Permanent Resident

What is Permanent Resident Status?
A Permanent Resident of the United States is an individual who is not a U.S. citizen but has acquired the legal right to remain in the United States indefinitely. A permanent resident has similar rights and privileges as a U.S. citizen. These include employment, due process, and may include in some jurisdictions permission to vote and hold public office usually at the local level. However, Permanent Residents of the United States cannot vote in federal elections nor may they hold federal elective office. Permanent residents may be restricted from certain federal jobs but otherwise are free to work in any occupation and anywhere in the United States. Synonymous terms for a permanent resident include: immigrant, green card holder, and resident alien.

U.S. immigration laws and regulations carve several eligibility paths to permanent resident status. These are:

Family membership, usually immediate family members of U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
Employment, based on a shortage of U.S workers in an occupation or based on the skills and abilities of the potential permanent resident.
Investment and employment creation.
The Visa Lottery.
Humanitarian reasons (Refugees, asylees, etc.)

UC Berkeley Sponsorship

The University of California, Berkeley will sponsor certain faculty and researchers for employment based permanent resident status. For further information about the University’s policies and procedures, please go to the UCB Departments section.


	Permanent Resident Status	A-Z Index
Home Students Prospective Students New Students Current Students Exchange Students Practical Training Students Summer Students Returning Students Professors & Researchers Prospective J-1 H-1B TN O-1 Permanent Residents B-1/B-2 Visa Waiver Family UCB Departments Students J-1 Researchers & Faculty H-1B Staff TN Staff O-1 Staff B-1/B-2 Visitors Visa Waiver Visitors Permanent Residents Living at Berkeley Transportation Housing Money Health & Safety Legal Resources Cultural Adjustment Travel & Visas Programs & Workshops Calendar Resource Links About Berkeley International Office Staff Contact US	See also, "Gaining Permanent Resident Status in the U.S. - FAQs" [pdf] What is Permanent Resident Status? A Permanent Resident of the United States is an individual who is not a U.S. citizen but has acquired the legal right to remain in the United States indefinitely. A permanent resident has similar rights and privileges as a U.S. citizen. These include employment, due process, and may include in some jurisdictions permission to vote and hold public office usually at the local level. However, Permanent Residents of the United States cannot vote in federal elections nor may they hold federal elective office. Permanent residents may be restricted from certain federal jobs but otherwise are free to work in any occupation and anywhere in the United States. Synonymous terms for a permanent resident include: immigrant, green card holder, and resident alien. U.S. immigration laws and regulations carve several eligibility paths to permanent resident status. These are: Family membership, usually immediate family members of U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Employment, based on a shortage of U.S workers in an occupation or based on the skills and abilities of the potential permanent resident. Investment and employment creation. The Visa Lottery. Humanitarian reasons (Refugees, asylees, etc.) UC Berkeley Sponsorship The University of California, Berkeley will sponsor certain faculty and researchers for employment based permanent resident status. For further information about the University’s policies and procedures, please go to the UCB Departments section. See also our brochure, "Gaining U.S. Permanent Resident Status: A UC Berkeley Faculty Guide" [pdf]