What is the difference between UK ILR vs. US Green Card?

What is the difference between UK ILR vs. US Green Card?

The UK ILR and US Green Card are permanent residence permits issued to eligible candidates to migrate to the respective country. The UK ILR can be applied after residing and working there for 5 years with a stable income, whereas US Green Card can be applied after living for 3 years in the country.

 

A Green Card or an ILR has a wide range of benefits like scope to study, work, and access to healthcare and other social benefits. The candidate can apply for citizenship upon meeting the eligibility of the country.

 

*Looking to apply for a permanent resident visa? Let the Y-axis assist you with the step-by-step process.

 

UK ILR vs. US Green Card

 The table given below has details of the validity, processing time, and PR costs for both visas.

Factors	UK ILR	USA Green Card
Duration of stay	Indefinite	10 years
Processing Time	6 months	90 days
Total Cost	£2,885	Applicants living within the US: $3005 Applicants living outside US: $1340

 

What is a UK ILR?

An ILR (Indefinite leave to remain) is issued to individuals who want to settle in the UK. It is also known as a settlement visa, with which the individual and their family can stay in the UK permanently. The candidate can apply for UK citizenship after residing in the UK for a year upon eligibility.

 

*Check your eligibility with the Y-Axis UK Immigration points Calculator.

 

What are the benefits of UK Indefinite leave-to-remain?

The benefits with a UK ILR visa are as follows:

 

• Live, work, or study within the UK.
• Have access to health benefits and social benefits within the UK.
• Travel in and out of the UK for a certain period.

 

What are the UK ILR eligibility requirements?

Individuals applying for a UK ILR must meet the following requirements:

Based on the visa type, the candidates are required to live for a qualifying time period. The visa category and qualifying period are mentioned in the table below.

Current category	Qualifying ILR period
Spouse or civil partner of a British Citizen or person settled in the UK visa	After 5 years
Unmarried partner	After 5 years
EEA Family Permit	After 5 years
UK Ancestry visa	After 5 years
Tier 1 (Investor) visa	After 2, 3 or 5 years depending on level of investment
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)	After 3 or 5  years depending on the business activity
Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa	After 3 years
Tier 2, T2, International Sportsperson or Skilled Worker visa	After 5 years
Scale Up visa	After 5 years
Innovator visa	After 3 years
Global Talent visa	After 3 or 5 years, depending on your visa and endorsement type
PBS visa dependants	After 5 years
Representative of overseas business visa	After 5 years
Turkish Worker of Businessperson visa	After 5 years
Retired Person visa	After 5 years
Discretionary Leave to Remain	After 6 years
Long residence	After 10 years continuous legal residency in the UK
Returning resident	If settled in the UK prior to departure and returning to the UK within 3 years of departure, they may be able to apply immediately on return
Turkish worker or businessperson	After 5 years

 

Other important eligibility requirements are as follows:

• Must be of good character
• Must pass the Life in the U.K. test
• Must have good language proficiency in English: B1, B2, C1, or C2.
• Must not spend more than 180 days outside the U.K. in the qualifying period.

 

*Willing to migrate to the UK? Let Y-Axis assist you with the steps.

 

What is a US Green Card?

A US Green Card is a document issued by the U.S. government to eligible candidates recognizing their permanent resident status. This allows individuals to work and live in the U.S. for an indefinite period of time. US Green Card holders can apply for a U.S. citizenship after living in the country for a period of 3-5 years.

 

Types of US Green Card

A few of the important categories of the US Green Card are as follows:

 

• Family-Based Green Card
• Employment-Based Green Card
• Humanitarian Green Cards
• Diversity Lottery Green Card
• Long-time-Resident Green Card
• And, Other Green Cards

 

What are the benefits of a US Green Card?

The benefits for individuals with a US Green Card are as follows:

 

• If married to a U.S. citizen, they will be granted U.S. citizenship after three years.
• Unmarried candidates will be granted citizenship in 5 years.
• Are recognized as permanent citizens and cannot be revoked even if there are any changes to U.S. Immigration laws.
• Are not required to renounce the citizenship of their country of origin.
• Are protected legally by the laws of the United States.
• Can sponsor the family members, and eligible members include spouses and unmarried children.
• Can renew their green card every ten years.
• Have the freedom to travel to and from the United States easily. Similarly, there is travel freedom within the United States.
• Are eligible for federal benefits that include social security and education assistance. 
• Have the opportunity to apply to a wide variety of jobs. 
• Can engage in politics.

 

*Willing to migrate to the USA ? Let Y-Axis assist you with the steps.

 

What is the requirements eligibility for a US Green Card?

Individuals must belong in one of the following categories to apply for a US Green Card to be selected

 

• Family-based Green Cards: The individuals having relatives with U.S citizenship. It includes legal spouses, unmarried children under 21 years of age, and parents of U.S. nationals.
• Employment-Based Green Cards: These include the categories that range from EB-1 to EB-5. It includes individuals with extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers and professors, skilled workers, MNC executives with exceptional abilities and advanced degrees, and other investors who can create opportunities within the U.S.
• Refugee Status: The individuals with refugee statuses are applicable for a Green Card after one year of the designation.
• Diversity Lottery: Individuals can be selected even via the “Diversity Immigrant Visa Programme,” as more than 50,000 immigrant visas are available yearly, and entries are drawn via random selection from countries with less immigration rates to the USA.
• Special Immigrant Status: Individuals that belong to specific groups such as religious workers, foreign service post employees, retired employees of international organizations, minors who are wards of courts in the United States, and others.
• Long-Time Residents: Individuals residing in the U.S. before January 1, 1972, can apply for a Green Card.

 

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