Green card holders are not US citizens and are not eligible to vote in any elections.
A whole new set of laws becomes applicable when an individual obtains his green card in the United States after years of waiting and after doing a lot of paperwork. Many green card holders have problems when they claim themselves as US citizens and think they can vote, but a green card only makes an individual a legal permanent resident of the country and not a US citizen.
Immigration attorney Moumita Rahman explained what happens after a person obtains a green card in the United States.
What a green card holder can do
- The green card holder becomes eligible for US citizenship. If you obtained your green card through marriage to a US citizen and continue to live with your spouse, you can apply for naturalization after three years, which is five years for other categories.
- A green card holder can petition for other family members, unmarried adult children, etc. Unlike US citizens, a green card holder’s relatives are not considered family members and although a green card holder can apply for a relative, their approval will depend on visa availability.
- As a green card holder, you are no longer tied to your employer. You can switch jobs, switch fields. But one must be careful about leaving an employer who sponsored an employment-based green card immediately after approval.
- A green card holder is allowed to establish a company, hire employees, and purchase commercial real estate.
What a green card holder cannot do
- Green card holders are not allowed to vote in any elections. It does not matter how many years the green card holder has lived in the United States. Pay taxes etc
- Green card holders cannot serve on jury duty. If anyone receives any notice of jury duty, they must inform the authorities that they are not a US citizen but a green card holder.
- You cannot claim to be a US citizen in any way. Never check the box on any form as it will cause problems.
What should a green card holder do?
- File taxes every year like a US citizen. Must be filed as a U.S. tax resident and not a non-resident alien. A green card holder must report his or her global income.
- You must update your addresses with USCIS within 10 days when you move, even if it is across the street.
- If your green card has any conditions, you must remove the conditions.
- Renew your green card before it expires.
- Males between the ages of 18 and 25 must register for Selective Service within 30 days after turning 18 or within 30 days after receiving their green card – whichever comes first
- You must be physically present in the United States for six months.
