Permanent resident status (green card) can indeed be “permanent” . . . but it is not guaranteed. A green card can be revoked in certain situations. The following are some of the most common ways in which a person can have their green card taken away.
- Criminal Activity: Committing certain crimes can have devastating consequences for permanent residents. Offenses that can lead to the loss of a green card and deportation are drug offenses (including marijuana), domestic violence, firearms offenses, and other crimes involving “moral turpitude” (a general term to describe acts that are morally reprehensible and intrinsically wrong).
- Conditional Permanent Residence: Many people are granted permanent resident status on a conditional basis. A conditional green card is only valid for two years. Failing to remove the conditions on a green card can result in the termination of conditional residency and possible deportation.
- False Claim to U.S. Citizenship: Perhaps the worst thing a non-U.S. citizen can do is falsely claim to be a U.S. citizen. Permanent residents are just that – permanent residents – and NOT U.S. citizens. A false claim to U.S. citizenship is a serious offense and frequently results in deportation.
- Lengthy Absences from the U.S.: Green card holders who remain outside of the United States for long periods of time risk abandoning their permanent resident status. In general, trips outside the U.S. for less than six months are permitted. A trip of six months to one year may trigger increased scrutiny at the border, so the permanent resident should have a reasonable explanation for the lengthy trip. Trips of one year or more will likely result in a determination that you have abandoned your permanent resident status unless you have a re-entry permit.
