Education for Justice FACT SHEET I-4 Fall 2009

Now That You Are a Permanent Resident:

Warnings, Rights and Responsibilities

I AM A LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT (“GREEN CARD HOLDER”)

DOES THAT MEAN I CAN STAY IN THE U.S. FOREVER?

No. Even if you are a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) of the U.S. you can have your status taken away, and you can be deported if you break the law or do not follow certain rules. Now that you are an LPR, it is important that you understand what your rights and responsibilities are.

HOW COULD I LOSE MY LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT (LPR) STATUS?

There are several ways that you can lose your immigration status. If you do lose your status, you can be deported.

1. Criminal Convictions. Many types of criminal convictions can cause you to lose your permanent residence and be deported. A conviction means that you have pled guilty to committing a crime, or have been found guilty by a judge or jury of committing a crime. Types of crimes that can cause you to lose your LPR status and be deported include domestic abuse, smuggling, drug trafficking, firearms offenses, and some theft offenses. If you have been arrested or had other problems with police or criminal court, and you want to travel outside the U.S., get legal advice before you travel. LPRs with certain convictions will not be allowed to re-enter the U.S. once they leave.

If you are an LPR with criminal convictions or pending charges, talk to an immigration attorney to find out if you are in danger of losing your immigration status.

2. False Claims to U.S. Citizenship. Never say that you are a U.S. citizen for any reason. This is called a false claim to citizenship. People who are not citizens but claim to be citizens of the U.S. can lose their immigration status and be deported. Voting or registering to vote can be seen as a false claim to citizenship. Using the identity documents of a U.S. citizen or claiming to be a citizen for any immigration benefit, or other Federal or State benefit, are seen as false claims to citizenship.

3. Abandoning Your LPR Status. If you spend too much time outside of the U.S. you may be in danger of losing your immigration status because of “abandonment.” Generally, your LPR status is safe if you are outside the U.S. for less than 6 months at any one time. If you plan to be outside of the U.S. for more than 6 months, talk to an immigration lawyer first. You may need to apply for a reentry permit before you leave the country.

4. Reporting Your Change of Address. All LPRs have to tell the immigration service their current address, and report any changes of address within 10 days. If you do not let them know about a change of address on purpose, you could lose your immigration status and be deported. See our fact sheet, Reporting Your Change of Address.

WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBILITIES AS A LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT?

When you get your LPR status in the U.S. you have certain responsibilities.

1. You Must Carry Your LPR Card With You. You have to carry your LPR card with you everywhere you go. If you are stopped by immigration authorities, you may be asked to prove your immigration status.

2. Keep the USCIS Informed of Your Address. You have to tell the immigration service if you change your address. You have to do this within 10 days of the change. If you do not let them know about a change of address on purpose, you could be fined, put in jail, or lose your immigration status and be deported.

3. Certain Males Must Register With Selective Service. All males in the U.S between the ages of 18-25 must register with the Selective Service. This agency may use the information if the U.S. ever needs people for military service. Register for the Selective Service online at www.sss.gov/ , or in person at any U.S. Post Office.

4. Renew Your LPR Card. Some LPR cards have expiration dates on them. They usually expire 10 years from the date they were issued. Apply to renew your LPR card when the card is close to expiring. You can renew your LPR card by filing Form I-90, “Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card.” You can find the form online at www.uscis.gov. If your LPR card does not have an expiration date, you might want to apply for an updated card. People who have LPR cards without expiration dates may have trouble returning to the U.S. after traveling abroad, or proving their LPR status. If you have criminal arrests or convictions talk to an immigration attorney before you apply to replace your LPR card. See our fact sheet, Replacing Your Permanent Resident Card.

WHAT RIGHTS DO I HAVE?

As an LPR, you have rights and advantages when you get your immigration status. These are things like:

• Petition for Family Members. As an LPR, you can petition for your spouse and unmarried children to come to the U.S.

• Public Benefits. You may be able to get some help from public benefit programs, depending on where you live.

• Apply for Citizenship. You can apply for U.S. citizenship within 5 years of getting your LPR status. If you are married to a U.S. citizen, you can apply for citizenship within 3 years of getting your LPR status. As a U.S. citizen, you cannot be deported from the country. You can also petition for more relatives to come to the U.S., and you can petition for family members more quickly than with your LPR status. U.S. citizens can also vote.

Minneapolis Legal Aid – CLE MN Legal Services Coalition 2324 University Avenue W- Suite 101B St. Paul, MN 55114

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