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

Visa and green card are two terms that are commonly used when discussing immigration law in California and throughout the United States. The main difference between a visa and a green card is the purpose of each. A visa is a document issued by a U.S. Consulate or Embassy overseas that grants permission for a foreign national to travel to the United States. Visas come in various forms, including tourist visas, student visas, and work visas. Each visa is issued for a specific purpose and has an expiration date. A green card, also known as a permanent resident card, is a document issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that grants the holder legal permission to live and work in the United States. This document proves that the holder has been granted lawful permanent residency in the U.S. and is therefore authorized to stay in the country indefinitely. A green card can be obtained through family sponsorship, employment sponsorship, or investment. In summary, a visa grants a foreign national permission to travel to the United States, while a green card gives legal permission to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis. Both documents are necessary for any individual who is trying to enter and stay in the United States.

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La diferencia entre una visa y una tarjeta verde es muy importante para quienes están interesados en inmigrar a California. Una visa es un documento que le permite a un extranjero ingresar temporalmente al país. Los propósitos por los que una persona extranjera puede solicitar una visa incluyen viajes de turismo, estudio, trabajo temporal, entre otros. Una visa puede ser temporal o de largo plazo. En contraste, una tarjeta verde es una forma permanente para que un extranjero ingrese y viva legalmente en Estados Unidos. Esta tarjeta también se conoce como la tarjeta de residencia permanente o documentación de residencia. La tarjeta verde le da a un extranjero el derecho de vivir y trabajar legalmente en los Estados Unidos, sin límite de tiempo. Las personas con tarjeta verde también pueden solicitar la ciudadanía estadounidense más adelante. Para obtener la tarjeta verde, los extranjeros generalmente tienen que cumplir con los requisitos de inmigración de Estados Unidos. Estos requisitos pueden variar según el estatus migratorio de la persona o el propósito de los viajes. Si desea ingresar a Estados Unidos con la intención de vivir permanentemente, tendrá que obtener una tarjeta verde, y no una visa.

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

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