In the United States, legal permanent residents are those who are entitled to a Green Card, a document that makes it possible to live, work, and study in the country that offers the best opportunities and quality of life on the planet. Many Brazilians dream of having a Green Card, but do you know about all rights and responsibilities of being a permanent resident in the country? Check it out:
RIGHTS AS A PERMANENT RESIDENT OF THE USA
- Live permanently anywhere in the U.S.;
- Work freely in the U.S.;
- Attend educational institutions, including public schools;
- Join certain sectors of the U.S. Armed Forces;
- Have Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income, and Medicare benefits if you meet the requirements;
- Apply for U.S. citizenship, after proving that you have been a permanent resident in the U.S. for at least five years;
- Apply for immigrant visas so that spouses and unmarried children can live in the United States;
- Leave and return to the United States as needed, as long as you do not exceed the time allowed.
RESPONSIBILITIES AS A PERMANENT RESIDENT OF THE USA
- Obey all laws of the United States and localities;
- File your income tax returns and report your income to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities;
- Register with the Selective Service, if you are a male age 18 through 25;
- Respect the time allowed to be absent from the USA: no longer than a year;
- If you change your address, city, or U.S. state, report your new address to USCIS within 10 days from the date you moved.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you plan on being absent from the United States for longer than a year, it is advisable to first apply for a reentry permit on Form I-131. Obtaining a reentry permit prior to leaving the United States allows a permanent or conditional permanent resident to apply for admission into the United States during the permit’s validity without the need to obtain a returning resident visa from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad.
To replace or renew your Green Card (in the case of temporary Green Cards), you must submit Form I-90 and pay a fee to USCIS. You may access Form I-90 from the USCIS website: www.uscis.gov. However, a conditional permanent resident (CR), based on a marriage to a U.S. citizen or entrepreneurship, who has received a 2-year Green Card. You should not use Form I-90 to apply for an extension or renewal of your status, in this case, you must file Form I-751, Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence before the Green Card expires.
Always be very careful with your Green Card and avoid providing your Green Card number to too many people. There are many types of fraud in the USA concerning the use of Green Cards and Social Security Numbers. Keep your document numbers to yourself whenever possible.
18+: If you are a permanent resident age 18 or older, you are required to have a valid Green Card in your possession at all times. You must show it to an immigration officer or police officer if requested.
As a rule, Green Card holders have the same rights and responsibilities as any U.S. citizen, except that they cannot vote or hold any public or political positions that require U.S. citizenship through naturalization.
When you register with Selective Services, if you are from 16 to 26 years old, you declare to the government that you are available to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, should the need arise.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PERMANENT RESIDENTS (GREEN CARD HOLDERS), PLEASE CONTACT THE AG IMMIGRATION TEAM, WE WILL BE GLAD TO HELP YOU.
If your dream is to live and work legally in the USA, count on AG Immigration.