Green Card Holders in the USA: What You Can and Cannot Do

What Green Card Holders Can Do

A lawful permanent resident generally may build a stable life in the United States, subject to federal, state, and program-specific rules.

• Live permanently in the United States and move anywhere within the country.
• Work for most private employers, change jobs, be self-employed, and operate a business.
• Buy property, open bank and investment accounts, apply for credit, mortgages, and loans.
• Attend schools, colleges, universities, and vocational programs.
• Obtain a driver’s license when state requirements are satisfied.
• Apply for certain benefits when program rules are met.
• Receive workplace and civil-rights protections, use courts, report crimes, and request law-enforcement protection.
• Travel internationally with proper passport and permanent-resident documentation.
• Petition for certain qualifying family members and apply for U.S. citizenship when eligible.
• Participate in lawful demonstrations, community organizations, public meetings, and political advocacy.

What Green Card Holders Cannot Do

• Cannot vote in federal elections or register to vote as a U.S. citizen.
• Cannot vote in state or local elections unless that election clearly permits noncitizen voting.
• Cannot claim to be a U.S. citizen, obtain or use a U.S. passport, or use another person’s citizenship documents.
• Cannot assume that a Green Card guarantees readmission after international travel.
• Cannot permanently relocate abroad while using the United States only as a place to visit.
• Cannot directly sponsor parents, married sons or daughters, siblings, or a fiance through categories reserved for U.S. citizens.
• Cannot hold positions legally restricted to U.S. citizens or serve on a federal jury.
• Cannot ignore USCIS, immigration court, ICE-ERO, criminal court, or other official notices.
• Cannot assume that a dismissed, sealed, expunged, or minor criminal matter has no immigration consequences.

Responsibilities

• Obey federal, state, and local laws.
• File required federal, state, and local tax returns and report worldwide income when required.
• Avoid filing taxes as a nonresident alien without qualified tax and immigration guidance.
• Notify USCIS of a residential address change, generally within 10 days.
• Carry evidence of registration as required when age 18 or older.
• Renew or replace the physical Green Card when necessary and keep copies of immigration and travel records.
• Respond truthfully on government and private applications.
• Follow court orders, protection orders, child-support obligations, and tax obligations.
• Register with Selective Service when required.
• File Form I-751 or Form I-829 on time if conditional permanent residence applies.

International Travel

• A Green Card is not a passport. A traveler generally needs a valid passport from the country of citizenship.
• A Green Card does not guarantee admission. CBP may inspect a returning lawful permanent resident.
• Criminal history, prior immigration fraud, abandonment concerns, or other inadmissibility issues may create border problems.
• A trip longer than six months may affect naturalization and may increase questions about residence.
• An absence of one year or more can create serious reentry and abandonment issues.
• Returning once every six months does not automatically protect permanent-resident status.
• A reentry permit may help document intended temporary travel but does not guarantee admission.
• USCIS and CBP consider the complete circumstances, including home, family, employment, taxes, property, and other U.S. ties.

Criminal and Immigration Risks

Permanent residents can be placed in removal proceedings. Immigration consequences depend on the exact record, law, and history.

• Domestic violence, child abuse, neglect, abandonment, or protection-order violations.
• Theft, shoplifting, fraud, identity theft, false documents, or tax fraud.
• Controlled-substance offenses, including marijuana, and drug trafficking.
• Assault, violent offenses, firearms offenses, or sexual offenses.
• Unlawful voting, false claims to U.S. citizenship, or alien smuggling.
• DUI cases with aggravating circumstances or multiple incidents.
• Crimes involving moral turpitude or offenses classified as aggravated felonies under immigration law.

Family Immigration

• A lawful permanent resident may generally file Form I-130 for a spouse.
• An LPR may generally petition for an unmarried child under 21.
• An LPR may generally petition for an unmarried son or daughter age 21 or older.
• An LPR generally cannot directly petition for parents, brothers or sisters, married sons or daughters, or a K-1 fiance category reserved for U.S. citizens.

Conditional Green Cards

• Some marriage-based residents receive two-year conditional permanent residence.
• Form I-751 generally must be filed during the required filing period unless an exception or waiver applies.
• Certain immigrant investors use Form I-829.
• Missing a required deadline can threaten status.
• Divorce does not automatically mean every conditional resident loses eligibility, but attorney review may be needed.

Naturalization

• Eligible Green Card holders may apply for U.S. citizenship through the standard five-year route.
• Some applicants married to and living in marital union with a U.S. citizen may qualify under a three-year route.
• Continuous residence, physical presence, good moral character, English, civics, taxes, Selective Service, criminal history, travel, and prior immigration history may be reviewed.

Speak With a Qualified Immigration Attorney Before Taking Action If...

• You were arrested, cited, charged, or offered a plea agreement.
• You have a drug-related incident, domestic-violence accusation, or protection-order issue.
• You registered to vote, voted, or claimed U.S. citizenship.
• You were outside the United States for an extended period or CBP questioned or detained you when returning.
• You are being asked to sign Form I-407.
• You received a Notice to Appear or immigration-court hearing notice.
• You missed an I-751 or I-829 deadline.
• You believe the original Green Card application contained false information.
• You are planning international travel with criminal or immigration history.

Official Resources

Use official government sources for current agency instructions, forms, and updates.