With my very best wishes to those of you waiting for your GC, this thread is created for the lucky among us who received it recently. I am putting together a list of things to do, and not do, to maintain our freshly minted PR status, which should also help during future citizenship application. The list is mostly about little things that others have learned from experience (and I am learning from their experience, by reading in immigration-related forums such as IV). The more obvious things that can be found for example in USCIS handbook (http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/M-618.pdf) are not included here. Below is a snapshot of what I have gleaned from Internet so far, and please add your own input(s):
LIST of DO’s :
1. Carry the original PR card on your person at all times (e.g. in your wallet), keep photocopies in different places, and also store A# on your computers. Note: This is a contentious issue (do a google on “carry green card” and see for yourself), despite being required by law (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=fe17e6b0eb13d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCR Dvgnextchannel=4f719c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1 RCRD). Some people are naturally worried about losing wallet and the eventual hassle of replacing the lost card (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=b3f7ab0a43b5d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCR Dvgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1 RCRD), whereas others, including me, prefer to follow the law, in case I am suddenly asked to produce evidence of my legal status (e.g. in some border states, or unforeseen events, such as being involved in an out-of-state car accident where showing my DL might just not be enough). Failure to comply may result in, at best a fine, and at worst detention for breaking a law. (See comments by InTheMoment below for additional perspectives.)
2. Retain all original copies of USCIS documents related to your legal status during the entire period of stay in USA, and shred all photocopies (except when you have a photocopy but not its original).
3. Retain all employment-related documents, particularly original copies of appointment letters.
4. Retain copies of all tax return forms from the year of your first entry, or (at least) previous 10 years (you can request IRS (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf), or your professional tax preparer, for any missing copy).
5. Maintain a detailed log of USA exit/entry, including dates, POE and countries traveled, beginning with the day of first entry.
6. Maintain a detailed list of all legal troubles, including minor traffic infractions such as speeding violations (ignore parking violations, because they do not constitute legal “detention”), going as far back as possible. Keep copies of all relevant court papers, traffic tickets, proof of any payment (e.g. scanned copies of personal checks used, credit card statements), and so on.
7. Update your social security card (http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.html) to remove any restrictive clause about work authorization printed on it. Note: AFAIK, the procedure changes nothing as far as your privileges go, and some of you may not even have such a clause on your SS card (I don’t have it either).
8. Return your I-94 cards to POE on your next trip outside USA, to “close the open files” on your past travels (I do not know what it means though). Note: AFAIK, this is also not required, and besides, you should have the chance to do this while applying for citizenship.
9. Renew DL to get rid of the annoying “Temporary” word (in case you are in one of those states that do this).
10. Update your status with your employer by filing new I-9 form (thanks to InTheMoment for this point).
11. Continue to inform USCIS (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=c1a94154d7b3d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCR D) about change of address within 10 days of moving, as before (thanks to seahawks for this point).
12. Keep a list of current and past residential addresses, including dates of stay. Retain all leases/ownership documents.
13. Remember the basics: Initiate your GC/passport renewal process at least 6 months before expiry/Intl travel (Thanks to pappu for this point.)
14. And yes, move the family first commitment at the top of your must-do list, now that you have less worry about re-entry, and make that long-delayed trip home to see your old folks one more time. (I am visiting my 83-yr old Dad, who still has more hair than I do, and less gray too, in June.)
LIST of DONOT’s :
1. Do not sign up for voter registration card. In particular, never vote in national/state/local elections that are open only to citizens, because this is also a law (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=fe17e6b0eb13d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCR Dvgnextchannel=4f719c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1 RCRD). Even an accidental mistake (e.g. voting out of ignorance) is a serious offense, which would not only derail your future citizenship plan, but may even result in deportation.
2. Do not develop a pattern of frequent and/or long absences from USA, unless you have taken prior permission for valid reasons (e.g., studying abroad, medical emergencies etc). Otherwise you may face trouble at POE on your next re-entry attempt, because DHS has become stricter in recent times about possible misuse of PR status, and POE folks are now trained to spot such patterns.
3. Do not switch job soon after getting GC. This is one of the most discussed, but least understood, issues because no one seems to agree on “how soon is soon”. The rule of thumb appears to be “6 months”, and a safer bet is “1 year” (here is a thread (http://forums.immigration.com/showthread.php?t=154533) on another forum). This again relates to USCIS being increasingly sensitive to possible misuse of PR status, and this question will come up during your citizenship application process. (But, as InTheMoment points out below, the issue becomes moot if you invoke AC21.)
4. Those of us who self-sponsored our GC via NIW or EB1A route are not bound by such employer-employee commitment, but you should continue working in “similar areas of expertise” that you claimed in your NIW/EB1A petition, and preferably on a longer time scale.
Thanks to the folks below whose inputs keep the list growing.
Cheers,
Stuck(no more)InTheMuck
Just One more in DOs.
File AR-11 whenever you move.
