A "Green Card" also known as the Permanent Resident Card is a credit card-sized plastic card that has more benefits than any credit card in the world. A holder of the Green Card has the power to live and work anywhere in the United States. That's why it is the most sought after card by many people who wish and dream to come to the United States.

This card is provided only to a privileged few, from countries around the world even though millions want it. This card is provided to lawful permanent residents as proof of their immigration status in the United States.

The official name for Green Card is a Permanent Resident Card. It is sometimes also called Alien Registration Card. During the 1950s immigrants were asked to register for an alien registration receipt card because of the Alien Registration Act.

Back then the Green Card was not actually a card. It was a receipt in mere paper form and it was Green in color. It was called Alien Registration Receipt Card.

Since the name was too long and the receipt was Green in color people started calling it a Green Card. The color has been changed multiple times after that but the name stuck.

The Current Green Card is not Green in Color and its not in a paper form. It is currently more of a beige color and a plastic card with a lot of improvements.

That's a short history about Green Card.

You can apply for a Green Card through the government agency called USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). Current U.S. immigration laws allow people to apply for a Green Card in many ways. Check out "How to Get a Green Card?"