Generally, immigration is considered to be a complicated process. A Green Card makes it easier for non US citizen to immigrate to the United States, though obtaining a Green Card is not so easy. Even if it is not easy to obtain a Green Card, a non-US citizen may get a Green Card to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States, through few different ways.
To cross the US border and to enter into the United States, a foreign national must possess a visa, which is a legal document which certifies that the visa holder is authorized to enter into the United States. There are various types of visas and all those visas do not serve the same purpose. Visas must be obtained based on the purpose of travel. There are two different types of visas; visas for immigrants and non-immigrants. A non-immigrant visa permits the holder to stay in the United States for a limited period of time. An immigrant visa is provided to a non-US citizen who wishes to live and work permanently in the United States.
Visas are generally issued to individuals based on the purpose of their travel and the type of visa to be issued to an individual, is determined by the American immigration law. By obtaining an immigrant visa, you will be eligible to reside permanently in the United States and you can get a Green Card. You must also remember that a Green Card will not make you an American citizen; you will only be a lawful permanent resident of the United States. You may later become a US citizen after residing in the United States as a Green Card holder for 5 years or more. Your Green Card will also serve as a travel permit and you can travel with the Green Card across the US border, with few restrictions.
A non-US national, with the intention of immigrating permanently to the United States may be eligible for an immigrant visa, if he is sponsored by his US citizen relative or his relative who is a Green Card holder. Many people who are offered jobs in the United States are also eligible for immigrant visas. The Diversity Visa Lottery is a program through which people from eligible countries may get a chance to immigrate to the United States.
Applying for a Green Card involves a lot of paperwork followed by interviews. A criminal or a terrorist will not be allowed to immigrate to the United States. An immigrant will be questioned several times before being allowed to become a permanent resident of the United States. People entering into the United States through the US port of entry with an immigrant visa, will go through security checks and their baggage may be checked to make sure that no smuggling is done. Persons may not be granted entry into the United States if their answers are found to be untrue by the immigration officials. All the supporting documents will be verified. Immigrants need to make sure that they have all the required documentation and be ready to provide them when requested by the immigration officer at the US port of entry.
When immigrating to the United States with an immigrant visa, the immigration officials will verify the foreign passport and other identity documents. Though immigrants carry a permanent resident card or a Green Card, they must undergo all the required security checks, to enter into the United States, as per the requirement. Their passport will be stamped after going through the security checks and then they may enter the United States as lawful permanent residents.