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Permanent Resident

You do not directly apply for an immigrant visa number. USCIS will tell the person who filed the immigrant visa petition (the petitioner) if it is approved. USCIS will then send the approved visa petition to the Department of State's National Visa Center, where it will remain until an immigrant visa number is available. The Center will notify you (the beneficiary of the application) when the visa petition is received and again when an immigrant visa number is available.

The immigration process, however, does not stop when you finally get the nod to lawfully enter the US as an immigrant. It is in fact only the beginning. As a permanent resident, you are expected to respect and be loyal to the US and to obey the country’s laws. Being a permanent resident is a privilege and not a right. The US government can take away your permanent resident status under certain conditions.

What you do as a permanent resident upon your arrival can affect your ability to become a US citizen later.

As a permanent resident of the US, you have the right to:

• Live and work permanently anywhere in the US;
• Apply to become a US citizen once you are eligible;
• Request a visa for your husband or wife and unmarried children to live in the US;
• Get Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, and Medicare benefits, if you are eligible;
• Own property in the US;
• Apply for a driver’s license in your state or territory;
• Leave and return to the US under certain conditions;
• Attend public school and college;
• Join certain branches of the US Armed Forces; and
• Purchase or own a firearm as long as there are no state or local restrictions saying you can’t.

As a permanent resident, it is your responsibility to:

• Obey all federal, state and local laws;
• Pay federal, state and local income taxes;
• Register with the Selective Service (US Armed Forces), if you are a male between ages 18 and 26;
• Maintain your immigration status;
• Carry proof of your permanent resident status at all times; and
• Give your new address in writing to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) within 10 days of each time you move.

Permanent residents are issued a valid Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) as proof of their legal status in the United States. Some people call this a “Green Card.” This card is valid for 10 years and must be renewed before it expires. The Permanent Resident Card shows that you are allowed to live and work in the United States. This card can also be used to re-enter the US. If you are outside the US for more than 12 months, you will need to show additional documentation to re-enter the US as a permanent resident.

As a permanent resident, you can get a Social Security Number (SSN). A Social Security number is a number assigned to you by the United States government. It helps the government keep track of your earnings and the benefits you get. It is also used by banks and other agencies, such as schools, to identify you. You may be asked for your SSN when you rent an apartment or buy a home. The government department in charge of Social Security is called the Social Security Administration.

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