A Green Card is no longer a guarantee to stay in the US permanently, the Donald Trump administration has made it clear, as it arrested Green Card holder activists, deported them flagging them as national security risks. Nationals of 75 countries will not get Green Cards now, the administration announced as it examines how much welfare benefits they are taking. Immigration attorney Moumita Rahman, in a recent YouTube video, discussed how people unintentionally put themselved at risks by doing these 10 mistakes:
1. Staying outside the US too long
A Green Card holder is allowed to travel and work abroad but these trips, if they are longer than six months, can be used to prove that an individual has abandoned his or her residency. It is advised to spend at least 9-10 months in the US
2. Not having enough ties to the US
Not having enough ties to the US can put an individual at risk of losing his or her Green Card. But a real, fixed address, US bank account, US credit card, filing tax, and having a job, having other family members, school-aged children can solve this situation
3. Getting convicted
The attorney explained that this is not about getting a speeding ticket or a parking ticket but serious offences like fraud, theft, shoplifting, domestic abuse, causing physical harm to anyone etc.
4. Failing to pay taxes
USCIS is checking tax compliance more than ever. Green Card holders should unfailingly fill Form 1040 to report their income to the Internal Revenue Service to inform the government how much you earned, how much tax you owe or how much refund you should get.
5. Making a false claim to the USCIS
Even if the false claim happens by mistake, this is an unredeemable and Green Card will get revoked if you claim yourself as a US citizen on any form, if you register to vote or actually vote or try to get US passport.
6. Failing to file Form I-751 if you have a conditional Green Card through marriage
90 days before your conditional Green Card expires, you have to file Form I-751, not earlier and not after expiry. This form converts your conditional Green Card into a permanent Green Card but if you fail to file within the stipulated time, you lose your Green Card and get deported.
7. Suspicion of a fake marriage
Even real couples can trigger the suspicion of a fake, paid marriage if they do not have a shared life.
8. Misrepresentation to immigration officials
This does not have to be big lies but deliberate suppression of facts to immigration officials can cost yout Green Card. If you hide a previous deportation or removal order, leave out past immigration violations, lie bout employment history, you are at the risk of losing your Green Card.
9. Notify USCIS within 10 days every time you move
Every time you change your address, Green Card holders must inform the USCIS by submitting Form AR11.
10. Voluntary abandonment
Submitting Form I-407 means formally giving up a Green Card, but one should submit it only when the intention is to abandon residency and not just evading tax as signing this form would mean you surrendered your Green Card. Go to Source
