Permanent Resident Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Permanent Resident.

Permanent Resident (noun)

A Permanent Resident is a non-U.S. citizen who has been granted the right to live and work indefinitely within the United States. This status allows the individual to travel in and out of the U.S. without a visa. After living in the U.S. for a certain number of years, a Permanent Resident can apply for U.S. citizenship. The term is often used interchangeably with the term "green card holder."