兴趣爱好If you have not yet applied for an American green card, you are missing a golden opportunity. A permanent resident card, the American green card, allows legal residents from more than 180 countries to legally live and work in the United States. Your permanent resident status is determined by your age, citizenship, and whether or not you have been a U.S. citizen for five years or longer. You have many advantages to applying for and obtaining an American greencard, but there are also many hurdles that you must overcome if your not an American citizen.