USA: Tips for Green-Card Winners and other Immigrants

There are some things you must do to maintain your permanent resident status. These are also important to remember if you plan to apply for U.S. citizenship in the future:

• Don't leave the United States for an extended period of time or move to another country to live there permanently.
• File federal, state, and, if applicable, local income tax returns.
• Register with the Selective Service, if you are a male between the ages of 18 and 26
• Give your new address to DHS.

KEEP YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS

Permanent residents who leave the United States for extended periods, or who cannot show their intent to live permanently in the U.S., may lose their permanent resident status. Many immigrants belive they can live abroad as long as they return to the U.S. at least once a year. This is incorrect. If you think you will be out of the U.S. for more than 12 months, you should apply for a re-entry permit BEFORE leaving the country. You should file Form I-131, Application for a Travel Document. You can get this form online or by calling the USCIS Forms Line at +1-800-870-3676. You must pay a fee to file Form I-131.

A re-entry permit is valid for up to two years. You may show the re-entry permit, instead of a visa or your Permanent Resident Card, at a port of entry. Having a re-entry permit does not guarantee that you will be admitted to the United States when you return, but it can make it easier to show that you are returning from a temporary visit abroad. Visit http://www.state.gov or your nearest Department of State Consular Office overseas for more information.

FILE TAX RETURNS

As a permanent resident, you must file income tax returns and report your income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and your state, city, or local tax department, if required. If you do not file income tax returns while living outside of the U.S. for any length of time, or if you say that you are a "non-immigrant" on your tax returns, the U.S. government may decide that you have given up your permanent resident status.

REGISTER WITH THE SELECTIVE SERVICE

If you are a man and you are 18 to 26 years old, you must register with the Selective Service. When you register, you tell the government that you are available to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. The United States does not have a military draft now. This means that permanent residents and citizens do not have to service in the Armed Forces unless they want to.

You can register at a United States post office or on the Internet. To speak with someone from the Selective Service, call 847-688-6888. This is not a free call.

You can also find information on the USCIS website http://www.uscis.gov.

Citation: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Office of Citizenship, Welcome to the United States: A guide for New Immigrants, Washington, DC, 2007, Revised Edition.