It’s equally important that you do all the right things after green card has been issued as you had done before being allotted one. You need to know all the dos and don’ts to ensure that the authorities don’t declare your green card as null and void. Your green card plays a very vital role in helping you secure permanent US citizenship. Since you want to become a citizen of that nation, your duties and responsibilities would now be the same as every other US citizen. Anything and everything you do would be monitored by the authorities and could attract cancellation of the green card, if it has been found that you have erred. Not only should you keep away from criminal activities, you should also be in constant touch with the immigration officials. Inform them if you have changed your residence as quickly as you can. You don’t want to do anything you shouldn’t be and then end up losing your green card.

How People Break The Law

As a green card holder, it’s very essential that you understand the deeper implications of your actions. Household violence is a sure way to get your green card cancelled. If you want to help a friend out with moving into the US, ensure that you’re doing it the legal way; illegal deportation would most certainly get you deported. Drugs possession and abuse would also mean that you have to give up your green card. There are other seemingly innocent actions on your part that could land you in trouble. And since there isn’t a list issued by the State Department on what “misdeed” would incur the wrath of the officials, sometimes you could get arrested even for very minor offences. Since the laws that apply to a green card holder are different from those that bind a regular citizen, when you commit a crime, you should enlist the help of not only a criminal lawyer but also an immigration lawyer to represent you. They would have to work together to represent you to guarantee that you don’t lose your green card, needlessly.

Going To Another Country

Don’t assume that since the green card has been issued, you can’t travel to any other country. You could definitely do so but there are some guidelines to be followed. Since the US doesn’t follow the dual-citizenship principle, if you decide to move to another country, you would have to give up your green card. After green card is allotted some people decide to “visit” US annually, solely with the intention of keeping their green card. However, the very tough Homeland Security Act coupled with the Immigration laws makes it very easy for the authorities to revoke your green card, if you have been found to be away from the country over a long period of time. In case you have to go out of the country for some reason, it would be great if you could head back to the US within six months. You have to make the US your home, after green card has been issued. When you have to be out of the country for an extended period, a reentry permit is necessary before you leave. After all the trouble you have gone through to get the green card, it would be utterly futile if it was cancelled simply because you didn’t know the rules well enough.

Become a Permanent Citizen After Green Card

The next logical step for most people after green card is to apply for permanent citizenship. As a rule of thumb, to be considered for citizenship you must have lived for five years after green card. There are exceptions of course—being married to a US citizen is one such. All in all, you need to be aware of the rules of the land and be a model citizen to ensure that after green card is given out, the authorities have no reason to deport you.