If you are working in the USA legally, does that mean that you have a green card?

Question

I'm just curious to know if a person who legally works in the US has a green card? If not...what requirements do they have to work in the US legally?
Full points for best answer,
Thanks!

I do understand that US citizens are able to work legally as I myself am a US citizen by birth. Maybe I should clearify my question...if a non-US citizen is working in the US legally, does that mean they have a green card?

Thanks!

Answer 1

You can also have a work permit or work visa. A work permit is issued along with certain applications, like temporary protected status, political asylum, etc. You get a work permit while the application is pending or while your status is valid. A work visa is one that just lets you work for the specific employer who sponsored you. Both work permits and work visas are temporary. If you have a green card, you have permanent residence and you will be able to work indefinately, unless they take away your residency for some reason, like a crime, or staying outside the country too long.

Answer 2

Not every person who has a working permit is a permanent resident (green card holder). There are other status that allow you to work legally in the US, such as:
TPS (temporary protected status): people from certain countries (El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Somalia, Burundi, etc.) have a temporary working permit, which is renewable until the INS says "no more permit".
Non immigrant workers, certain students, asylees, refugees, and their dependents also may have a working permit w/o being legally permanent residents.
Check out the link below, you can get the idea:

Answer 3

Not necessarily. It could mean that the individual has a temporary alien worker visa, such as with H-1B, H-2A, or H-2B visas under the Immigration and Naturalization Act, or that the individual was a migrant farm worker. These individuals are legal to work in the US, but they would not be issued a green card to go with their work visas and they would not be considered legal permanent residents of the US, either. You can check with both the Department of Labor (www.dol.gov) or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (www.ice.gov) under the Department of Homeland Security for more information on some of these immigrant worker visas, as each one has a very specific set of requirements that must be met in order for a foreign worker to qualify for the visa, and also, in some instances, for an employer to qualify to hire a foreign worker.

Answer 4

Check the SSA website, it contains a list of visas (there are about 42 different types) that allows someone to automatically legally work in the US without work authorization.

There is also a list of visas where an alien is require to recieve employment authorization from the Department of Homeland Security.

https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203500

Answer 5

Some have "Work authorization card". Green card holders are allowed to travel back and fourth to Mexico. And the ones with the permit can only work here legally and that's it.

Answer 6

to work in the US you have to be eligible.working in the US doesnt mean you have a Green Card. to work in the US you need an authorization.
*The specific categories that require an Employment Authorization Document include (but are not limited to) asylees and asylum seekers; refugees; students seeking particular types of employment; applicants to adjust to permanent residence status; people in or applying for temporary protected status; fiancés of American citizens; and dependents of foreign government officials.
*If you are a lawful permanent resident or a conditional permanent resident, you do not need an Employment Authorization Document. Your Alien Registration Card proves that you may work in the United States
*If you are authorized to work for a specific employer, such as a foreign government, you do not need an Employment Authorization Document. Your passport and your Form I-94 (Arrival-Departure Record) proves that you may work in the United States.
*and of course If you are a U.S. citizen, you do not need an Employment Authorization Document.

Answer 7

A Green Card is the identification for PERMANENT RESIDENTS of the United States, it gives your permission to live and work here permanently without having to be a citizen. There are also work, student, and religious Visas which let you live and work here, but only for a certain amount of time. These mentioned Visas can be later changed into permanent residency if the user wishes to. Also, permanent residents can obtain their citizenship after five years of having their green card.

Edit- Bad Boy, nice job copying and pasting!

Answer 8

Not necesssarily. You can have a work permit which will allow you to work here for a certain amount of time. When this is about to expire,you can apply for your green card which by itself allows you to work legally in the USA.

Answer 9

You can legally work in the USA if you're born here, or are some other form of legal resident. If you don't live in the US I believe you have to have a green card to work here.

Answer 10

A Green Card is the identification for PERMANENT RESIDENTS of the United States, it gives your permission to live and work here permanently without having to be a citizen. There are also work, student, and religious Visas which let you live and work here, but only for a certain amount of time. These mentioned Visas can be later changed into permanent residency if the user wishes to. Also, permanent residents can obtain their citizenship after five years of having their green card.