How long is a Green Card Valid?

If you have immigration documents, you must know the expiration dates on these documents before your time for being in the country expires. This is the best reason to hire an immigration attorney in Sugarland Texas so that he or she can help you understand everything that is written in your documents.

How Long Is a Green Card Valid?

You will obtain permanent residency through a green card. It allows you to remain in the United States for an indefinite period of time. While you are here, it allows you to work. The first time that you were issued a green card, it was only meant to be valid for approximately two years. In order for you to remain in the country for a longer period of time, you must apply for a permanent residence visa. You can only do this if you are still eligible to apply for permanent residency. You must also not have been convicted of any criminal offenses. Once you are approved for this visa, it may be valid for as long as 10 years.

Becoming a Naturalized Citizen

After you have been approved for a green card, you may wish to become a permanent resident by obtaining U.S. citizenship. Before you can do this, you must have lived in the United States 50% of the time that you held your green card. You cannot have been outside of the United States for more than 365 days. You must also not have been convicted of a serious crime of moral turpitude.

What Is a Crime of Moral Turpitude?

This is not a crime for which you will be tried and convicted. It is a term that the federal government uses to describe a number of offenses. A crime of moral turpitude can be a misdemeanor or a felony, and it doesn’t matter how long your prison sentence was for this crime. Those determining whether a crime that you may have committed is a crime of moral turpitude will be in the relevant agencies or the U.S. courts.

Basically, a crime of moral turpitude is considered to be a crime that is particularly heinous. The crime must have been committed with evil intent or just recklessness. Some crimes that fit this description include the following:

• Murder
• Voluntary manslaughter
• Sometimes, involuntary manslaughter
• Rape
• Animal fighting
• Spousal abuse

Green Card Eligibility

Before you apply for a green card, you must ensure that you are eligible first. You may be eligible under eight different categories, including registry, victims of abuse, human trafficking and crime victims, refugee or asylee status, special immigrant, employment and family. You may be eligible under several other categories as well.

Hire a Sugarland Immigration Law Firm

Applying for a green card requires that you hire an immigration attorney in Sugarland Texas. The process can be complicated, but a Sugarland green card attorney can help you understand all of the rules and regulations behind the process. It can be easy to inadvertently break a rule during this time, but Sugarland immigration attorneys will make sure that you know everything that you are required to do so that you don’t jeopardize your chances of obtaining a green card.

At the law offices of Esani & Momin P.C., we will help you from the beginning until the end. This may mean that you will receive a decision that you were hoping that wouldn’t receive. Your application may be denied, but we may be able to help you appeal this decision. In some instances, it is possible to reopen your case. Our Sugarland immigration lawyers will continue with your case until all of your options have been exhausted. Give us a call today.