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US Green Card Benefits – 6 Reasons Why You Should Go for It

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US Green Card benefits, yes there are a number of advantages when you have one.  In this article, we take a look at a few of them.

You can live in the USA and even work here for some time on a visa. However, if you plan on living here permanently, you should apply for a Green Card. USA Green Card application is a must have to put you on the route to citizenship.

green card, US green card program, US Green Card benefits
Green Card. Image courtesy USCIS

Well, getting a Green Card may not be very easy but there are a number of benefits to having a Green Card. Here are some of the advantages.

Read: How To Transfer An O-1 Visa To Green Card

US Green card benefits – Why Go for It?

Below are a US Green Card benefits:

1  You Can Sponsor Your Relatives

There are many categories under which one may go for a USA green card application. A limited number of Green Cards are issued under each category. Hence, the key to increasing the chances of being awarded a Green Card is to apply in the right category.

If you are a Green Card holder, your immediate family can apply for permanent residency through the family-based Green Card category. This refers to your spouse, parents and unmarried children. You can also sponsor your married children and siblings under the preference family category.

2  Lesser Paperwork

There are a number of limitations to the amount of time you can spend in the United States while on a visa. Visas can be renewed but require considerable running around each time. There is also always a chance that your visa may not be renewed.

On the other hand, once you hold a Green Card, it needs to be renewed only once every ten years. For this, all you need to do is submit the I-551 form to the USCIS six months before your Green Card expires. See, less paperwork indeed is one of the best US Green Card benefits

3 Easier Travel

Shorter trips in and out of America are much easier when you go for a USA green card application and get one as compared to traveling with a visa. Some countries also offer a visa waiver for US Green Card holders. This includes: Canada

However, it is important to note that if you want to stay outside the USA for over six months, your intentions of staying in the US permanently may be questioned. Similarly, if you stay outside the USA for over a year continuously, it may be assumed that you have abandoned America as your permanent home.

4 Cheaper Education

Tuition fees for colleges, vocational schools and universities are considerably lesser for Green Card holders as compared to immigrants with a visa. By proving permanent residency in a state, Green Card holders can also claim ‘in-state’ status while applying for their children’s school admission.

With this, you can save a considerable amount as compared to the admission fees payable for ‘out of state’ residents. In addition, financial aid is also available for Green Card holders.

5 More Job Possibilities

For an immigrant holding a work visa, job opportunities are limited. This is because your employer needs to sponsor your visa. However, if you have a Green Card, the job market opens up considerably. This is because a number of jobs are open only to US citizens or Green Card holders. Your employer will also not need to sponsor you and thus will be more open to hiring an immigrant.

6 Avail Social Security

You can work in the United States with a visa but no matter how long you work for, you will not be eligible for social security benefits.  However, as a Green Card holder, you will be entitled to social security benefits after a certain time.

To be eligible, you will need to have worked for 10 years continuously in the United States. After this, when you retire, you will be eligible for the same retirement benefits as a US citizen. So, what are you waiting for? Apply today and reap US Green Card benefits.

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