Maintaining your Permanent Resident Status is essential once you achieve it. Therefore, you must meet the requirements that the U.S. laws set to keep your Green Card and not to lose it.
Obviously, one of the easiest ways to lose your Green Card is to abandon your permanent resident status. This happens when you live abroad permanently, so you leave the United States. What is more, you do it to give up your status.
Ways to keep your Green Card
In the first place, you should not leave the United States for a year. Those Green Card holders who are absent for a whole year or longer will not be able to use their Permanent Resident Card to get into the United States.
Only do it for a temporary purpose. For example, to take care of a relative, to work temporarily, or to attend school. Sometimes you are abroad and your stay needs to be delayed unexpectedly.
Then, you will have to provide officers with compelling reasons for the delay. Another way to keep your Green Card is to file your federal income tax returns. And if applicable, any local or state tax return.
Are you a male of 18-26 Green Card holder?
If you are between the ages of 18 and 26 and you are a male, you will need to register with the Selective Service. Bear in mind that this is a simple process and it can be completed online at: https://www.sss.gov/
Now, regardless of your age or gender, you must give your new address to USCIS within ten days of each time you move. In this way, they can easily reach you if they need to do so.
Last, but not least, you should take good care of the important documents you have brought from your country. Make sure they are in a safe place. For example, a birth certificate, a passport, marriage or divorce certificate, diplomas to prove skills or training.
