Green card holders, officially known as lawful permanent residents, are authorized to live and work in the United States indefinitely but are not U.S. citizens.
A green card, or Permanent Resident Card, grants many of the same employment rights as citizens, though restrictions apply, such as ineligibility to vote or hold certain federal positions.International students on visas, such as F-1 visa holders, may work temporarily in the U.S. through programs like Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Curricular Practical Training (CPT). OPT allows up to 12 months of work authorization (with a possible 24-month extension for STEM fields), while CPT is tied to academic programs.
These students are non-immigrants, distinct from permanent residents.Both green card holders and international students play vital roles in the U.S. workforce, particularly in high-demand sectors like technology, healthcare, and academia. Their contributions help fill skill gaps and drive innovation.
However, their presence in the labor market can add competition, particularly in entry-level or specialized roles. Research on the impact of immigrant workers is mixed, suggesting both competition and complementary effects on opportunities for U.S. citizens, depending on the industry and region.Technology professionals often pursue the following employment-based green card categories:
- EB-1: Includes EB-1A for individuals with extraordinary ability and EB-1B for outstanding professors or researchers. These are ideal for tech professionals with significant contributions to their fields.
- EB-2: For professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability, this category is common among tech workers with master’s degrees or higher. Note that processing times can be lengthy, especially for applicants from countries like India and China.
- EB-3: Covers skilled workers, professionals, and others, including those with bachelor’s degrees or specific training, with similar backlog considerations.
While the U.S. government collects aggregate data on employment-based green cards through agencies like USCIS and the DOL, it does not publish company-specific employment numbers for green card holders.
As a result, their workforce presence is significant but not detailed at the individual employer level.
Due to privacy laws and regulatory restrictions, detailed data on employees with specific immigration statuses, including those with Form I-766 Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), is generally unavailable. EADs are issued to various groups, including green card applicants, asylees, and others with temporary work authorization.For more information, consider these resources:
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): Publishes annual reports and data on employment-based immigration, available at uscis.gov.
- Department of Labor (DOL): Oversees labor certifications (e.g., PERM for green cards) and publishes labor market trends at dol.gov.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): Provides occupational employment data, including contributions from immigrants, at bls.gov.
- Corporate Reports: Some companies disclose workforce diversity or immigration data in annual reports or SEC filings, though such information is limited.