The immigration laws are constantly being reviewed and updated, keeping up current with the changes or even proposed legislation changes and requirements is critical. The USCIS implements any changes in policy made at the national level almost instantly, making it vital that immigrants especially green card holders stay up to date with the latest information.

This is especially imperative to immigrants in the United States who have been granted a Green Card and are considered permanent legal residents. With all that has been said about Green Cards and the importance attached to it especially by immigrants, there is need to analyze the benefits of green cards and how a green card holder can be able to utilize this benefits.

General Green Card Benefits
The US Green Card gives the holder the right to enter the United States as a permanent resident – and without all the complications and officialdom. If you want to permanently settle in the USA as a Green Card holder, there are no restrictions to where you can go and all fifty US states are open to you. Moreover, with a Green Card you can also exercise, apart from voting, almost all the rights that a US citizen has without having to give up your current nationality. If you decide you want to become a US citizen, then you can apply for US nationality after living in America for five years. There is no rule requiring you to immediately immigrate immediately after receiving the Green Card, but it should be your intention.

Additionally, there are many benefits to simply living in America:
• With extremely low real estate prices and a high standard of living at a low cost, many regions in the United States have lower living costs compared to other countries, like Germany.
• The fact that the United States has recovered from its housing and finance crisis is also an advantage for immigrants who are coming to the country to join a bustling and expanding job market.
• The U.S. economy has been growing over the last years and the USA should be experiencing its next economic boom soon.

Studying in the United States
Foreign students studying at a university in the USA usually pay much higher tuition fees than local students. This is not the case, however, for foreign students who have a Green Card.
• University tuition fees can be reduced by as much as 80% with a Green Card.
• Green Card holders do not have to go through the long and complicated process of applying for a student visa.
• Students with a U.S. Green Card can also apply for federal student loans.

Financial Benefits for Students
Foreigners studying in the USA who take on a part-time job are subject to established work restrictions. In comparison to those studying with a student visa, Green Card holders are allowed to work off campus as well as study. This is a significant advantage as it widens the job market and expands options. There are other benefits of studying in the USA as well. Being able to speak English is fundamentally a must in today’s job market and learning a language abroad is the best way to gain these competencies.

Working in the USA
If you are willing to work, the United States is the perfect place to make your dream job come true!
The USA has the world’s largest economy, which is no surprise considering America’s can-do attitude and penchant for innovation and creativity.

The USA is constantly on the search for new talent! If you already have an idea for the next big start-up, then the next thing you need is a Green Card to work in the United States.

The US business climate encourages people with great ideas to start a business more so than anywhere else. Having a Green Card will free you from the bureaucratic stress and uncertainty of applying for a work visa. Getting certain licenses for business and trade is also quicker and easier with a Green Card. And last but not least, the U.S. dollar has remained one of the most stable convertible currencies over the past several decades. The dollar, which has been strengthening over the last few months, is a safe investment in turbulent economic times. Now is the time to do business in the USA. Take advantage of lower investment costs now and you will profit from a strengthening U.S. dollar.

Employment as a Green Card Holder
The Green Card is a lifelong US work and resident permit that frees you from the bureaucratic stress and uncertainties of applying for a visa. For a temporary work visa, getting a concrete job offer in the USA is the first obstacle you need to overcome. In order to apply for a U.S. work visa, you have to have an employer sponsor you.

As a Green Card holder, you can work where you want and for whom you want. Moreover, getting certain business and trade licenses is quicker and easier with a Green Card. As a legal resident, you will not be subjected to many of the strict working restrictions in place for non-Americans.

Get a lifelong US work visa with the Green Card
There are many advantages to being a Green Card holder and the freedom to explore the entire American job market is one of them! It does not matter if you want to be employed or work as a freelancer, having the Green Card as your work permit will open the door to endless job opportunities. Not subject to the work restrictions US visa holders face, Green Card holders are free to explore the entire American job market.

Retirement in the USA
For every immigrant in the USA that wants to take a trip across the USA with tent in tow, there is a pensioner seeking a little peace and quiet in the USA. The Green Card makes it possible for people to permanently retire in the USA. Many people who would like to spend their retirement in the USA usually apply for the well-known Tourist Visa (B-visa).The B-visa is issued for 10 years and many people mistakenly believe that they can then spend the entire 10 years in the USA. This, however, is not the case. If you take a closer look, B-1 visa holders are only allowed to stay in the USA for a maximum of 6 months at a time. As a result, many people do not willingly return to their home country. There is still no special visa for pensioners in the USA. The Green Card, however, gives people who have retired a chance to legally emigrate to the USA.

There are many benefits for pensioners in the USA who have a Green Card – including, of course, being able to spend the entire day in the sun. If you are a retired Green Card holder, you are entitled to the pension you have earned in both your home country and in the United States. Retired Green Card holders living in the USA can also benefit from medical aid programs like Medicare and other social welfare programs. The only requirement is that you have lived in the USA for at least five years. If you have ever played with the idea of spending your retirement relaxing in a rocker on a Florida beach, then you should think of getting a U.S. Green Card. Winning the Green Card Lottery is the easiest way.

Moving to the USA as a Family
When a family member wins a Green Card, the rest of the family profits too. Which family members can come with you to the USA? If you win a Green Card, your spouse and all your children who are unmarried and under the age of 21 automatically get one too. This is also the case for people in same-sex marriages. Furthermore, Green Card holders can, under certain circumstances, apply for special visas for other family members so that they may join them in the USA. In these cases, you must be prepared for long waiting periods.
If you win a Green Card, your spouse and children win one too!
It does not matter if you are dreaming of a large house and garden for your whole family or if would prefer to live in the hustle and bustle of the big city in the USA: The Green Card comes with many benefits for you and your family. Also, the importance of English is growing in a globalizing world. In the USA, your children will grow up speaking English and getting a good education. The doors to the future job market will stand wide open for those who master these skills.

If you are dreaming of:
• living in the USA for a longer period of time,
• starting a new life in the land of your dreams,
• studying at a renowned U.S. university,
• tapping into new professional prospects,
• going into business for yourself,
• enjoying your retirement, …

… then don’t hesitate to take your future into your own hands! Apply for a green card.

For more information do not hesitate to follow these links
https://www.green-card.com/green-card-benefits/
https://www.usimmigration.org/articles/benefits-of-having-a-green-card

Janet Rangi

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