A USA permanent resident certificate, called the green card, comes with plenty of benefits. The perks of holding a green card are not the same as being a citizen. But, one can live and work freely in any state of the country as a natural citizen would. Hence, us permanent resident or green card is one of the most sought-after residencies globally—the US government issues over a million residency permits each year. In 2019, an anticipated 13.9 million PR holders will have lawful permanent residence status in the United States.
Here are some perks that the PR holders in the USA enjoy.
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Quick citizenship
If a PR holder is married to a US citizen, they can seek citizenship after three years, or five years if they are not. If someone recently married a US resident and applied for a green card, they may be eligible for conditional permanent residency.
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No deportation
Green card holders keep their status as permanent residents regardless of future changes to US immigration legislation. Any us permanent resident status is not temporary, and it cannot be canceled if immigration laws change. They can lose their status if they commit a crime, break the law, or do something that could lead to deportation by law.
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Protection by the law
The US legislation, the state, and the local authority protect a PR holder legally. Those awarded permanent residences are afforded the same legal protections as US citizens, given they don’t take the law into their hands.
How costly is the process?
The permanent residency, the application procedures, and the accompanying charges vary, even though they all lead to the same end. The length of time it takes to complete a green card application is dependent on the category of application and the applicant’s birth country. For example, the process might take years for a citizen of mainland China or India under the second and third priority categories.
What is a second residency by investment?
It is a program requiring a foreigner to invest in some project in another country for winning a residency offer there. After putting their money on the line, the foreign investor is entitled to be offered a second residency by an investment. Later on, they can also file for a natural permanent residence. However, some conditions need to be fulfilled, like investing in a country that offers this program in the first place.
When they first invest, foreigners are granted a temporary PR status wherein they can stay in the country for a fixed period. They can either receive a temporary PR certificate or any form of VISA. Hence, they can study, work, or establish a business in that nation. After 3-5 years, they can apply for permanent PR status. The rights that come with this status are nearly the same as that of a natural citizen. So, the second residency by investment comes with multifold benefits.
Countries that offer this program include Malta, Portugal, Spain, Latvia, Jersey, Belgium, Canada, and more. So, one should go through the guidelines carefully to make sure they understand all the clauses. Legal help from consultants is always a great option.