Green Cards

While green card holders are granted lawful permanent residence in the United States, they are not U.S. citizens. A green card, officially known as a Permanent Resident Card, allows individuals to live and work in the U.S. but does not confer citizenship.

Similarly, international students on visas such as F-1, who are permitted to work through programs like Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT), are also non-citizens contributing to the U.S. workforce.   

Both green card holders and international students significantly contribute to the workforce, often filling roles in high-demand sectors like technology, healthcare, and academia. However, their presence can create additional job competition, particularly in entry-level and specialized positions, potentially reducing opportunities for American citizens, including recent U.S. graduates seeking to enter the job market.   

This competition may be exacerbated in industries where employers prioritize cost savings or specific skill sets, sometimes overlooking domestic talent in favor of non-citizen workers who may accept lower wages or have visa-related incentives.

Technology professionals typically pursue several types of green cards:

• EB-1: This category includes the EB-1A for individuals with extraordinary ability and the EB-1B for outstanding professors or researchers. These classifications are particularly relevant for technology professionals who have significantly contributed to their fields.

• EB-2: Designed for professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability, this category is popular among tech workers, especially those holding a master’s degree or higher.

• EB-3: This category encompasses skilled workers, professionals, and other workers, including those with bachelor's degrees and positions that require specific training.

Unlike visa holders, the U.S. government does not track the employment numbers of green card holders within American corporations, suggesting that their presence in the workforce may be substantial yet undocumented.

Due to privacy concerns and regulatory restrictions, detailed information about the number of individuals employed by specific companies under various immigration statuses, including those holding Form I-766/EAD (Employment Authorization Document), is often unavailable.

For more information on this topic, you can refer to the following agencies:

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): USCIS publishes annual reports and data on immigration and naturalization trends, which may include statistics on employment-based immigration. However, these figures are generally not broken down by individual companies.

• Department of Labor (DOL): The DOL oversees aspects of employment-based immigration, including the Labor Condition Application (LCA) process for visas. They publish reports on labor market trends and foreign labor certifications, which may indirectly relate to the employment of green card holders.

• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): The BLS collects data on employment trends and statistics in the United States. Although they do not specifically track green card holders by company, their reports on occupational employment and labor force characteristics provide valuable context.

• Corporate Reports and Filings: Some large companies may disclose information about their workforce composition, including the number of foreign nationals or green card holders, in their annual reports or filings with regulatory bodies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).