A Permanent Resident's Journey: From Immigrant To Citizen

Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) are non-citizens who are legally authorised to live and work in the United States. LPRs are often referred to as immigrants, permanent resident aliens or green card holders.

To become an LPR, a foreign national must meet certain eligibility requirements. These include being at least 18 years old, demonstrating continuous residence in the United States for at least five years, and showing physical presence in the United States for at least 30 months out of the five years immediately before filing Form N-400.

LPRs have most of the rights of American citizens. They may live and work in the United States, and are protected by US laws. LPRs can also apply to become US citizens through a process called naturalisation.

Lawful permanent residents (LPRs) are also known as green card holders

Rights and Privileges

LPRs have most of the rights of American citizens. They can:

• Live permanently in the United States, provided they do not commit any actions that would make them removable under immigration law.
• Be employed in the United States.
• Be protected by all the laws of the United States, the state of residence, and local jurisdictions.
• Apply to become U.S. citizens if they meet certain eligibility requirements.
• Own property.
• Receive financial assistance at public colleges and universities.
• Join the Armed Forces.

Conditions

To maintain LPR status, permanent residents must not:

• Depart and remain outside the U.S. for more than 365 days consecutively.
• Fail to file income tax returns while living outside the U.S.
• Declare themselves as "non-immigrants" on tax returns.

Application Process

To become an LPR, an individual must first enter the U.S. on an immigrant visa. They will then be granted permanent resident status and issued a permanent resident card (also known as a green card or I-551) by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The card serves as a valid identification document and proof that the individual is eligible to live and work in the U.S.

Green Card Renewal and Replacement

Green cards can only be issued or replaced in the U.S. and cannot be obtained overseas. If a green card is lost, stolen, or destroyed, and the holder has been outside of the U.S. for less than 364 days without a Permit to Reenter the U.S., they may be able to obtain a "boarding foil" authorising an airline to carry them to the U.S. without penalty.

LPRs are non-citizens who are lawfully authorised to live permanently within the United States

Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) are non-citizens who are lawfully authorised to live in the United States permanently. LPRs are often referred to as "immigrants" or "green card holders". They are granted a Permanent Resident Card, also known as a "green card", which serves as proof of their status and eligibility to live and work in the U.S.

Rights and Privileges of LPRs

LPRs have most of the rights of American citizens. They can:

• Live permanently in the U.S.
• Accept employment without special restrictions
• Own property
• Receive financial aid at public colleges and universities
• Join the U.S. Armed Forces

Maintaining LPR Status

LPRs must not commit any actions that would make them removable (deportable) under immigration law. They must also be mindful of the following:

• LPRs who remain outside the U.S. for more than 365 days consecutively risk losing their status.
• LPRs who obtain re-entry permits from USCIS may remain overseas for up to 2 years.
• LPRs who fail to file income tax returns while living outside the U.S., or who declare themselves as "non-immigrants" on tax returns, may lose their status.
• LPRs who have remained abroad for more than 12 months without a re-entry permit may have lapsed status.

Path to U.S. Citizenship

Many LPRs have the ultimate goal of becoming U.S. citizens. They can apply for naturalisation after completing the necessary residence and physical presence requirements. To be eligible for naturalisation, LPRs must:

• Be at least 18 years old when they submit their application
• Have been a lawfully admitted permanent resident of the U.S. for at least 5 years
• Have demonstrated continuous residence in the U.S. for at least 5 years before filing their application
• Have been physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months out of the 5 years before filing their application
• Have lived for at least 3 months in a state or USCIS district with jurisdiction over their place of residence
• Show they are of good moral character and have been so for at least 5 years before filing their application
• Demonstrate an attachment to the principles and ideals of the U.S. Constitution
• Be able to read, write and speak basic English
• Have knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government (civics)
• Take an Oath of Allegiance to the U.S.

LPRs may apply to become U.S. citizens if they meet certain eligibility requirements

Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) may apply to become U.S. citizens if they meet certain eligibility requirements. The Immigration and Nationality Act provides several broad classes of admission for foreign nationals to gain LPR status, the largest of which focuses on admitting immigrants for the purpose of family reunification.

To be eligible for naturalisation, LPRs must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old when they submit Form N-400, Application for Naturalization
• Have been a lawfully admitted permanent resident of the United States for at least five years
• Have demonstrated continuous residence in the United States for at least five years immediately before the date they file Form N-400
• Have been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months out of the five years immediately before the date they file Form N-400
• Have lived for at least three months in a state or USCIS district having jurisdiction over their place of residence
• Show they are a person of good moral character and have been so for at least five years immediately before the date they file Form N-400
• Demonstrate an attachment to the principles and ideals of the U.S. Constitution
• Be able to read, write and speak basic English
• Have knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government (civics)
• Take an Oath of Allegiance to the United States

Certain applicants, because of their age and time as an LPR, do not have to take the English test for naturalisation and may take the civics test in the language of their choice.

LPRs may accept an offer of employment without special restrictions

Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) are non-citizens who are lawfully authorised to live and work in the United States. They are also known as "green card" holders.

LPRs are protected by all the laws of the United States, the state of residence, and local jurisdictions. They can also apply to become U.S. citizens if they meet certain eligibility requirements.

Employment

LPRs can work in the United States without any special restrictions. They are eligible to work in any job, at any level, and in any sector. They are also entitled to the same employment rights and protections as U.S. citizens.

Property Ownership

LPRs can own property in the United States. This includes residential, commercial, and agricultural property. They can buy, sell, and rent property, and they are entitled to the same property rights and protections as U.S. citizens.

Education

LPRs can access higher education in the United States. They are eligible to enrol in public colleges and universities and can receive financial aid. LPRs are also eligible for in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities in the state where they reside.

Armed Forces

LPRs can join the U.S. Armed Forces. They are eligible to serve in any branch of the military and can access the same benefits and opportunities as U.S. citizens.

Travel

LPRs can travel outside the United States, but they must maintain their permanent resident status. They should carry their permanent resident card (green card) when travelling and may need to apply for a re-entry permit if they plan to stay outside the United States for an extended period.

Citizenship

LPRs can become U.S. citizens through a process called naturalisation. To be eligible, they must meet certain requirements, including continuous residence in the United States for at least five years, good moral character, and knowledge of English and U.S. civics.

LPRs may join the U.S. Armed Forces

Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs), also known as "green card" holders, are non-citizens who are lawfully authorised to live in the United States indefinitely. LPRs have many of the same rights as citizens, including the right to join the U.S. Armed Forces.

Joining the U.S. Armed Forces as an LPR

To join the U.S. Armed Forces, LPRs must meet the same requirements as U.S. citizens. For example, to join the Air Force, LPRs must:

• Be between the ages of 17 and 42.
• Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test.
• Pass a physical and mental screening.
• Pass the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (for officers).
• Meet background, health, and other standards set by the Air Force, Department of Defense, and federal law.

Becoming a U.S. Citizen through Military Service

LPRs who join the U.S. Armed Forces may be eligible for naturalisation based on their military service. LPRs can also apply to become U.S. citizens if they meet certain eligibility requirements, including living in the U.S. for five years.

Frequently asked questions