Apply For Green Card

An individual, who is a non-citizen and has been given permission to live in the United Sates permanently is a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR). If you are an LPR who has a green card, in order to maintain your status or be able to eventually apply for Naturalization, you must abide by the law. In other words: Stay out of trouble.

What that means is you must not get yourself involved in any criminal activity. Certain types of criminal offenses can result in you being removed (deported), especially if there is a conviction.

Grounds for removal of a green card holder include convictions for the following:

• Firearm or Destructive Device offense;
• Domestic Violence, Stalking, Child Abuse, or Violation of a Domestic Violence Injunction or other Protective Order
• Controlled Drugs, except a single offense of simple possession of Marijuana- 30mg. or less;
• Aggravated Felony, which includes-Murder,Sexual Battery- Rape Sexual Abuse of a Minor,Failure to Register as a Sex Offender,Trafficking in Drugs or Firearms, Sentence of at least ONE (1) or more years in prison
• Crime of Violence
• Theft or Burglary
• Obstruction of Justice or Perjury
• Forgery or Counterfeiting
• Commercial Bribery
• Fraud or Tax Evasion
• Prostitution Business
• Federal Offenses- including money laundering, human trafficking,
• failure to register as a sex offender, firearms trafficking or other firearms
• offenses;
• Attempt or conspiracy to commit any of the above offenses;
• Offenses listed in 8 USC 1101(a)(43) and being convicted of attempt or conspiracy of these offenses.

If you are an LPR holding a valid Green Card and have been here for many years, think twice before getting involved in any type of criminal activity. Remember, even if you have been here for many years, but commit an Aggravated Felony, you could become removable regardless of whether you receive prison time or not.