Immigrating to the United States and becoming a permanent resident can open up all sorts of doors for your future. You will have new rights that you wouldn’t have had previously. This is one of the main reasons that people choose to immigrate.
At the same time, your new status comes with obligations and responsibilities. It’s very important to know what these are so that you don’t accidentally violate any terms or legal requirements.
New rights
To start with, here are some of the rights that a permanent resident will have:
- You can live anywhere within the United States, and you can own property.
- Depending on your age, you can attend public school or legally work.
- You can join the military.
- You can get a driver’s license.
- You can receive certain benefits if you’re eligible, such as Medicare or Social Security.
- You can use your status to sponsor others, such as certain family members, to live in the United States.
These are just a few of the benefits you may gain once you immigrate.
New responsibilities
As noted above, though, there are many obligations, such as:
- You have to pay taxes at the federal, state and local levels.
- You have to obey all applicable laws.
- You have to notify USCIS if you move.
- You need to obtain proper paperwork and proof of your status.
If you violate some of these regulations—such as breaking state laws—you could put yourself at risk for deportation and the loss of your status.
Immigrating can be both challenging and rewarding. As you go through this process, be sure you know exactly what legal steps to take.