If you’re in the US on a green card or work visa, your residency isn’t quite as secure as it is if you’re a US citizen. Even criminal activities won’t get a US citizen deported, but if you’re not a citizen, breaking the law can lead to deportation. Here are some other things to keep in mind to make your US residency trouble free.
Keep copies of all paperwork
Like most government agencies, the USCIS is huge and has lots of employees. If a worker loses your paperwork, it may be impossible to prove that you submitted the proper paperwork at the proper time. It’s not uncommon for paperwork to get lost, and you should protect yourself by keeping copies just in case. All correspondence with the USCIS should be sent by certified mail so that you have a record of when you filed your paperwork.
Renew work permits and green cards well ahead of time
Another consequence of the USCIS being a huge agency is that it’s often slow to process paperwork. To be on the safe side, file any required renewals or other paperwork with plenty of time to spare.
Report address changes
In theory, you can be deported for failing to report a change of address. If you’ve been living in the US for at least 30 days, you need to notify the Department of Homeland Security of your new address within 10 days of your move. Fortunately, it’s not difficult—in addition to submitting a form by mail, you can change your address online at the USCIS website.
Avoid living outside the US for extended period of time
Living outside the US for too long may result in losing your permanent resident status. Often, if you’ve been outside the US for a year or more you will be found to have abandoned your permanent resident status. If you know you’ll need to be outside of the US for more than a year, you can apply to USCIS for a reentry permit. This lets you to stay outside the US for up to two years.
Pursue citizenship
If you want to stay in the US permanently, consider working towards citizenship. You can apply to become a citizen five years after receiving a green card, or three years after receiving a green card if you’re married to a US citizen. Once you’re a citizen, you can travel abroad for as long as you want without worrying about losing your right to reside in the US.
It may have been difficult to get your green card, and you don’t want to risk losing it. If you have any questions about protecting your residency status, please contact us today to learn more!
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