Permanent Resident Rights: The Benefits of Being a Green Card Holder

A U.S. green card or lawful permanent residency allows an individual to work and live in the U.S. permanently. Green card holders, otherwise known as legal permanent residents (LPRs), enjoy most of the benefits and freedoms a U.S. citizen has under U.S. government regulations. They can also have the same protection under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Permanent residents are also granted rights to education, employment, health care, housing, etc. They can adjust their immigration status through naturalization. Keep reading to learn more about lawful permanent residents’ fundamental rights and freedoms.

Don’t jeopardize your future in the U.S. An immigration lawyer can help you understand your rights as a permanent resident and avoid missteps that could put your status at risk.

Rights of Permanent Residents in the U.S.

As a permanent resident, you have the right to:

• Live permanently anywhere in the U.S., so long as you do not commit any acts that could subject you to deportation or removal under immigration law
• Work lawfully in the United States for any position you are qualified for. Although, for security reasons, some jobs may be limited to U.S. citizens
• Apply to become a U.S. citizen once you meet the eligibility requirements
• Petition your family members and unmarried children to live in the U.S.
• Obtain Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, and Medicare benefits if eligible
• Own property in the U.S.
• Apply for a driver’s license in your state or territory
• Attend public schools and colleges
• Join certain branches of the U.S. Armed Forces
• Purchase or own a firearm, as long as no state or local laws say you can’t
• Vote in local elections where U.S. citizenship is not a requirement. There are some jurisdictions in the U.S. where a noncitizen is allowed to vote in local elections (you can learn more about U.S. election voting qualifications from your local voting authority)
• Be protected by all laws of the U.S., your state of residence, and local jurisdictions, including those regarding selective services

Additionally, you have the right to leave and return to the U.S. under certain conditions. However, you cannot leave the U.S. for an extended period of time or move to another country to live there permanently without a reentry permit, and only then for up to two years.

Those wishing to stay abroad for six months or more should file appropriate documents with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). Their application should establish their intention to keep their lawful permanent residence in the U.S. and that they will not abandon their LPR status.

Those with criminal convictions should determine whether this might create a bar to admission before traveling. Travel outside of the United States should also be avoided if your permanent resident card is close to expiration, or if you are currently awaiting the renewal of your permanent residency.

A permanent resident should be cautious about exercising some of these rights.

A firearms-related conviction, voting in a federal election, leaving the United States under certain circumstances, and other actions could result in inadmissibility for citizenship and, in some cases, even revocation of permanent resident status.

These rights are discussed further in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

Green Cards for Family Members

The United States values family reunification. With this in mind, the U.S. government provides avenues for U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to petition their family members. Here, family relationships play a crucial role as family-based immigration is prioritized over other types of green card applications.

For instance, immediate relatives of U.S. citizens such as spouses, children, and parents may be petitioned for a green card. Permanent residents may also petition their spouses and unmarried children of any age.

Family-based immigration involves a series of steps and requirements. You can learn more about family preference and immediate relative petitions in this article by FindLaw.

Green Cards for Employment-Based Immigration

Employment with a U.S. employer could also grant you a green card. Employment-based immigration allows certain professionals to work in the United States, bringing their expertise and skills. The employment-based immigration has specific preference categories, which include the following:

First Preference:

• Foreign nationals with extraordinary ability in arts, athletics, business, education, or sciences
• Outstanding researchers and professors
• Certain multinational executives and managers

Second Preference:

• Foreign nationals who hold advanced degrees
• Those with exceptional ability

Third Preference:

• Skilled workers
• Professionals
• Other workers

It is important to remember that having a job offer does not automatically guarantee a U.S. visa. Specific employment categories may look for various requirements, each with unique criteria.

Green Cards for Special Immigrants

The U.S. immigration laws also issue green cards to special immigrants. Special immigrants are foreign nationals who are members of specified groups. You may obtain an employment-based green card as a special immigrant if you are one of the following:

• Religious worker
• International broadcaster
• Afghanistan or Iraq national
• Special Immigrant Juvenile
• An employee of an international organization or NATO employee and their family members

Green Cards for Refugees or Asylees

If you are a foreign national with asylee status, you may apply for a green card through adjustment of status. This process can be done after meeting specific eligibility requirements and a lapse of a certain period. The U.S. government requires the asylee to be in the country for at least one year before adjustment of status.

On top of that, other requirements need to be met for an asylee to become a legal permanent resident. These requirements include continuously meeting the definition of a refugee and continuous physical presence in the United States.

Green Cards Through Visa Lottery

The U.S. Department of State administers the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV Program) every year. This program provides up to 50,000 immigrant visas every fiscal year to foreign nationals from countries with low levels of immigration to the United States. The 50,000 immigrant visas are drawn randomly from all applications, hence the term “visa lottery.”

Most foreign nationals selected in the visa lottery reside outside the United States. They process their visa applications through U.S. embassies or consular processing.

Green Cards for Victims of Abuse, Crime, and Human Trafficking

The U.S. government also provides special consideration to victims of abuse, crime, and human trafficking. Foreign nationals who were victims of these acts can become lawful permanent residents after meeting specific requirements.

Learn More About Your Rights as a Permanent Resident: Contact a Lawyer

You may want to consult a legal professional before acting on your rights as a person with LPR status. A lawyer can warn you of unexpected risks or suggest actions that can help protect and preserve your status. They can also provide guidance through the legal immigration process and assist you or your immediate relatives in adjusting their nonimmigrant visas.

For more information about sponsorship migration, employment-based applications, or other immigration matters, contact a local attorney near you. An immigration lawyer can help you understand the law and provide legal advice tailored to your case.

FindLaw’s directory of immigration attorneys can get you started. Enter your city or ZIP code for a list of qualified legal professionals in your area. Your search results will also show important details about prospective lawyers, including ratings, languages spoken, and whether they offer free consultations.