What’s the Difference Between a Work Permit & a Permanent Legal Status?

When it comes to living in the United States, many immigrants will do anything to make it happen. Fortunately, there are many different types of permits and visas that you can apply for depending on your reason for wanting to live in America. Before you can start applying, you need to understand the differences between a work permit and obtaining permanent legal status.

What’s A Work Permit?
If you want to simply come to America to work for a specific amount of time, then a work permit is for you. This is intended for people who do not wish to stay permanently in the United States. Work permits are formally referred to by legal immigration help Los Angeles as employment authorization documents or EADs for short.

Those who have them are given the ability to work in the United States for a set period of time. In most cases, this runs from a few months to an entire year. There is a possibility to renew a work permit if several factors exist. It’s important to note that a work permit is issued based on the foreign individual not based on a specific employer. This means that you’ll be able to work for any employer in the country.

What’s Permanent Legal Status?
Any employment immigration attorney Los Angeles will define permanent legal status as a person that is authorized to work and live in America on a permanent basis. This is the next step up from a work permit where it has a limitation on the time you can work in the United States. Work visas attorneys Los Angeles will explain to you that there are two main types of permanent legal status.

Permanent Residency
Your employment visa lawyer Los Angeles will define this as being a legal permanent resident or LPR for short. This is defined as a person who went through the naturalization process and received an alien registration card. This card is commonly referred to by most work visa attorneys Los Angeles as a green card. This gives a person the ability to work and live in the United States.

Citizenship
Your immigration labor attorney Los Angeles will define this as the cream of the crop in regards to living in the United States. This is the next stage above a green card that grants full citizenship to a foreign individual to the United States. This type of status doesn’t need to be renewed over any period of time. However, it’s important to note that USCIS can revoke your citizenship status if you violate certain circumstances.

Applying For Permanent Legal Status
It’s always advisable to get legal immigration help Los Angeles before applying for permanent legal status. This way, you know what lies ahead and how to prepare your application process for the best chance of success possible. Part of this legal help should be hiring an employment immigration attorney Los Angeles.

Your employment visa lawyer Los Angeles will explain that there are many ways that you can acquire permanent legal status. Your immigration labor attorney Los Angeles can assist you in taking the right approach to ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements to obtain permanent legal status. It’s important to note that each filing is done on a case by case basis, so having legal assistance along the way is a necessity. Contact our immigration lawyer in Los Angeles today!