What Mistakes to Avoid for Losing your Green Card in the USA

Permanent resident status in the U.S. is granted to those people who wish to reside in the U.S. in the future. The most popular term used for Permanent residents is green cardholders. They have the privilege to live as well as work permanently in the U.S. However, many times, a few mistakes could cost you the permanent resident status.

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1 Some of the mistakes that you must avoid for losing your Green Card in the USA.

1.1 Residing Outside the U.S.

1.2 Surrendering the Green Card Voluntarily

1.3 Fraud or Intentional Misrepresentation

1.4 Criminal Convictions

1.5 Failure to get rid of Conditions on Residence

1.6 About Post Author

1.6.1 Diksha Garg

 Some of the mistakes that you must avoid for losing your Green Card in the USA. 

1. Residing Outside the U.S.

If you spend 12 months or more outside the U.S., then you will lose permanent resident status. Short absences could also trigger abandonment in case the CNP officer decides that you had the intention to reside outside the U.S., at the time of your reentry. For instance, the failure to file your income tax with IRS when you live outside the U.S. could trigger a removal.

2. Surrendering the Green Card Voluntarily

In case you have filled the Form I-407 anytime, then it means that you voluntarily have abandoned your permanent resident status in the United States. A common reason why people opt for this method is to escape from payment of U.S. taxes. However, this must be done in consultation with a tax professional as well as an immigration attorney to understand the long-term consequences. At times, in case you have lived outside the U.S. for more than 12 months, the CBP officer might ask you to sign the I407 form for voluntary deportation.

3. Fraud or Intentional Misrepresentation

Usually, a fraud is committed when a person resorts to lies to get some immigration benefits. Any representation of facts which is partially false can cause major immigration problems and lead to loss of green card status. Such frauds could take place during the preparation of the application, submission of evidence, or interviews or information exchange with the officials of immigration. Two ways of scams are visa fraud and marriage fraud.

4. Criminal Convictions

Not every kind of criminal conviction will lead to a loss of permanent resident status. Usually, a person might get deported from the U.S. in case he/she:

– is convicted of an aggravated felony at any point of time post-admission into the U.S.

– Is convicted of crimes that involve moral turpitude and was committed in five years post the admission date into the U.S. 

Note: This is not the entire list of crimes.

5. Failure to get rid of Conditions on Residence

A Conditional resident who does not get rid of conditions on the residence can be removed on the expiry of his/her two-year green card. This green card is obtained by some spouses via marriage or by some foreign national investors. This conditional green card can’t be renewed, and to be a permanent resident, and a petition has to be filed for removal of the condition 90 days before the expiry of the card.

About Post Author

Diksha Garg

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