Naturalization Help From Immigration Attorneys
Green Cards And You: FAQs
Salvador Bradley
Immigrants who wish to stay in the United States permanently will typically need to obtain a permanent resident card, commonly known as a green card. Cardholders have the right to live and work in the country as long as they wish unless they violate certain conditions. The following article answers some of the most frequently answered questions about this valuable legal document.
Who Is Eligible?
Your eligibility for a green card depends on whether you fall into one of the approved categories. For example, if you are a close relative of a United States citizen, you will likely get relatively fast approval for a green card. This category includes the spouses of citizens, as well as the parents of citizens and unmarried children of citizens, among others. Other family members of U.S. citizens, such as siblings and married children of citizens are also eligible, although they could face longer wait times for acceptance.
Other approved categories are workers with job offers from a U.S. business and refugees and asylum seekers. In addition, the government conducts an annual lottery that allows people from certain countries to apply for a green card as long as they meet specific educational and employment qualifications.
Who Is Not Admissible?
Some people will not be granted a green card, even if they fall into one of the approved categories. The government does not allow certain individuals to obtain a visa, green card, or lawful entry into the country. The major categories of inadmissible individuals include those who have a serious communicable disease, such as tuberculosis. People with mental problems that could make them a danger to others or themselves are also inadmissible. Drug addicts and drug traffickers are excluded as well.
People who committed what are called "crimes of moral turpitude," those who have previously violated, immigration laws, and those without the required vaccinations are also not eligible for admission to the U.S. or a green card. Other excluded categories are spies, terrorists, and nazis.
Can You Lose Your Green Card?
You can lose your green card under certain conditions. The two primary ways that people lose their green card are by breaking the law and leaving the U.S. for a long period of time. Although no hard and fast time limit exists for being out of the country, experts suggest that you do not leave for more than six months at a time to avoid any issues with your card. Likewise, there is no list of specific legal violations that would cause you to lose your card, so these cases are considered on a case-by-case basis.
If you have any issues with obtaining or keeping a green card, or would simply like to know more, consult an immigration attorney near you.
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If you're having trouble getting your immigration papers in order and the process to become a citizen is taking longer than expected, you may need to hire an immigration lawyer. Hello, my name is Lindsey Kaiser, and I became interested in the laws concerning immigration when a friend of mine was having difficulties with the naturalization process. I did as much research as I could for my friend, and through my research I found out that my friend needed an immigration attorney. After my friend had help from an attorney, the naturalization process went very quickly, and my friend became a citizen of this country. Since there are other people who need guidance concerning citizenship and naturalization, I decided to write this blog to inform others about immigration attorneys and how they can help.