Us Citizenship

Green Card Immigration

Green Card Immigration – Understanding Your Privileges

Green Card Immigration

Many people obtain green card immigration in the United States. It is also known as permanent resident status or alien registration card. In the past, the card was actually the color green but this is no longer the situation today. Obtaining green card immigration status carries with it many responsibilities and privileges. Understanding your privileges with the green card immigration is important.

The first thing that you need to know about green card immigration is that it is indeed a privilege and not a constitutional right. There are certain rules and laws that you must obey to keep your green card immigration status. If you violate the US laws and regulations then you can lose your green card immigration status. People can obtain a green card through family, employment, refugee, asylum and diversity lottery situations. But regardless of which method you used to obtain your green card, all card holders have the exact same residency status within the United States.

Green Card Immigration

When entering the United States, you will be required to present your passport. Have a copy of your papers with you until your more permanent plastic card arrives in the mail. Your immigration visa should suffice for airline tickets and entry into the United States. However, some airline employees are not aware of all of the immigration laws and might not recognize an immigration visa, in which case a copy of your original paperwork can come in handy. The ink used to stamp the immigration visa is a special security ink and tampering with the papers is illegal and can cause you to lose your green card immigration status.

As part of the privilege to have green card immigration status it is required that all times you carry your card with you. Under no circumstance should you be without your green card. If you are found without it you are committing a crime and can lose your status. If for any reason you move, a change of address needs to be filed within ten days. Additionally, you must show that you are resident of the United States by filing yearly income tax; remaining physically present at your resident and not declaring yourself as nonresident on your tax returns. Failure in any of these residency areas can result in loss of your green card immigration status.

As part of your privilege to be a permanent resident of the US, you must register with the selective service if you are a male nineteen years of age or older. Even if your income is exempt from taxation you must file state and federal tax returns reporting all of your world income to the US governments. Many people mistakenly think that green card immigration status means that you are a citizen of the US. If you have not obtained US citizenship, never claim to be a US citizen when stopped by law enforcement or questioned by legal authorities because you can automatically be deported from the United States and never receive green card immigration status again.

All persons carrying a green card must keep it up to date and current. Green cards are good for ten years and replacement cards can be issued should yours be lost or destroyed. Once you have a green card you need to apply for a social security card with the proper situation restrictions listed on it if applicable. There are many criminal violations that will automatically revoke your green card immigration status and it is important to obey all of the US laws to avoid being deported and banned from the US. If for any reason you should have to take an extended stay outside of the United States follow the suggested guidelines to show contact with people within the US. Even if you are able to follow all the suggestions you do not have any guarantees that you will be allowed to return to the US with green card immigration status. It is best to not take any extended stays outside of the US in the first place. It is important to note as well that acts committed by roommates and even teens that would be treated as poor judgment for US citizens are often viewed as reasons to revoke green card immigration status and even deport immigrants. Be selective with whom you associate and room with and advise teens not to get involved in shoplifting, testing drugs or other acts that would be viewed as criminal instead of bad judgement.

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