What’s the difference between a Green Card and a Passport?

If you are wondering what’s the difference between a Green Card and a Passport, keep reading this post!

A Green Card is valid for ten years, and then you have to go through the renewal process and pay fees. When you get your Green Card, you still need to maintain a passport from your home country.

In other words, the main difference is that a Green Card is a term used for permission which is granted by the USCIS to immigrants to live and work in a country.

On the other hand, a Passport is an official travel document. It is issued by the government of the country to its citizens. It is proof to certify the holder’s identity and citizenship.

Both documents are government documents related to different aspects of immigration, but they have nothing to do with each other.

So, what’s the difference between a Green Card and a Passport?

A Green Card is officially known as a Permanent Residence Card. It is a document issued by the United States government as evidence that the holder has been granted the privilege to permanently reside in the United States and had permission to work.

The holder is not a US citizen but is a Lawfully Permanent Resident. This is a necessary status to hold to eventually apply to become a citizen of the United States.

Although, you must keep in mind that the word “permanent”, in this case, is not actually permanent as the person can lose it by being out of the country for longer than the allowed time, for example. It can also be revoked for breaking certain laws or if obtained by deception.

A passport is a document issued by the government of the country of which the holder is a citizen. It is used as proof of citizenship and identification primarily for use when traveling to a country in which the person is not a citizen, to prove who the holder is and of what country the person is a citizen. It is not permitted to enter another country without a Visa, in most cases, so, a passport is not enough.

Green Card Benefits

Permanent residents have the right to work and live in the U.S. indefinitely, as well as the right to petition for close family members for a Green Card.

Green Card relatives are considered preference relatives, this process takes considerably longer than for a U.S. citizen.

According to USCIS rules, Green Card holders have some benefits, check it now:

• Permanent residents continue to be citizens of another country, which means they do not have the right to a U.S. passport;
• Lawful permanent residents do not have the right to vote in U.S. elections and may lose their status if U.S. government considers they have abandoned their status, by spending more than 6 months outside the United States, for example;
• If a lawful permanent resident plans on leaving the U.S. for a period exceeding 1 year, they must first obtain a permit if they do not wish to abandon their status;
• After a period of time, permanent residents can apply for U.S. citizenship, the process is called naturalization.

Wizard Visa can help Green Card holders through the process of applying for U.S. citizenship. We have a large experience in immigration services to prepare you for the process and help guide you along the way.

To learn more about immigration services read our blog, contact us to get more information. Wizard Visa offers the best service to help you become a US citizen!

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