Work Permits & Green Cards
An Employment Authorization Document (EAD), also known as a “Work Permit,” is a document that permits a noncitizen to legally work in the United States for a specific period of time.
With some exceptions, most noncitizens must obtain a Work Permit in order to work or conduct business legally in the country.
Note that certain noncitizens who have applied for, but who have not obtained lawful status, may be granted temporary employment authorization pending resolution of their applications for status.
Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) status is informally referred to as possessing a “Green Card,” based on the color of the original permanent residence document issued to LPRs.
LPR status is the most important status that a noncitizen obtains before he or she can apply for United States citizenship.
If a noncitizen is admitted to the United States as an immigrant, nonimmigrant, or refugee/asylee, or permitted to enter as a parolee, he or she may have a pathway to obtain a Green Card. In addition, eligible noncitizens outside of the United States, such as spouses of United States citizens, may apply at United States embassies or consulates in their countries to be admitted as LPRs and obtain their Green Card.