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Receiving a Green Card transforms the lives of those who choose to build roots in the United States — but it also introduces a set of legal obligations that many immigrants don’t fully understand until it’s time to renew their card, travel for extended periods, or apply for citizenship. Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status is governed by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and administered by USCIS, with specific rules covering physical presence, criminal conduct, tax filing, and family sponsorship. This guide explains, based on the law in effect in 2026, what you gain and what you must fulfill to preserve that status.
What Is the Green Card
The Green Card is physical evidence that its holder has been admitted as a lawful permanent resident of the United States. It grants the right to live and work in the country indefinitely, as long as the holder complies with the obligations established by the INA. The physical card is typically valid for ten years for unconditional permanent residents and two years for conditional residents (recent marriage cases or EB-5). The card’s expiration does not mean loss of immigration status, but the holder must renew the document to maintain valid proof of residency.
Rights of Permanent Residents
Unrestricted Employment
An LPR may accept any job in any state without additional authorization, except for positions reserved for U.S. citizens — such as certain federal roles requiring security clearances and elected offices. The Green Card serves as work authorization documentation on Form I-9 and carries no expiration date for employment purposes.
International Travel
Permanent residents may enter and exit the United States freely. Absences of up to six months are generally treated as temporary trips. Absences between six and twelve months subject the holder to more rigorous secondary inspection upon reentry, with a possible presumption of status abandonment. For planned absences exceeding one year, the resident must apply in advance for a Reentry Permit (Form I-131), which preserves the intent to maintain residency for up to two years.
Family Sponsorship
A permanent resident may petition for the immigration of a spouse and unmarried children, under preference categories F2A (spouses and children under 21) and F2B (unmarried children 21 and older). It is not possible to sponsor parents, siblings, or married children while the holder is still an LPR — those relatives may only be sponsored after naturalization. Wait times vary according to the Visa Bulletin, and the process begins with Form I-130.
Access to Public Benefits
LPRs may contribute to and eventually receive Social Security and Medicare benefits once they accumulate the required 40 work credits. Access to federal assistance programs such as SNAP and SSI is subject, in most cases, to a five-year waiting period from the date status was obtained (2022 Public Charge Rule). State and local programs may have their own rules.
In-State Tuition
State public universities charge in-state tuition — significantly lower than rates for international students — as long as the holder demonstrates effective residency in the state for the required period (generally twelve months). Permanent residents are also eligible for federal financial aid including FAFSA, Pell Grants, and subsidized student loans.
Duties of Permanent Residents
Comply with All U.S. Laws
Criminal convictions can trigger removal proceedings, particularly in the categories of aggravated felonies, crimes involving moral turpitude (CIMT), and drug-related offenses under INA section 237. Even minor misdemeanors can affect a future citizenship application by undermining the good moral character requirement.
Maintain Physical Residence and Domicile
The LPR must establish effective residency in the United States. Maintaining bank accounts, filing taxes as a resident, having a stable address, employment ties, and family in the country are all factors evaluated by CBP at each reentry. Filing taxes as a non-resident in any given year is strong evidence of status abandonment and can lead to automatic loss of the Green Card.
File and Pay Federal Taxes
Permanent residents are taxed by the IRS on worldwide income, exactly like U.S. citizens. This includes foreign-source income, international bank accounts (with an FBAR obligation for balances exceeding $10,000), and foreign assets (Form 8938 when applicable). The annual return must be filed on Form 1040, and non-payment can create complications at the time of naturalization.
Report Address Changes
Every change of address must be reported to USCIS via Form AR-11 within ten days. The omission is a federal violation that, though rarely prosecuted, can be used against the resident in future immigration proceedings.
Renew the Card on Time
Renewal is done through Form I-90. Current fees as of 2026, per the USCIS Fee Schedule revised in April 2024, are $415 for online submission and $465 for paper submission. The process is purely administrative: renewal does not reopen a merits review of the status, unless the resident has accumulated vulnerabilities such as prolonged absences or criminal convictions.
Path to Citizenship
After five years as a permanent resident — or three years if married to and residing with a U.S. citizen throughout the entire period — the LPR may apply for naturalization via Form N-400. Requirements include physical presence for at least half of the required period, continuous residence, good moral character, basic English proficiency, and passing the 100-question civics test. The current N-400 fee is $760 for paper filing and $710 for online filing.
Citizenship provides protections the Green Card does not: immunity from deportation for crimes committed after naturalization, the right to vote in federal elections, the ability to sponsor parents and siblings, the capacity to transmit citizenship to children born abroad, and eligibility for a U.S. passport and federal employment.
Common Risks That Lead to Loss of Status
The most frequent mistakes that jeopardize a Green Card include remaining outside the U.S. for more than twelve months without a Reentry Permit, filing taxes as a non-resident in any year, committing crimes that fall under deportable categories, committing fraud in prior immigration filings, failing to update one’s address, and voluntarily abandoning status via Form I-407. Each of these situations warrants proactive attention, as reversing a loss of status is a lengthy, costly, and not always possible process.
Being a permanent resident is more than carrying a green card: it means assuming a legal position that combines broad freedom with concrete responsibilities. Understanding each one in advance is what separates those who maintain their status with confidence from those who discover the risks when it is already too late.
Victoria Harper
Editor-in-Chief
Leading journalism and editorial content at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps make immigration topics clear, trustworthy, and easy to understand. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.
