is limited to one year. Though the duration of this period depends a lot on whether you intend to become a naturalized citizen or not.

Read: Countries That Green Card Holders Can Travel to Without a Visa

On the other hand, whether you can enter other countries visa-free or not it all depends on your nationality, and the visa policy between your home country and destination country. I.e. if you are planning to visit the Schengen countries in Europe, your nationality will determine whether you will have to apply for a Schengen Visa from the US or not.

Is Health Insurance for Green Card Holders Mandatory?

No, having health insurance is not mandatory for citizens or immigrants. However, it is strongly recommended to have some kind of coverage due to the high costs of healthcare in the US. Just a consultation with a doctor can reach hundreds of dollars, whereas hospitalization can set you back thousands of dollars per night, without including the cost of the medical treatment itself.

Here you can find more information about Health Insurance plans for Green Card holders in the United States.

What Are the Differences Between Green Card and a US Visa?

The difference between a Green Card and a visa is that the Green Card is permission to stay in the US permanently, while a visa is of temporary nature.

The differences between a visa and a green card are more than the similarities. As said above, the main thing you need to know is that an immigration visa can lead to a green card, while a green card can lead to a US citizenship, which is the highest status a foreigner can obtain in the US. However, a green card can be obtained in other ways too. Below find the differences between both:

The form

A Green Card is issued in the form of a green plastic photo identification card whereas a visa is issued in the form of a stamp or sticker affixed to a traveler’s passport.

Validity

A Green Card is Permanent, which means it does not expire, though it needs renewal every 10 years. Whereas, a visa is temporary but it still can be extended for another limited amount of time.

Working

Green card holders are allowed to work. On the other hand, visa holders are not entitled to work if they are not on a specific type of visa work.

Living in the US

Green Card holders should be careful and not use this document as a multiple-entry visa, since their status may be revoked if they spend a lot of time outside the US, and use it as a second home. Whereas, visa holder, depending on the visa, may be entitled to enter the country once, or enter as many times as they want.

Similarities Between a Green Card and a Visa

In order to understand the differences between a Green card and a US visa it is best to know their similarities first, which are not that many:

• Firstly, both a visa and a green card are issued by the United States Civil Immigration Authorities
  Secondly, both a visa and a green are issued to a foreign citizen.
• Green Card holders and most Visa holders (aside of those entering the US under purposes as tourism, health treatment, training etc.) are allowed to work in the US.
• If being found guilty of committing crimes the green card or visa would be revoked and the foreigner would be deported.
• None of them are allowed to vote.

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