人们常将美国的绿卡与移民签证或合法永久居民身份等概念等同,但在美国移民法的语境下,此乃三个不同的概念。移民签证指美国驻外国领事机构向身在美国之外的申请人签发的签证,供其前往美国口岸寻求以移民(immigrant)身份入境。合法永久居民身份,指当事人在美国入境口岸获准以移民身份入境美国(admitted into the United States as an immigrant)后,或者在美国境内申请身份调整(adjustment of status)获得批准后,当事人在美国移民法下的移民法身份(immigration status)。而绿卡则是美国公民及移民服务局在美国境内向已确立合法永久居民身份的人签发的证件,供其证明身份和旅行。
移民申请获得批准之后,大部分申请者需要关注美国国务院下属的国家签证中心(National Visa Center)发布的签证可用日期[34]。根据1965年的《移民和国籍法》,美国每年对大多数移民类别实行配额制,某一类的移民在当年的可用数量可能不够当年获得批准的申请者数量。这时,那些早获得移民批准的申请者可以享有签证的优先权,而其他申请者需要根据自己移民申请得到批准的时间(称为“优先日期(英语:Priority date)”,俗称“排期”)等待一段时间,直到轮到自己优先。美国公民的直系亲属(配偶、父母或21岁以下未成年子女)的移民不受配额限制,他们可以直接开始申请的第三步。[34]
确立移民(合法永久居民)身份
在此步骤中,当申请所在类别的移民签证尚有余额、优先日期在美国国务院公布的日期之前时,位于美国境内的申请人可以向美国公民及移民服务局递交I-485表格,申请将目前的非移民身份调整为永久居民(移民)身份,然后等待自己的优先日期到达美国国务院公布的最终移民批准日期,即可获得最终批准。如果申请者此时身处美国境外,则可以在境外的美国大使馆或领事馆向美国国务院申请移民签证,然后前往美国入境口岸寻求获准以移民身份入境美国(admitted into the United States as an immigrant),在入境后即确立合法永久居民身份。
101(a)(27) The term "special immigrant" means- (A) an immigrant, lawfully admitted for permanent residence, who is returning from a temporary visit abroad; ......
211(b) Readmission without required documents; Attorney General's discretion
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 212(a)(7)(A) of this Act in such cases or in such classes of cases and under such conditions as may be by regulations prescribed, returning resident immigrants, defined in section 101(a)(27)(A) of this Act, who are otherwise admissible may be readmitted to the United States by the Attorney General in his discretion without being required to obtain a passport, immigrant visa, reentry permit or other documentation.
^"Visa Regime for Foreign Citizens互联网档案馆的存檔,存档日期February 1, 2019,.". Ministria per Evropën dhe Punët e Jashtme. January 11, 2018. "Foreigners that have a valid visa from the United States of America (USA) or United Kingdom (UK), with multiple entries, that has been used previously to enter that country, and/or those that have a valid Residence Permit in USA or UK."
^"Visa on Arrival互联网档案馆的存檔,存档日期January 28, 2019,.". Antigua and Barbuda Department of Immigration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Immigration. Retrieved February 8, 2019. "Visas may be granted on arrival: To persons who are holders of a valid: United States Visa or permanent Resident Card; or A Canadian Visa or permanent Resident Card, or A United Kingdom Visa or Resident Card, or A Schengen Visa."
^"Entering The Bahamas互联网档案馆的存檔,存档日期February 4, 2016,.". Department of Immigration. Government of the Bahamas. Retrieved February 8, 2019. "All persons entering The Bahamas require a Bahamian visa except the following persons: United States Citizens entering as a bona fide visitor for a stay not exceeding eight (8) months. Alien residents of the United States who, upon arrival, are in possession of United States Alien Registration Cards for visits not exceeding thirty (30)天."
^"Immigration". Government of Bermuda. May 22, 2008. Archived from the original on October 17, 2007.
^"List of Countries互联网档案馆的存檔,存档日期December 30, 2017,.". Immigration. Government of the Cayman Islands. Retrieved February 8, 2019. "Exemptions. Even if you are a national of one of the countries listed above, you will NOT require a visa to enter the Cayman Islands if you are not a prohibited immigrant** and you can satisfy an Immigration Officer on arrival in the Cayman Islands that you are ... you are resident in the United States of America; and you arrive directly from that country; and you produce on arrival a valid United States Alien Registration Card; and you produce on arrival a return or round trip ticket to the United States."
^"Consular Visa互联网档案馆的存檔,存档日期March 30, 2019,.". Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington, D.C.. Retrieved February 8, 2018. "Situations that do not need tourist visa to enter Costa Rica. Nationals of countries that require a VISA to enter Costa Rica are NO LONGER REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR THE VISA if: ... You have permanent residence (Greencard holder) ... Permanent residents must show their residence card, which must be valid for at least six months. The residence card (Green Card) must meet the new security features according to the specifications by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The green card should have an expiration date according to the security features. ... Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry into the country and once in Costa Rica, you can remain for a maximum of 30 calendar days, An extension of the stay must be requested at the Office of Migration in Costa Rica."
^"Do I need a visa for the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom?互联网档案馆的存檔,存档日期June 21, 2019,.". Netherlandsandyou.nl. Kingdom of the Netherlands. Retrieved February 8, 2019. "Do I need a visa for the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom? ... If you hold a permanent residence permit for the United States or Canada, you do not need a visa."
^"Aruba Entry Requirements互联网档案馆的存檔,存档日期January 14, 2019,.". Visit Aruba. Carib Media. Retrieved February 8, 2019. "Visa required persons exempted from the visa requirement. Click here to download a list of nationals who need a Visa to travel to Aruba. The following persons, who normally require a visa, are exempt from this requirement: Holders of a valid residence permit (temporary or permanent) from: another part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the United States of America; Canada, The Schengen Territory, United Kingdom, Ireland."
^"Montenegro Visa Regimes互联网档案馆的存檔,存档日期April 4, 2019,.". Visit Montenegro. Holders of travel documents containing a valid Schengen visa, a valid visa of the United States of America, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, or a permission to stay in these countries, may enter and stay, or pass through the territory of Montenegro up to 30 days, and not longer than the expiry of visa, if the period of validity of the visa is less than 30 days."
^"Travel to Serbia互联网档案馆的存檔,存档日期April 6, 2016,.". Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington, D.C. Retrieved February 8, 2019. "Foreign nationals who have a valid US visa or lawful residence in the United States (green card) may enter the Republic of Serbia without visas and stay no longer than 90 days within six month period. Visa must be valid for the whole duration of stay in the Republic of Serbia."