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

A visa and a green card are both forms of immigration documents, but they serve different purposes. A visa is permission to enter a foreign country, usually for a specific purpose and for a limited time. It is typically stamped in your passport or issued as an electronic document. A visa often expires after a certain amount of time and requires that you follow the rules and laws of the country during your stay. A green card, on the other hand, is a permanent resident document that allows you to live and work in the United States indefinitely. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issues green cards to foreign nationals who are either already in the United States or planning to immigrate. To receive a green card, you must meet a number of eligibility requirements, including having a valid visa, and completing an application. In Indiana, immigration law can be tricky to navigate. It’s important to know the difference between a visa and a green card because they are two very different documents and have different implications for those who obtain them. A visa gives you permission to enter a country while a green card allows you to become a permanent resident.

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La diferencia entre una visa y una tarjeta de residencia es que una visa es un documento temporal que autoriza a un extranjero a entrar a los Estados Unidos mientras que una tarjeta de residencia es un documento de larga duración que otorga el estatuto de residente permanente. Una visa solamente le da al extranjero el permiso de entrar en los Estados Unidos, pero no se considera una residencia permanente en Indiana. Una tarjeta de residencia, también llamada tarjeta verde, le otorga a un extranjero el estatuto de residente permanente legal con autorización para vivir y trabajar en Indiana, además de otros beneficios legales como la seguridad social y el permiso de conducir. Para obtener una visa, una persona debe cumplir con ciertos requisitos como demostrar su identidad y su intención de regresar a su país de origen al terminar su viaje. Para obtener una tarjeta de residencia, un inmigrante debe demostrar un vínculo afectivo o un histórico familiar con alguien que esté autorizado para vivir legalmente en los Estados Unidos. El proceso para obtener una tarjeta de residencia puede ser largo y complicado, pero al otorgarle la autorización de residencia permanente, el solicitante beneficia de innumerables privilegios y derechos dentro de los Estados Unidos, especialmente en Indiana.

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

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