Immigration and Naturalization:

 

• Lawful Permanent - A "green card" gives you official immigration status (Lawful Permanent Residency)
  in the United states.
  
  A lawful permanent resident is a foreign national who has been granted the privilege of permanently
  living and working in the United States. If you want to become a lawful permanent resident based on the fact that you have
  a relative who is a citizen of the United States or a relative who is a lawful permanent resident, you must go through a multi-step process.

• Residency - If you want to become a lawful permanent resident based on the fact that you have a relative
  who is a citizen of the United States or a relative who is a lawful permanent resident, you must go through a multi-step process.
   

1. the USCIS must approve an immigrant visa petition

2. the Department of State must determine if an immigrant visa number is immediately available to you, the foreign national, even if you are already in the United States. When an immigrant visa number becomes immediately available to you, it means that you can apply to have one of the immigrant visa numbers assigned to you.

3. if you are already in the United States, you may apply to change your status to that of a lawful permanent resident after a visa number becomes available for you. This is one way you can apply to secure an immigrant visa number.

• Visas - A nonresident alien is issued a visa allowing entry into the U.S. However, Canadian and Mexican
  visitors may be allowed entry without a visa. A nonresident alien is a non-U.S. citizen who does not hold a Resident Alien Card.