green card

noun

1. an official card, originally green, issued by the U.S. government to foreign nationals permitting them to work in the U.S.

green card

noun

1. an official permit allowing the holder permanent residence and employment, issued to foreign nationals in the US
2. an insurance document covering motorists against accidents abroad
3. See registered disabled, handicap register
   social welfare (in Britain) an identification card issued by the Manpower Services Commission to a disabled person, to show registration for employment purposes and eligibility for special services See also handicap register registered disabled

Other Words From

• green-carder noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of green card¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

You need to sponsor your mom for a green card first, and then she can sponsor him as her husband.

From TechCrunch

Halfway through his prison sentence, he was deported back to our birthplace of the Dominican Republic after an altercation, for violating the rules of his green card.

From Time

The threshold for jobs created per investor to get a permanent green card is fairly low — 10 jobs.

From Washington Post

I also appreciate the aspiring startup founder we helped to gain independence from a corporate employer by assisting him with self-petitioning his green card.

From TechCrunch

At the time, there were an estimated 115,000 adult residents in Kansas who were not American citizens—including green card holders and people on visas.

From MIT Technology Review

Denied in his green-card application, he said, “I came instantly that day,” to the shrine.

From The Daily Beast

For reference, in 2009 alone 227,000 foreign nationals received a green card by means of marriage.

From The Daily Beast

Prosecutors generally just target organized green card fraud rings, he said.

From The Daily Beast

An educated son, or one with a Green Card, is seen as a “good catch” and therefore fetches vast sums for his family.

From The Daily Beast

Indeed, earning a law degree and joining the Supreme Court bar was more straightforward than getting a green card!

From The Daily Beast

In the middle of the wall hung a large olive-green card with silver lettering.

From Project Gutenberg

Fig. 406 is the original issue of the French military postcard, on thin green card.

From Project Gutenberg

The table was set out with the best green card-cloth, and writing materials upon it.

From Project Gutenberg

The green card was good for nothing during a week of red cards.

From Project Gutenberg

Old Ehrenberg, Nrnberger and Wilt had sat down at a green card-table to play tarok.

From Project Gutenberg