A Green Card is an identification card for a permanent resident of the United States of America who does not have U.S. citizenship. It is proof that the holder has permission to permanently reside and take employment in the U.S. Its "former" official title was Alien Registration Receipt Card, and it is now officially called a Permanent Resident Card, also referred to as form I-551.

The name "green card" comes from the fact that the cards were originally green. Their color has changed over the years, but the term "green card" has remained in use. As of 2004, they are mostly white with green grass pattern in the card's background. A card includes the holder's name and photograph, and other information, and has been updated over the years with numerous anti-counterfeiting devices. The card must be in the possession of the U.S. permanent resident at all times. While that does not require that the U.S. permanent resident has it on their person at all times, it does require that they have a currently valid card and that they know where it is and can show it to an USCIS officer, if requested. One interesting aspect of American law is that permanent residents have identification cards, but citizens do not.

Green cards were formerly issued by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). That agency's functions have been shifted to the new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) formerly the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) in the Department of Homeland Security.

See also

• U.S. Immigration topics

External links

U.S. Government sites

• Why isn't the Green Card Green
• How Do I Become a Lawful Permanent Resident
• 2006 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2006)

Other useful sites

• How to get a green card
• Information Site about the USA Visa Green Card Diversity Program of the United States of America