The U.S green card allows you to live and work in the country permanently. However, this does not mean that you cannot be removed from the country if you violate the terms of your visa. In fact, the U.S deports thousands of permanent residents each year.
Besides the failure to renew the green card, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) outlines grounds upon which non-citizens, including green card holders, can be removed from the country. Here are some of them:
When you commit fraud during the application
It is important that you are as forthright as possible during your green card application. If you lie about certain information, it is likely the USCIS will uncover the truth. When this happens, your green card will be revoked, and you will be automatically removed from the country. An example of fraud would be a situation where a foreign national marries a U.S citizen for the sole purpose of gaining residency rights. This is known as marriage fraud. If this is established, then the culprit’s residency status will be revoked.
When you commit certain crimes
Not all criminal offenses will trigger the revocation of your green card. However, committing certain crimes could lead to your removal from the country. Some of these crimes include voluntary manslaughter, kidnapping, murder, aggravated assault, rape and child abuse.
When you abandon your visa
Abandonment can happen in two ways. First, you can voluntarily surrender your permanent residency status and thereafter leave the country. Secondly, you can be deemed to have abandoned your green card if you travel out of the U.S and stay abroad for over 12 months. If you stay out of the country for more than two years, you will be required to apply for a re-entry permit.
The process of obtaining a U.S green card is grueling. Once you obtain your green card, it is important that you do everything in your power to protect it from revocation.