To gain permanent residency in the United States, an immigrant already inside America mush first be the holder of a visa number, and then they may apply for the change to permanent resident status.  Prospective immigrants to America must get an immigrant visa in their home country and come to the United States, where they may later follow the process of adjusting to permanent resident status.  In addition to immigrants, refugees and those who entered America through programs such as the “Diversity Visa Lottery” may eventually gain permanent resident status.

Once immigrants are permanent residents of the United States, no other proof except for their permanent resident card is needed for them to be employed.  Permanent resident cards are also known as “green cards” because of the green paper on which they were printed up to 1977.  Although permanent residents must pay taxes, they are not allowed to vote in elections designated for United States citizens, unless they eventually decide to follow the citizenship process.  If immigrants with permanent resident status attempt to vote in an election limited to United States citizens, they may be deported from the country.  If a permanent resident has children with a spouse in a country other than the United States, then the permanent resident may petition to have them legally immigrate to America.