Glossary

Green card

The document showing lawful permanent resident status, which lets a noncitizen live and work in the U.S. indefinitely and later apply for citizenship.

Also called: lawful permanent resident, LPR, permanent residence

A green card is the common name for the permanent resident card, which proves a noncitizen's status as a lawful permanent resident (LPR) of the United States. LPRs can live and work anywhere in the country indefinitely, own property, join the military and sponsor certain relatives, but cannot vote in federal elections and can lose status through certain crimes or long absences.

Most green cards are issued through family sponsorship, employment-based categories, refugee or asylum status, the diversity visa lottery and some special programs. Many categories face annual caps and per-country limits, which create long waits, especially for applicants from large countries such as India and China. Some people adjust status from within the U.S., while others receive visas abroad.

After five years of permanent residence (three for those married to citizens), an LPR may apply for naturalization. The system is a central subject of immigration debates over how many people to admit and by what criteria. Advocates of reduced immigration propose to cut or shift categories; supporters of higher levels argue that it increases growth and fills labor needs. Critics of the per-country caps and the backlog also come from both sides. See also chain migration and H-1B visa.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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Related terms

Naturalization The legal process by which a lawful permanent resident becomes a U.S. citizen, involving tests, an interview and an oath. Chain migration A critics' term for family-based immigration, in which citizens and residents sponsor relatives, who may later sponsor others. H-1B visa A temporary work visa for foreign professionals in specialty occupations, capped annually and allocated by lottery. Temporary Protected Status A temporary, renewable status that shields nationals of certain countries in crisis from deportation and allows work authorization. Birthright citizenship The rule, based on the Fourteenth Amendment, that nearly everyone born on U.S. soil is a citizen, regardless of their parents' status.