A green card is the identification document that proves a foreign national holds Lawful Permanent Resident status in the United States, with the right to live and work here indefinitely. Officially titled the Permanent Resident Card, or Form I-551, it is issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The nickname comes from the post-World War II era, when the card was printed on green paper; the design cycled through other colors over the decades before the government returned to green in 2010.
Lawful Permanent Resident Status
The card and the status behind it are two different things. Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status is fundamentally different from a temporary visa. Someone on a tourist, student, or work visa has an expiration date and must eventually leave or change status. A green card holder can stay indefinitely, work for virtually any employer, and make the United States home for life.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Green Card The status itself does not expire even though the physical card does. Think of it like a driver’s license: your right to drive doesn’t vanish when the plastic card lapses, but you still need a current one to prove it.
The card contains your photo, name, USCIS number, date of birth, a laser-engraved fingerprint, and an expiration date.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 13.1 List A Documents That Establish Identity and Employment Authorization It counts as a List A document for employment verification, meaning it simultaneously proves both identity and the right to work. Employers who see a valid green card during the I-9 process cannot demand additional paperwork and are not allowed to re-verify your employment authorization later.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Handbook for Employers M-274 – 7.1 Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)
What You Can Do With a Green Card
Green card holders enjoy broad protections under federal, state, and local law. You can live anywhere in the fifty states, work for nearly any employer without separate work authorization, start a business, own real estate, and attend public schools and universities. The Department of Justice specifically prohibits employers from discriminating against lawful permanent residents in hiring based on citizenship status for most positions.4Department of Justice. Lawful Permanent Residents Employment Rights Under the Immigration and Nationality Act Permanent residents also qualify for Social Security numbers, which open the door to banking, credit, and tax filing.5Social Security Administration. Social Security Numbers for U.S. Permanent Residents
What a Green Card Does Not Give You
Permanent residency is not citizenship, and the gap matters in several important areas. Green card holders cannot vote in federal, state, or local elections. Voting illegally as a noncitizen is a deportable offense, so this restriction carries real consequences beyond just losing your status. Certain government jobs that require security clearances are also off-limits to noncitizens.6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Rights and Responsibilities of a Green Card Holder (Permanent Resident) Federal jury service is restricted to U.S. citizens, and most states follow the same rule for state courts. Green card holders also cannot petition for as wide a range of family members as citizens can, and they lack the ability to sponsor parents or married children for immigration.
Responsibilities That Come With the Card
Permanent residents are expected to follow all federal, state, and local laws, just like citizens. A few obligations are specific to green card holders, and tripping over them can jeopardize your status or lead to criminal penalties.
Filing Taxes on Worldwide Income
Federal law requires permanent residents to file income tax returns and report worldwide income to the IRS, including income from foreign bank accounts, trusts, and securities.7Internal Revenue Service. Tax Information and Responsibilities for New Immigrants to the United States Income earned abroad before you moved may not be taxable, but income earned anywhere in the world after you become a resident is. Failing to file can create problems not just with the IRS but also with a future naturalization application, where officers look at tax compliance as part of the moral character evaluation.
Selective Service Registration
Male permanent residents between the ages of 18 and 25 must register with the Selective Service System.8Selective Service System. Who Needs to Register Registration is not a draft notice. It is a legal requirement, and failing to register can disqualify you from naturalization and certain federal benefits later in life. As of 2026, only men are required to register.
Carrying the Card
Federal law requires every permanent resident age 18 and older to carry their green card at all times. Failing to have it on you is technically a misdemeanor that can result in a fine of up to $100, up to 30 days in jail, or both.9Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1304 – Forms for Registration and Fingerprinting Prosecutions for this alone are rare, but the requirement exists and can become relevant during encounters with law enforcement or immigration officials.
Reporting Address Changes
If you move, you must notify USCIS of your new address within 10 days using Form AR-11, which can be filed online.10U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. AR-11, Aliens Change of Address Card The penalty for willful failure to comply can include fines, imprisonment for up to 30 days, and in theory, removal from the country.11Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1305 – Notices of Change of Address
How the Status Can Be Lost
A green card does not make you immune to removal from the country. Permanent residents convicted of certain crimes become deportable, and the list of triggering offenses is broader than most people expect. Drug offenses (including marijuana, even in states where it is legal), firearms violations, domestic violence, fraud, and crimes classified as aggravated felonies can all put your status at risk.12Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1227 – Deportable Aliens An aggravated felony conviction is the most severe trigger. The definition in immigration law is broader than it sounds and includes offenses that are not necessarily felonies under state law, such as certain theft or fraud offenses with a sentence of one year or more, including suspended sentences. Even a single conviction in this category can lead to mandatory removal and a permanent bar on returning.
Extended time abroad can also cost you the status. Trips of less than six months are generally fine. Absences between six months and a year invite additional questioning about whether you still intend to live in the United States permanently.13U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) Frequently Asked Questions Officers look at whether you kept a U.S. address, maintained employment, filed taxes as a resident, and preserved family and community ties here.14U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. International Travel as a Permanent Resident Absences of one year or more create a strong presumption that you have abandoned your residency. If you know you will need to be abroad that long, apply for a reentry permit (Form I-131) before you leave; it is valid for up to two years and protects your ability to return without a special visa.15U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records
How Long the Card Lasts and How to Renew It
Standard green cards are valid for ten years. Conditional green cards, issued to people who obtained residency through a recent marriage or qualifying investment, are valid for only two years.16U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Conditional Permanent Residence
If you have a conditional card based on marriage, file Form I-751 during the 90-day window immediately before your card expires. For an investment-based conditional card, the equivalent form is I-829. Missing this deadline can result in automatic loss of status and removal proceedings.17U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. When to File Your Petition to Remove Conditions
For standard ten-year renewals, file Form I-90 through the USCIS website or by mail. The filing fee is $415 online or $465 by paper.18U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1055 Fee Schedule Once USCIS receives your application, the receipt notice automatically extends your expired card’s validity by 36 months from the printed expiration date, giving you continued proof of status while you wait.19U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Extends Green Card Validity Extension to 36 Months for Green Card Renewals Your underlying legal status does not expire when the card does, but letting the card lapse without filing creates practical headaches at the border and during employment re-verification.
How People Qualify for a Green Card
Federal law caps the number of green cards issued each year and sorts applicants into categories based on how they qualify.20Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1151 – Worldwide Level of Immigration Every pathway requires a medical examination and background checks to confirm the applicant is not inadmissible under federal law.21U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record
U.S. citizens can petition for spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents as “immediate relatives,” a category with no annual cap. Other family relationships, such as married adult children or siblings of citizens, fall into preference categories subject to yearly limits, and wait times can stretch for years or decades depending on the applicant’s country of birth. Lawful permanent residents can also sponsor family members, but only spouses and unmarried children.
Employment-based green cards are divided into five preference tiers covering extraordinary ability, advanced-degree professionals, skilled workers, special categories such as religious workers, and investors. The total annual cap across all employment categories is roughly 140,000 visas.20Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1151 – Worldwide Level of Immigration
Refugees and people granted asylum can apply for a green card after being physically present in the country for at least one year.22U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Green Card for Asylees Finally, the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program makes up to 50,000 green cards available each year to people from countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States, chosen by random selection from millions of entries.23U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Green Card Through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program
From Green Card to Citizenship
A green card is not the final step for most people. It is the prerequisite for naturalization, the process of becoming a U.S. citizen. The general requirement is five years of continuous residence as a permanent resident, or three years if you are married to and living with a U.S. citizen.24U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Continuous Residence and Physical Presence Requirements for Naturalization Applicants must also pass English language and civics tests and demonstrate good moral character during the statutory period. The application is filed on Form N-400, with filing fees generally ranging from $710 to $760, though reduced fees are available for eligible applicants.25U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Additional Information on Filing a Reduced Fee Request