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Green
Card : Alien Registration Card
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A United
States Permanent Resident Card, known popularly as a Green
Card, is an identification card for a lawful permanent resident
(LPR) 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. - Green cards were formerly issued by the
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). That agency
has been absorbed into and replaced by the Bureau of Citizenship
and Immigration Services (BCIS), part of the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS). Shortly after re-organization BCIS
was re-named to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
(USCIS). Wikipedia
Why
is "Green card" not green?
A Lawful
Permanent Resident (LPR) alien living in the United States
may carry a card that is not green, but refers to it as a
"green card". The name "green card" comes
from the fact that the predecessor form, I-151, introduced
at the end of World War II, was printed on green paper
The alien
does so because the card bestows benefits, and those benefits
came into being at a time when the card was actually green.
Shown in the picture is a specimen greencard issued in
1995.The pattern and color keeps changing for security reasons.
What we
know as a "green card" came in a variety of different
colors at different times in its history. We still refer to
it as "green card" for the same reason dismissal
(layoff) notices are called "pink slips", sensationalized
news is called "yellow journalism" and intended
distractions are called "red herrings". In each
case, an idea was originally associated with an actual item
of the respective color.The green card is formally known as
the Alien Registration Receipt Card, form I-151 or I-551.
The first receipt cards were form AR-3 and were printed on
white paper.
This receipt
proved that a noncitizen of the United States did register,
but it didn't indicate whether the alien was legal or illegal.
After World War II, when a new wave of immigration began,
the INS started issuing different documents to indicate whether
an alien was a visitor, a temporary resident, or a permanent
resident.
This method
helped to identify the immigration status of each alien. Thus,
the small, green I-151 had immediate value in identifying
its holder as LPR, entitled to live and work indefinitely
in the US. As early as 1947, LPRs protested delays in processing
their I-151s, complaining that employees would not hire them
until they could prove their permanent resident status.
By 1951,
the green Alien Registration Receipt Card Form I-151 represented
security to its holder. It indicated the right to permanently
live and work in the US and instantly communicated that right
to law enforcement officials. As a result of the card's cumbersome
official title, aliens, immigration attorneys, and enforcement
officers came to refer to it by its color. The term "green
card" designated not only the document itself, but also
the official status desired by so many legal nonimmigrant
(students, tourists, temporary workers) and undocumented (illegal)
aliens.
The status
became so desirable that counterfeit form I-151s became a
serious problem. To combat document fraud, the INS issued
19 different designs of the I-151 between its introduction
in the 1940s and its complete revision in 1977. One alteration
to the design in 1964 was to change the color of the card
to blue. The 1964 edition was a pale blue. After 1965, it
was a dark blue. Regardless of color, the I-151 still carried
with it the benefits indicated by the term "green card",
and those who wanted, obtained, issued, or inspected I-151s
continued to refer to it by that name.
[Information
in this mail is courtesy Elizabeth A Berrio, ex-Chief of the
INS Historical Reference Library.]
Now
That You Are A Permanent Resident
Now that
you have become a Permanent Resident of the United States
we would like to welcome and congratulate you on your accomplishment.
Some of you came to the United States as immigrants through
a relative or through an employer. Some of you came as refugees
or were given asylum status. And some of you came through
other programs, like the Diversity Visa Lottery. But now that
you are Permanent Residents you all share the same status.
You have certain rights and certain responsibilities as Permanent
Residents. This document will give you a general idea of what
those rights and responsibilities are and some other useful
information related to your immigration status as a Permanent
Resident. You may also wish to read Welcome to the United
States: A Guide for New Immigrants, a guide (in English and
10 other languages) containing practical information to help
immigrants settle into everyday life in the United States,
as well as basic civics information that introduces new immigrants
to the U.S. system of government. - USCIS
Useful
Links: US
Citizenship and Immigration Services:: Lawful Permanent Residence
(LPR), or "green cards"
Green
Card and Permanent Residence system in different countries
Many
other western countries also provide for a system similar
to the US Green Card.
Canada:
The Canadian government grants permanent residence visas
to members of the Family Class and the Economic Class. The
Economic Class primarily comprises of professionals and skilled
workers under the skilled worker class, the Quebec skilled
worker class and the provincial nominee class as well as business
immigrants.
Using
a point system, an applicant is assessed under the federal
skilled worker class according to various factors that will
indicate whether there is a strong likelihood that the applicant
and dependents will successfully establish in Canada. Ideal
applicants under the skilled worker class will possess employment
skills and experience compatible with occupations "open"
to prospective immigrants to Canada. The selection rules particularly
favour applicants with government approved job offers in Canada.
Check
out the official website of Immigration
section, Government of Canada for details on immigration
and latest legal updates.
United
Kingdom (England) HSMP - The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme
- Global Visas, authorized to provide UK immigration services
and advice by The Office of Immigration Services Commissioner.
The Program (HSMP UK) was created for highly skilled individuals
wishing to remain or to come to the United Kingdom to work
as employed or self-employed persons. You do not need a prior
offer for a job or to take up self employment opportunities
in order to have your visa application approved by the Home
Office's Immigration and Nationality Directorate. You can
apply to come and seek for jobs or self-employment opportunities
in the United Kingdom.
Check
out the Official UK Government website for information
and updates.
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