03/07/2021
What is a lawful permanent resident?
A lawful permanent resident is someone who has been granted the right to live in the United States indefinitely. Permanent residence includes the right to work in the U.S. for most employers or for yourself. Permanent residents continue to hold citizenship of another country.
Permanent residents are issued an “alien registration card,” known informally as a green card (because at one time the card was green in color). You may use your green card to prove employment eligibility and apply for a social security card.
Can I travel outside the U.S. as a permanent resident?
A permanent resident may travel outside the U.S. and must present the valid alien registration card when re-entering the U.S. In addition, a permanent resident should travel with an unexpired passport of another country.
Each time you return to the U.S., you are subject to the same grounds of inadmissibility as when you were approved for permanent resident status (e.g., health-related concerns, certain criminal activity, terrorism, national security, public charge, willful misrepresentation and false claims to U.S. citizenship).
Am I allowed to vote in U.S. elections?
No. Only citizens of the United States are permitted to vote in elections.
Can I lose my permanent residence?
Yes. If you commit certain crimes or other violations, you may be placed in removal proceedings and become subject to deportation.
Also, if you remain outside the U.S. for extended periods of time (typically more than 6 months at a time), the immigration authorities may scrutinize your situation to determine if you have abandoned your intention to make the U.S. your permanent home. Any absences of one year leads to the presumption that you have abandoned your permanent residence. It is extremely difficult to overcome that presumption.
If you know you will be outside the U.S. for an extended period of time, you may wish to apply for a reentry permit prior to your departure. A reentry permit is typically issued with a 2 year validity, and does not guarantee that you will be granted entry to the U.S., but it can assist in establishing your intention to reside permanently in the U.S.
What are my responsibilities as a permanent resident?
Permanent residents are required to:
File U.S. income tax returns as a resident
Obey all laws of the U.S., states and localities
Register for the Selective Service (if you are male and between age 18 through 25)
Support the democratic form of government
Notify the USCIS of any changes of address using Form AR-11
What happens if my green card expires?
Up to 6 months prior to the expiration date of your alien registration card, you may apply for a renewal of the card by filing Form I-90 (application to replace permanent resident card).
If you are a conditional permanent resident, you must use Form I-751 (petition to remove the conditions on residence).
Can permanent residents sponsor family members to come to the U.S.?
Yes. Permanent residents are eligible to petition for close family members (spouse and unmarried children) to receive permanent residence and join you. However, your family members will be considered “preference relatives,” meaning that only a limited number of immigrant visas are available to people in this category per year, and so they are likely to spend many years on a waiting list before being allowed to enter the United States or get a green card. More information is found on the USCIS website.
When do permanent residents become eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship?
After a certain length of time – five years in most cases, three years for spouses of U.S. citizens – permanent residents may apply to become a U.S. citizen through a process called naturalization.
