What is a green card?

What is the difference between a green card and a visa?

Re: What is a green card?

A green allows you to stay in this country permanently.
A visa allows you to visit for a certain amount of time.

Re: What is a green card?

Also with a green card you can work wherever in the country. There are no location restrictions and you can change jobs.

With a visa if you have a working visa it is for a limited time only and it is for a specific company.

There are different types of working visas:
H-1B: Intended for persons in a specialty occupation, i.e. one which requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and attainment of a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree as a minimum for entry into the job. Limited to a maximum of 6 years duration (3 years + 3 year renewal)

L-1: An intra-company transfer for foreign nationals employed previously by IBM or a subsidiary overseas for a specific period of time over the last three years. L1-a (mgmt) up to 7 years (with renewals). L1-b (tech) up to 5 years (with renewals)

PR: Also known as a Green Card. These are permanent residents of the US, the Permanent Residence visa is an immigrant visa which grants a foreign national the privilege of living and working permanently in the U.S. No limit on stay. Limits on duration outside of the US, however.

B-1: A nonimmigrant visa for persons desiring to enter the U.S. temporarily for nonproductive business (e.g., meetings, formal training). limit duration to 6 weeks
Legally: 90 days with 1 extension for 90 more