Definition

Noun: 1. An official identification document issued by the United States government to a non-citizen, granting them the status of a lawful permanent resident. This card authorizes the holder to live and work permanently in the United States. It is formally known as a Permanent Resident Card.

Usage

The term "green card" is used to refer to the physical card itself and, by extension, the legal status it represents. * It is commonly used in the context of immigration, employment, and legal rights. * It functions as a countable noun (e.g., a green card, green cards).

Examples

• Noun:
  • After years of waiting, she finally received her green card in the mail.
  • Many skilled workers come to the U.S. with the goal of obtaining a green card.
  • Holding a green card is the first step toward potentially becoming a U.S. citizen.

Advanced Usage / Notes

• The name originates from the card's color when it was first issued (1946-1964). Although the card is no longer predominantly green, the name remains in common use.
• The official, legal term is "Permanent Resident Card" (Form I-551).
• The process of obtaining one is often called "getting a green card" or "adjusting status."

Variants and Related Words

• Permanent Resident Card (n): The formal name for a green card.
• Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) (n): The official term for a person who holds a green card.
• Green-card holder (n): A common compound noun referring to a person who possesses a green card.

Synonyms

• Permanent resident visa (Note: This is technically a misnomer, as a green card is not a visa, but the phrase is sometimes used informally.)

Related Phrases

• To apply for a green card: To submit the formal application to become a permanent resident.
  • He is applying for a green card through his employer.
• Green card lottery: The informal name for the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, a U.S. government program that makes a limited number of immigrant visas available through a random drawing.
  • She won the green card lottery and moved to the United States.

Noun

1. a card that identifies the bearer as an alien with permanent resident status in the United States
   • he was surprised to discover that green cards are no longer green