LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT (LPR)
A grant of lawful permanent resident (LPR) status allows an
alien to reside and work permanently in the United States. LPRs
are also known as green card holders, although the card has not
always been green. To be eligible for LPR status, the applicant
must indicate an intention to reside permanently in the U.S.
The following are the major underlying visa petition categories
through which an alien can acquire lawful permanent status.
QQ Family-based visas: unmarried sons or daughters of
citizens; spouses and children of LPRs; unmarried sons or
daughters (not a child) of LPRs; married sons or daughters
of citizens; brothers or sisters of citizens.

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Employment-based visas: (1) priority workers (aliens who
possess extraordinary ability, professors or researchers,
multinational executives); (2) aliens who hold advanced
degrees or possess exceptional ability; (3) certain classes
of skilled workers, professionals, or other workers who
perform jobs for which qualified workers are not available
in the U.S.
QQ Diversity-based visas: as determined by the Attorney
General.
An alien can also acquire lawful permanent resident status
through other means, such as by adjusting status from that of a
refugee, asylee, VAWA self-petitioner, T visa, U visa, or special
immigrant.
To be eligible for LPR status, the applicant must meet the
criteria for admissibility, whether entering on a permanent visa
or adjusting status
Lawful permanent residents can be subject to removal for
engaging in a wide variety of illegal activity, as specified in
Federal Immigration Law.