What can you not do with a green card?

Limitations include:
  • Green card holders do not have the right to vote.
  • Green card holders do not have as high a priority in sponsoring other family members for green cards as U.S. citizens.
  • Green cards themselves are non-transferrable and are not automatically extended to children born outside the United States.
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What does a green card allow you to do?

Having a Green Card (officially known as a Permanent Resident Card (PDF, 1.69 MB) allows you to live and work permanently in the United States. The steps you must take to apply for a Green Card will vary depending on your individual situation.
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How long can I stay out of the U.S. with a green card?

Absences of more than 365 consecutive days

You must apply for a re-entry permit (Form I-131) before you leave the United States, or your permanent residence status will be considered abandoned. A re-entry permit enables you to be abroad for up to two years.
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Can you go anywhere with a green card?

Yes, you can travel abroad as a green card holder — that's one of the many benefits of being a permanent resident. However, your trip must be temporary and you cannot remain outside the United States for more than 1 year.
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What can take away your green card?

5 Ways To Lose Your Green Card and Permanent Resident Status
  • Reside Outside of the US. ...
  • Voluntary Surrender of Your Green Card. ...
  • Fraud and/or Willful Misrepresentation. ...
  • Being Convicted of a Crime. ...
  • Failure to Remove Conditions on Residence. ...
  • Losing Your Green Card Due to Deportation. ...
  • Vote as a Supposed US Citizen.
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3 reasons I will never want a Green Card



What are the limitations of a green card?

What Are Some Limitations of Having a Green Card?
  • You cannot vote in U.S. elections.
  • You have a lower priority than U.S. citizens when sponsoring family members for green cards.
  • Your green card is not transferable. ...
  • You cannot run for political office in the United States.
  • You can't get a U.S. passport with a green card.
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What is the six month rule for green card?

As a general rule, permanent residents should avoid any trips abroad of 6 months or longer. If you travel for over 6 months (but less than a year) at one time, USCIS will automatically presume that you've broken your continuous residence requirement for the purposes of naturalization.
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Can you go to Mexico with a green card?

To answer your initial question: Yes. You can go to Mexico with a Green Card but without a visa. You only need to apply for a Mexico tourist card if you plan to stay for more than 72 hours and/or travel more than 12 km from the border.
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Can you travel to Mexico with a green card and no passport?

Green Card holders hold the right to live and work in the United States permanently without restriction. They have the same rights as any US citizen, even when traveling outside the United States. Therefore any green card holder who plans to go to Mexico needs a valid passport from their country of origin.
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Which countries can you visit with a US green card?

Here are the countries that Green Card Holders can visit without a visa:
  • Canada.
  • Mexico.
  • Costa Rica.
  • Georgia.
  • The British Virgin Islands.
  • Aruba and Curaçao.
  • The Balkans.
  • Singapore.
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Can a green card holder be denied entry to us?

The same is true for lawful permanent residents: you generally cannot be denied entry to the United States, but declining to answer questions may result in delay or further inspection. Refusal by non-citizen visa holders and visitors to answer questions may result in denial of entry.
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How long can a U.S. citizen stay in Mexico?

General Information. A visitor visa allows you to stay in Mexico for a period of up to 180 days, provided that you are not carrying out any paid activities.
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Can I enter US with green card only?

In fact, lawful permanent residents do not need a passport to re-enter the United States — their green card alone is sufficient identification at US ports of entry. However, only valid green cards are accepted for re-entry into the United States.
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What rights do US green card holders have?

LPRs may accept an offer of employment without special restrictions, own property, receive financial assistance at public colleges and universities, and join the Armed Forces. They also may apply to become U.S. citizens if they meet certain eligibility requirements.
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Can green card be used as ID?

Proof of Identity

If you are a lawfully present non-U.S. citizen, acceptable documents include: Unexpired Employment Authorization Card (EAD) issued by DHS; Forms I-766 or Form 1-688B. Valid, Unexpired Permanent Resident Card I-551 Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) Issued by DHS or INS.
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Can you go on a cruise with a green card?

If you are a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) of the United States the U.S. government does not require you to have a passport for any travel, including air, land, or sea travel, however, you are even more likely to be required by your destination country to have one.
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Can I go to Canada with green card?

As of April 26, 2022, lawful permanent residents of the U.S. must show the following documents for all methods of travel to Canada: a valid passport from their country of nationality (or an equivalent acceptable travel document) and. a valid green card (or equivalent valid proof of status in the United States)
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Can I come back to US from Mexico with green card?

If you are a U.S. green card holder (lawful permanent resident), the right to travel outside the U.S. and return to your newfound U.S. home is one of the privileges that comes with your status as an immigrant.
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Do Mexicans need a green card?

To become a lawful permanent resident of the United States, one must obtain a Green Card . Most immigrants will do so through employment , through family sponsorship , or by being an immediate relative of a US citizen, the latter being most common among Mexican immigrants.
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Can I stay on green card forever?

A green card provides many advantages, primarily that it allows the green card holder to permanently live and work in the United States, and after a number of years, become a U.S. citizen.
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What happens if I stay more than 1 year outside US with green card?

If you stay outside of the United States for 1 year or more and did not apply for a reentry permit before you left, you may be considered to have abandoned your permanent resident status. If this happens, you may be referred to appear before an immigration judge to decide whether or not you have abandoned your status.
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How often do you have to come to the US to keep your green card?

How Long Can I Be Absent From the U.S.? Leaving the United States for less than six months is usually not a problem. An absence of six to 12 months triggers heightened USCIS scrutiny, and an absence of more than 12 months leads to a “rebuttable presumption” that LPR status has been abandoned.
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How powerful is a green card?

A green card gives its holder the legal right to live and work in the U.S. on a permanent basis (as long as they abide by certain terms). You can apply for many government jobs with a green card, though some are reserved for U.S. citizens. Green card holders also receive various health, educational, and other benefits.
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What is the 5 year rule for green card?

All green card holders, as long as they meet key conditions, can apply for U.S. citizenship after five years (known as the “five-year rule”) — but those with a U.S. spouse and a green card through marriage can apply after only three years (known as the “three-year rule”).
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What is the 4 year 1 day rule for US citizenship?

The 4 year 1 day rule mostly works as follows. Once you've broken continuous residency, a new period will begin to run on the first day you return to the U.S. Form the day you must stay in the U.S. for a minimum of 4 years and 1 day before you can apply for naturalization again.
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