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Keeping and Enjoying Your Permanent Residence
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After the long and challenging process of obtaining a U.S. green card (lawful permanent residence), you probably want to do your best to keep it. And that means more than just avoiding a losing the card itself. Unless you learn your responsibilities as a lawful permanent resident, and make sure not to get into any legal or other trouble, you risk losing your right to the green card and ultimately being removed from the United States and prevented from returning for many years.
By protecting and maintaining your green card status, you may ultimately become eligible for U.S. citizenship (usually within five years). U.S. citizenship is a much more secure status in the United States, and comes with many additional benefits.
Proving Your Permanent Resident Status
How your green card provides evidence of your U.S. lawful permanent resident status.
U.S. federal law makes it a misdemeanor to not carry your green card with you at all times.
Updating or Replacing Your Actual Green Card
Get lots of information on what to do if your green card is about to expire, or you need a new one for other reasons.
Travel Outside the U.S.
How to plan for a smooth return to the U.S. after foreign travel.
Did you know that you can lose your green card if you make your actual home outside the U.S.? Get the details here.
How to get your green card back if you're outside the U.S. and have stayed away too long.
Overview of the risks of being found inadmissible or deportable when requesting U.S. reentry.
Petitioning for Family Members to Get Green Cards
Explains the (long) path toward obtaining a green card for the spouse of a lawful permanent resident.
U.S. Tax Obligations for Green Card Holders
Your reporting and other obligations as a U.S. tax resident.
Voluntarily Giving Up Permanent Residence
How to surrender your green card if you've chosen to live outside the U.S.
Frequently asked questions about Form I-407.
When Green Card Holders Can Be Deported
Overview of the grounds of deportability.
Explains how and why a green card holder may be removed from the U.S.
The U.S. immigration laws contain numerous grounds upon which non-citizens, including green card holders, may be deported back to their country of origin.
Types of crimes that can result in the loss of one's lawful permanent residence.
There are several reasons for the U.S. immigration authorities to deport an immigrant – that is, send the person back to his or her country of origin.
The importance of advising USCIS of address changes, and application procedure.
Explains the circumstances under which divorce or annulment can lead to removal from the U.S.
Any non-citizen in the United States can be deported or legally removed from the country under specific conditions. Find out how to avoid this problem.
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