My Green Card was just delivered to me. What do I need to know?

My Green Card was just delivered to me. So, what's next?

You have finally obtained your green card after months, if not years, of waiting. While you may be ecstatic with your new status as a permanent resident, you may be wondering what's next. Here are some useful hints, such as how to keep your green card status and how to prepare for your naturalization application in the future.

Apply for a New Social Security Card 

Once you've become a permanent resident, you'll need to have your green card with you all the time. You may potentially be eligible for a new Social Security card that is not restricted to work. You should apply for a new Social Security card so that the Social Security Administration is informed of your changed immigration status and that you may obtain a new card with the same Social Security number but no work restriction.

Keep your permanent residence in the United States.

Remember that green cards are only given to those who plan to live permanently in the United States. You may be considered to have abandoned your green card if you do not maintain your residency by residing in the United States.

If you expect to leave the United States for more than six months, you can apply for a re-entry permit before traveling to prove that you plan to keep your resident status during your absence. Be careful, however, that claiming to be a bona fide resident of another country on your US tax return for foreign income generated (IRS Form 2555) may indicate to the US authorities that you are not continuously residing in the US and may have abandoned your US legal permanent residency. Also, be aware that longer absences and the use of the foreign income earned tax credit may cause a delay in applying for citizenship through naturalization or result in your naturalization application being denied.

Important Dates in the Calendar

Set calendar reminders so you don't forget key filing deadlines.

If you are a conditional permanent resident, your green card will be issued with a two-year period of validity, and you'll have 90 days to file a separate request to change the restrictions before the card expires. Even if you are divorced or your marriage ends, you must file to have the requirements withdrawn. If you do not file a timely petition to remove the conditions before your two-year green card expires and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) learns of it, ICE may hold you in an immigration detention center.

If you really want to apply for naturalization, you can do that as soon as 90 days after being a legal citizen for five years (or 3 years if you are married to a U.S. citizen). You are not obligated to apply for naturalization during this time, or at any time, although many individuals want to become citizens of the United States as soon as feasible.

Your green card must have a 10-year expiration term unless you are a conditional permanent residence. If you do not become a citizen of the United States before the card expires, you should apply for a new card.

Properly prepare for your naturalization application

You may not be eligible for naturalization for some time, there are activities you can really do to begin prepare for it.

While applying for naturalization, you must include your travel history during the qualifying period, such as the dates you traveled and returned, as well as the nations you traveled on each trip. It might be difficult to remember this information, specifically for regular travelers like business executives and jetsetters. Maintain a trip journal and edit it every time you travel so that when it comes time to file for naturalization, you don't have to look for information.

You must also keep in mind that even small infractions of the law might affect your qualification for citizenship. Even if cannabis is legal in some states, cannabis is still illegal under federal laws of the United States. Even now in states that have a more liberal attitude towards recreational drug usage, cannabis usage and other breaches of US drug laws might affect your ability to become a US citizen.

You must enroll with the Selective Service if you are a male between the ages of 18 and 26. Preserve your registration certificate since you'll need a duplicate of it to present with your citizenship application.

The ideas above are useful recommendations that will assist you in maintaining your green card status and applying for citizenship

Should you or your loved one have any questions or need representation, please do not hesitate to call us, email us at info@khunkhunlaw.com or review other options to get in touch with us for an immigration consultation. We have represented many clients with successful results even with the most difficult set of facts.