How to Avoid Losing Your Green Card
A green card is one of the most important immigration benefits. Obtaining a green card is a dream for many people, but it’s not true that once you have a green card you can never lose it. In fact, countless people end up losing their status as lawful permanent residents because they make some mistake. Below, our immigration lawyer looks at what to do to keep your green card.
4 Reasons Why You Can Lose a Green Card
There is so much confusion in this area. Let’s look at some reasons why you might lose a green card:
- Immigration fraud. Lying on an immigration application can result in loss of lawful permanent resident status. Other types of lying include entering a sham marriage or refusing to disclose certain required information. You can avoid this issue by working closely with an immigration lawyer when filing your petition.
- Criminal convictions. Some criminal offenses will result in the loss of a green card, and you can ultimately be deported. Some of the most serious crimes include rape and murder, but even drug crimes, fraud, or domestic violence are causes for concern. Too many minor offenses could also trigger scrutiny.
- If you live outside the U.S for too long, you can lose your green card. This is a confusing area of law. It’s a myth that living outside the U.S. for at least six months will result in automatic abandonment. However, living outside the country for that long will possibly trigger an inquiry. If you are outside the country for a full year, then there is a presumption you have abandoned residency.
- Failure to file taxes. If you don’t file your taxes with the IRS, then you can trigger an investigation and possibly removal proceedings.
Contact an experienced attorney if USCIS has reached out to you and are asking questions. Our office can review the evidence to see if you have abandoned your green card. You also want a lawyer before you head into an interview, since the statements you make could cause more problems. As an example: the statements you make could also lead to a prosecution for tax fraud.
If you are just starting the process for obtaining a green card, then hire a lawyer. We can make sure your information is accurate. USCIS will certainly go over all applications and materials to see if you failed to disclose anything or made misrepresentations. They can pull a green card years later if they find you lied.
Speak with Our Lawyer in a Private Consultation
The Law Office of Jason M. Sullivan, PLLC, is an advocate for immigrants seeking green cards. We know the application process and can help our clients avoid common pitfalls. We can also advise you of what to do if you intend to leave the U.S. for an extended period of time. Call our law firm to speak with a Portsmouth, New Hampshire green card lawyer. We also help those in the Miami, Florida area.