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

A visa and a green card are two different documents that allow people to enter, live, and work in the United States. A visa is typically issued by a foreign embassy or consulate in the United States and represents permission to travel to the country, but not necessarily permission to stay. A green card, formally known as the Permanent Resident Card, is a document issued by the U.S. government that grants the holder permanent residency in the United States. While a visa is typically good for a set period of time, a green card is permanent and allows someone to remain in the United States indefinitely, as long as certain conditions are met. For example, people with a green card may not leave the United States for a long period of time or engage in illegal activities, or else they risk losing their permanent residency and being deported. In California, the process of applying to become a U.S. citizen is separate from that of obtaining a visa or green card. People who have a valid green card may apply to become a U.S. citizen after five years of living in the U.S., though there are some exceptions to this rule. Once an applicant is approved for U.S. citizenship, they receive a Certificate of Citizenship, which serves as the official documentation of their new citizenship status.

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La diferencia entre una visa y una tarjeta verde es que una visa es un permiso temporal para entrar a Estados Unidos, mientras que una tarjeta verde es un documento de residencia permanente. Las visas se emiten generalmente para fines específicos, como vacacionar, estudiar, trabajar temporalmente o reunirse con un pariente cercano. Estas visas, a menudo llamadas "visas de no inmigrante", normalmente no permiten que el titular se quede en el país por más de un año. Una tarjeta verde, también conocida como tarjeta de residencia permanente, es un documento que otorga a su titular el estatus de residente permanente en los Estados Unidos. El titular de una tarjeta verde obtiene el privilegio de residir y trabajar en los Estados Unidos de forma indefinida. Los titulares de tarjetas verdes también tienen los beneficios de solicitud de ciudadanía después de que hayan permanecido en el país durante un período determinado. En conclusión, una visa es un permiso temporal para entrar a Estados Unidos, mientras que una tarjeta verde es un documento que otorga a su titular el estatus de residente permanente. La tarjeta verde también le permite al titular solicitar la ciudadanía estadounidense después de un período establecido.

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