Thread: Can someone explain GREEN CARDS to me?

What's the deal with these? Are they hard to get? How many are allowed? Can you come here illegally THEN get one? And more importantly, how's a 'guest worker' program any different?

tx,

e

Green Card are the IDs issued to resident aliens. They are not for illegal aliens. Green Card holders are here legally and are usually on a path to citizenship.

More here:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis

Usualy people that want to immigrate to the USA apply in their home countries and have to wait about 7 to 15 to receive a green card, which is another name for an immigrant or permenant resident visa, there is an actual card given to those immigrants that shows they are legal immigrants, it is not really green but long time ago it was actualy green.
Not everybody applying to immigrate here will be aproved, it is a very long process and you have to wait for your turn up to 15 years in some instances.
Another way to get a green card is throuh an employer that sponsors the person, this is usualy reserved for professions that are really in need and which the emlployers can not find people to hire already in the States. This Category is usualy limited to a few thousand annualy.
Amnesty or Guest worker program will allow millions who cut in front of the line and broke our laws to receive permenant residency (green cards) that were ment to be for those people that were waiting for years and years in their home countries (from all over the world and not all from 1 country)
That is why it is not fair.
hope that helps.

George.

There is numerous ways to get a green card. Every year the government decides which countries are eligible to apply. There has also been a green card lottery for certain countries as well. It takes years to get one and it is not easy. Professionals from many countries can only get a visa to be able to work here and not a greencard. I know many that are constantly renewing their visas. Canadians are among those thanks to NAFTA. You can get a green card if you marry an American citizen. An illegal can technically get one if they are a minor and the parent(s) are legal. This does not bother me as much as legals pay taxes and have health insurance coverage and if the minor does not work illegally.
I thought guest workers would be like those under a visa and then could apply for a green card if they have not been in trouble with the law and they are still needed for the job they have.

So, isn't the idea of a guest worker program just an extention of this?

Originally Posted by edstate

So, isn't the idea of a guest worker program just an extention of this?

It would be if there was a secure border, a competent government to keep track of the program, law enforcement, and no desire to break the sovereignty of the U.S.