Maintaining Permanent Residence

How do you go about maintaining permanent residence when you spend long periods of time outside the United States or engage in behavior which makes you deportable or inadmissible?

In order for immigrants to continue to work and live in the US and eventually become US citizens, their green card must be maintained until eligible for citizenship. The process of receiving a green card is often difficult and lengthy, therefore once legal permanent resident (LPR) status is granted, it is in the immigrants best interest to respect the United States and obey the laws. Under US law, if a green card holder commits certain acts they may be brought before an immigration court and possibly removed (deported) from the country.

As described in section 237 and 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), if a green card holder violates certain criminal or immigration laws, abandons the US as their permanent residence, or does not meet the conditions to maintain a green card, they may be removed from the US. The most common way LPRs lose their right to a green card is by committing a crime. There is no specific list in US immigration law stating which crimes make a green card holder removable, but examples of such crimes include:

• Helping someone enter the US illegally
• Committing domestic violence
• Possessing a small amount of illegal drugs
• Fraud or theft
• Crimes with intent of doing great bodily harm
• Sex offenses
• All major crimes and felonies

Client Reviews

It is important for a green card holder that has been arrested to consult an experienced immigration attorney to find out whether and how they can avoid removal. 

Along with criminal offenses, a person can be considered removable for certain other violations including but not limited to:

• Receiving a green card through fraudulent marriage
• Receiving a green card through ANY type of fraud
• Failing to advise USCIS of a change of address within ten days of moving
• Failing to file income tax returns while living outside the US for any period of time
• Declaring “nonimmigrant” status on tax returns
• Leaving the US with the intention of making permanent residence in another country

 

Maintaining Permanent Residence
While Residing Outside the U.S.

 

There is no fixed period of time that will trigger abandonment, but LPRs are treated as seeking re-admission if they have been absent from the United States for a continuous period of longer than 180 days. INA § 101(a)(13)(C)(ii). Although an LPR returning from a visit of more than 180 days is subject to the grounds of inadmissibility and can be questioned as to potential abandonment of residency, this usually only comes up when the LPR has been gone for more than one year.

In general, remaining outside the US for more than one year will indicate to the government a possible abandonment of US residence and may cause trouble when attempting to re-enter the country. For those green card holders that know in advance they will be outside the US for more than one year, it is worth it to apply for a re-entry permit that allows a stay abroad for up to two years.

Exceptions may be made in cases where green card holders remained outside the US for over one year due to unforeseen circumstances but evidence will be necessary to prove that the stay was unplanned. In these cases a special immigrant visa must be applied for at a US consulate in order to be considered a returning resident.

It is wise for green card holder to apply for citizenship as soon as they are eligible in order to lower the chance of loosing residency. 

 

Maintaining Permanent Residence
Additional Resources

 

• • Maintaining Permanent Residence (USCIS)
  • “How Do I” Guides for Permanent Residents (USCIS) 
  • Absences that are too long and how to cure them (CLINIC)

 

 

---

---