After getting a green card through NIW, can I stop working?

Yes. Once you obtain the green card through EB-2 NIW, you become a lawful permanent resident, and that status does not require you to be employed in order to remain valid. There is no formal obligation to work in order to keep the green card.

The key concern is not employment itself, but rather maintaining residence. The green card assumes that the United States is your actual home. Extended absences or a life centered in another country can raise doubts about your intent to maintain permanent residence, regardless of whether you are working.

If you choose not to engage in professional activity, it is prudent to gather other signs of ongoing ties to the country, such as:

• Physically residing in the United States for most of the time.
• Family, real estate, or financial ties in the country.
• Current tax declarations and obligations as a resident.

The decision to work or not is yours, but preserving your status requires consistency. If in doubt about extended travel or how to demonstrate your ties, check the updated guidelines at the official source (USCIS) or consult a specialist.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.