What is the difference between a green card and a visa?

A green card and a visa are two different types of immigration documents that authorize a foreign national to stay and work in the United States. Generally, the main difference between a green card and a visa is that a green card provides a foreign national with legal permanent residency in the United States, while a visa is only temporary authorization to stay in the United States. With a green card, a foreign national will be issued a permanent identification card and can stay in the United States indefinitely. Green card holders also have the right to work in the United States and may apply for U.S. citizenship after five years. A visa, on the other hand, provides temporary permission for a foreign national to stay in the United States. This can be for a limited amount of time, depending on the type of visa, and generally does not allow the foreign national to work or permanently reside in the United States. Visas are typically issued for tourism, study, temporary employment, or other purposes. In Virginia, family-based green cards are available to those whom one has family ties, such as a spouse or parent living in the U.S. The family-based visa type allows the foreign national to travel to the United States, remain in the U.S. temporarily, and must be renewed every few years. However, in order to apply for a family-based green card, the foreign national must already be in the U.S. with a valid visa. In conclusion, the major difference between a green card and a visa is that a green card provides a foreign national with legal permanent residency in the United States, while a visa is only temporary authorization to stay in the United States. While family-based green cards are available to those with family ties in the U.S., in order to apply for a family-based green card, the foreign national must already be in the U.S. with a valid visa.

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La diferencia entre una tarjeta verde y una visa es muy importante para entender la ley de inmigración en Virginia y en todo el país. Una tarjeta verde es un documento oficial emitido por el gobierno de los Estados Unidos que otorga el estatus legal de inmigrante a una persona. Una tarjeta verde es una forma de derecho a permanecer en los Estados Unidos de forma permanente. Por otro lado, una visa es un documento emitido por el gobierno de los Estados Unidos que permite a una persona entrar temporalmente al país. Una persona con una visa todavía no tiene el estatus de inmigrante. Las personas con una visa a menudo tienen un período de tiempo definido para permanecer en los Estados Unidos o un propósito específico para su estadía. Por ejemplo, una visa podría ser emitida para una persona para venir a los Estados Unidos para visitar como turista, estudiar, trabajar temporalmente o para vivir definitivamente.

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What is the difference between a green card and a visa?

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