US Lists 4 Legal Duties Every Foreigner Must Fulfil After Getting Green Card

• A US Green Card comes with important responsibilities beyond the right to live and work in the country
• USCIS has outlined key obligations that every permanent resident is expected to follow
• Some of these requirements could have significant consequences for Green Card holders who fail to comply.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has set out the key legal obligations that foreign nationals must fulfill upon receiving permanent resident status, widely known as a Green Card.

According to the immigration authority, securing permanent residency confers not only the privilege to reside and gain employment in the country, but also entails a clear set of civic obligations.

Duties required of permanent residents

USCIS outlined four principal obligations that apply to all foreign nationals holding a Green Card:

1. Obeying all regulations: Green Card holders must adhere strictly to all federal, state, and local laws. Immigration authorities noted that no allowances or exemptions are granted on the grounds of nationality or residency status.
2. Filing tax returns: Permanent residents are legally obligated to declare their global earnings and submit tax returns to both the US Internal Revenue Service and relevant state tax bodies, adhering to the same requirements as American citizens.
3. Supporting democratic principles: Green Card holders are expected to respect and support the democratic structure of the US government. However, USCIS stressed that this obligation does not include voting privileges, stating that foreign nationals with permanent residency "are not permitted to cast votes in federal, state, or local elections."
4. Selective Service registration: Male permanent residents aged between 18 and 25 are mandated to register with the Selective Service, the government entity tasked with maintaining records of individuals who could be called upon in the event of a national military draft.

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Rights granted under Green Card status

Alongside these mandatory obligations, USCIS highlighted the statutory protections and privileges awarded to permanent residents.

Individuals holding a Green Card are entitled to live indefinitely within the United States, provided they do not commit offences that render them deportable under federal immigration regulations.

Furthermore, they are permitted to seek employment in any lawful field aligned with their qualifications, although USCIS noted that certain roles involving national security remain strictly reserved for US citizens.

Permanent residents also remain fully protected under all applicable municipal, state, and federal laws.

US invalidates 3 Green Card types

Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh reported that a major US immigration update had left some foreign nationals with an important document check to make.

Authorities had identified certain older documents that were no longer accepted as valid proof of status.

Affected residents had been urged to take action to avoid potential problems with their immigration status.

Source: YEN.com.gh