Services For Green Card Holders
As a green card holder, there are times when you may need or want to file a case with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”). Vicki Anderson has many years of experience helping green card holders with their immigration cases.
Green Card Renewals
If your green card (also known as a Permanent Resident Card) is expiring, you need to file an I-90 application to renew your green card. The I-90 application is only for full permanent residents. If you are a conditional permanent resident and your permanent residence is based on marriage to a U.S. citizen, you need to file an I-751 petition with the USCIS before your green card expires. Whether you need to file an I-90 application or an I-751 petition, Vicki Anderson can help you obtain a new green card valid for 10 years.
Reentry Permits
Sometimes you may need to spend an extended amount of time outside the U.S. caring for a loved one, attending school, etc. If your absence is going to be longer than 6 months, it is a good idea to apply for a reentry permit to preserve your permanent resident status. A reentry permit allows you to be outside the U.S. for up to 2 full years without losing your permanent resident status. Contact Vicki Anderson Immigration Law to ensure that you will be able to return to the U.S. as a permanent resident if you need to be outside the U.S. for more than 6 months.
Preserving Permanent Residence for Naturalization
Although a reentry permit can help you maintain your permanent residence if you will be outside the U.S. for more than 6 months and up to 2 years, it cannot help you preserve your permanent residence for naturalization purposes. In general, to be eligible to apply for naturalization (i.e., U.S. citizenship), you must meet the continuous residence and physical presence requirements, among other requirements. You might not be able to prove that you meet those requirements if you have been absent from the U.S. for 6 months or more. However, if you will be outside the U.S. for a year or longer and have qualifying employment with the U.S. government, an American institution of research, an American business (or qualifying subsidiary) engaged in the development of U.S. foreign trade, a public international organization of which the U.S. is a member by treaty or statute, or in a certain religious capacity, you may be able to preserve your U.S. permanent residence by filing Form N-470. Vicki Anderson Immigration Law will review the requirements with you to ensure that you have qualifying employment and are eligible to preserve your U.S. permanent residence while you are working outside the U.S.
Abandoning U.S. Permanent Residence
If you no longer plan to live in the U.S., you should consider abandoning your permanent residence by filing a Form I-407 with the USCIS. Once you have officially abandoned your U.S. permanent resident status, you will no longer have to worry about maintaining it while residing outside the U.S. Voluntarily abandoning your permanent resident status and green card can help you to avoid delays or other complications when you are returning as a nonimmigrant and are at a U.S. port of entry. Also, when you are no longer a green card holder, you no longer have an obligation to file U.S. tax returns on your worldwide income. Vicki Anderson can help you abandon your U.S. permanent resident status and turn in your green card. She can also refer you to tax counsel before you file Form I-407 because there are tax implications when you relinquish your lawful permanent resident status.
Contact Vicki Anderson Immigration Law, LLC Today
To set up an initial consultation, call 651-968-0551 or fill out the online contact form.