A green card gives lasting status, but it is not unconditional. Permanent residents can lose status in a handful of specific ways, most of which involve a legal process rather than an automatic loss. Knowing them helps people avoid the most common and preventable problems.
1. Abandoning residence
Living outside the United States, rather than just traveling, can lead to a finding that the person abandoned permanent residence. There is no fixed number of days, but long absences raise the risk and change procedures at the border. Absences of a year or more without a re-entry permit generally make the green card unusable as an entry document. Our detailed guide covers time outside the United States, and USCIS explains the rules on its travel page for permanent residents.
2. Removal for criminal conduct and other grounds
Permanent residents can be placed in Removal proceedingsThe formal court process, formerly called deportation, in which the government seeks to remove a noncitizen from the United States.See it in the glossary if they become deportable under section 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Grounds include certain criminal convictions, such as aggravated felonies, crimes involving moral turpitude within set time limits, controlled substance offenses, firearms offenses and domestic violence offenses. Other grounds include fraud, false claims to U.S. citizenship and voting unlawfully.
Removal requires a proceeding before an Immigration judgeAn attorney appointed by the Attorney General who presides over removal proceedings in immigration court, part of the Executive Office for Immigration Review.See it in the glossary, with a right to present defenses and apply for relief, such as Cancellation of removalA form of relief in which an immigration judge can cancel a removal order (INA 240A). For green card holders it generally requires at least 5 years as a permanent resident, 7 years of continuous residence after admission in any status, and no aggravated felony conviction. For others it generally requires 10 years of continuous physical presence, good moral character, no disqualifying convictions, and exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse, parent or child.See it in the glossary for eligible long-term residents. Criminal cases can have immigration consequences that are not obvious, so permanent residents facing any charge should get immigration advice before resolving it. Our news coverage includes a September 2026 Board of Immigration Appeals precedent change affecting how aggravated felonies are treated.
3. Fraud or ineligibility at the time of approval
If the green card should not have been granted, for example because of fraud or a missed ineligibility, the government has tools to take it back. Within five years of adjustment, USCIS can seek rescission under section 246. Fraud can also be a basis for removal at any time. Marriage fraud carries particularly serious consequences, discussed in our marriage guide.
4. Failing to remove conditions
Conditional permanent residentA green card holder whose status is valid for two years, typically through a recent marriage or an EB-5 investment, and who must file to remove the conditions before it expires.See it in the glossary, generally spouses married less than two years at approval and EB-5 investors, receive two-year cards. Spouses must file Form I-751Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence. A conditional permanent resident who received a 2-year green card through marriage files it to have the conditions removed. A joint petition with the spouse must be filed within the 90 days before the conditional card expires, while a request to waive the joint filing requirement can be filed at other times. If no petition is filed, conditional resident status ends automatically after two years.See it in the glossary in the 90 days before the card expires, and investors file Form I-829. If they do not file, or USCIS denies the petition, conditional status terminates and the person may be placed in removal proceedings. See conditional versus unconditional spousal green cards.
5. Voluntarily giving it up
A permanent resident can abandon status voluntarily by filing Form I-407. CBP officers sometimes present this form to returning residents after long absences. Signing is voluntary, and a person who disagrees that they abandoned residence can ask for the question to be decided by an immigration judge.
What does not end permanent residence by itself
- An expired card. The 10-year card is proof of status, not the status itself. Status continues, but you should renew on Form I-90 to have valid proof.
- Losing a job that sponsored the green card, after approval.
- Divorce after an unconditional green card was granted.
- A policy change. Status generally cannot be removed without legal process, as covered in what a new administration can and cannot do.
Obligations that protect status
- File U.S. tax returns as a resident. Filing as a nonresident can be treated as evidence of abandonment.
- Report address changes within 10 days, as explained in our moving guide.
- Do not claim to be a U.S. citizen or vote in federal elections.
- Get advice before pleading to any criminal charge.
- Plan long trips with a re-entry permit.
Naturalization ends the risk of most of these
Becoming a citizen removes the risks of abandonment and most removal grounds, though citizenship obtained by fraud can be revoked in federal court. See naturalization versus renewing a green card.
Renewing and replacing the card
Green cards for unconditional residents are usually valid for ten years. Renew on Form I-90 within six months before expiration, or replace a lost, stolen or damaged card. An expired card does not end status, but it can cause problems with employers, travel and state agencies. USCIS may issue a receipt notice that extends the card’s validity while renewal is pending; check the current notice terms.
Why records matter
If status is ever questioned, the permanent resident will need to show their history: entry records, tax returns, employment and residence evidence, and court records for any criminal case. Keeping organized records is one of the simplest ways to protect status.
Travel and the border
Permanent residents returning from abroad are inspected like other travelers, although most are admitted quickly. Officers may ask about long absences or criminal history. A permanent resident can be placed in removal proceedings after inspection if a ground of InadmissibilityA finding that a person is not eligible for a visa, admission or a green card under the grounds listed in INA 212(a). The grounds cover health, crimes, security, public charge, misrepresentation, unlawful presence, prior removal and others. Some grounds can be waived.See it in the glossary applies, even if they have lived in the United States for years. This is another reason to get advice about any criminal matter before traveling.
Common questions
Does a DUI make me lose my green card?
A single simple DUI generally is not a deportable offense by itself, but aggravating factors or related charges can change that. Get advice on the specific statute and facts.
Can USCIS take my green card without a hearing?
In most cases, loss of status requires a proceeding. Voluntary abandonment by signing Form I-407 is an important exception, which is why permanent residents should not sign it without understanding it.
What if my green card expired while I was abroad?
An expired card is not proof of loss of status, but airlines and officers may need a valid document. Contact the nearest U.S. consulate; the length of the absence also matters.
Can I lose my green card for receiving public benefits?
Deportability for Public chargeA ground of inadmissibility for applicants an officer finds likely at any time to become a public charge. For Form I-485 filings on or after September 18, 2026, USCIS guidance lets officers weigh a wider range of means-tested public benefits, not only cash assistance.See it in the glossary is rare and narrow. The public charge test mainly affects admission and adjustment, not people who are already permanent residents.