Having a green card means you are a lawful permanent resident of the United States. When you have a green card, you can legally work in the U.S. and can travel freely throughout the country. In addition, green card holders can:

• Apply for citizenship after 5 years (3 years if you are married to a U.S. citizen)
• Sponsor relatives to apply for their own green card
• Pay less for college tuition
• More easily travel throughout the U.S. and to other countries
• Improve their career opportunities
• Receive Social Security benefits after working in the U.S. for at least 10 years
• Renew their green card every 10 years