Sep
6
FAQ: E2 vs Green Card
Filed Under Ask Chris, E-2 Visa, Green Card
Q: What’s the difference between an E2 visa and a Green Card?
A: The E2 visa runs forever as long as the business runs. The major difference between the E2 and the Green card is that with a Green card the alien does not have to work, own a business or anything. It’s therefore desirable for the non-investing spouse to work their way into an employment situation where a green card in the future would be possible. The speed of getting a green card through employment depends on the level of skill required for that job. So for example, in order to get a green card through employment the job itself (generally speaking) should be one where a certain amount of education and or skill is required. Typically, two years training.
The higher the amount of education and skill involved in doing the job then faster the green card will be processed, i.e., a Ph.d graduate would get their green card faster than a plumber. The second factor in speed of getting the green card would be down to the fact that in order for an American employer to sponsor an alien for a green card, the employer must first prove that there were no Americans willing and able to do the job at that time. So the lower the skill level of the job the harder this will be to prove. For example, it would be hard for an employer to prove that after extensive advertising he could not find a qualified receptionist, but it would easy for an employer to prove that he could not find a suitable Ph.d. Now with a work permit an American employer can hire you at the drop of a hat, but having employed you if he then wanted to sponsor you for a green card he’d have to have another unfilled vacancy he could put you up for where the aforementioned test would be played out.