What to Do After Getting a Green Card?

Receiving a Green Card is a significant milestone for anyone who wants to live legally in the United States. It represents a chance to build a new life, with stability, security, and opportunities.

However, it’s important to understand that a Green Card also comes with tax, legal, and immigration responsibilities that must be handled carefully. Ignoring these rules can put your permanent residency and even your path to U.S. citizenship - at risk.

In this guide, you’ll learn what to do after receiving your Green Card and how to stay compliant with the law to live peacefully in the U.S.

Table of Content

You become a U.S. tax resident: what does it mean?

Reporting global income and assets is mandatory

Traveling abroad: how to avoid losing your Green Card

About Murtaz Law

You Become a U.S. Tax Resident: What Does That Mean?

Once you obtain your Green Card, you are automatically considered a U.S. tax resident, even if you still have financial or family ties in other countries.

This means:

• You must file an annual income tax return in the U.S. using IRS Form 1040;

• You must report all global income, including wages, rent, investments, and business profits, regardless of where they are earned;

• You must follow U.S. tax laws, which differ from those in many other countries.

Each case is unique. If you earn income or hold assets outside the U.S., it’s strongly recommended to work with a tax advisor experienced in international taxation, who understands IRS requirements and can guide you in building the best strategy.

Reporting Global Income and Assets Is Mandatory

Unlike many countries, the United States requires tax residents - including Green Card holders -to report foreign income and assets.

Key requirements include:

• FBAR (Foreign Bank Account Report): must be filed if your total foreign bank accounts exceed $10,000;

• FATCA (Form 8938): used to report foreign-held assets such as real estate, investments, companies, and more;

• Passive income like rent, dividends, and business profits earned outside the U.S.

This requires careful planning, especially since the U.S. does not have broad tax treaties with many countries. This means you could be taxed twice without proper coordination.

A qualified tax advisor helps you:

• Avoid penalties for noncompliance or omission;

• Benefit from tax credits that reduce or eliminate double taxation;

• Keep your immigration status safe and transparent.

In addition to fulfilling your legal duties, filing taxes in the U.S. is also a way to prove you are maintaining effective residence in the country—a crucial point, especially for those who:

• Travel internationally frequently;

• Conduct business or maintain ties in more than one country;

• Plan to apply for U.S. citizenship.

Proof of ties to the U.S. may be required for document renewals, re-entry after long trips, or during immigration reviews.

Staying current with your documentation shows U.S. authorities that you genuinely live in the country, contribute to the tax system, and are committed to your new life as a lawful permanent resident.

Also read: The 2 Best States to Live in the USA in 2025

Traveling Abroad: How to Avoid Losing Your Green Card

Many Green Card holders believe they can leave the U.S. for as long as they want—but this is not true. Extended stays abroad can be interpreted as abandoning your permanent residence, which may lead to losing your Green Card.

Here’s a general breakdown of travel durations and associated risks:

• Up to 6 months: typically accepted without issue, but it's best to keep documentation proving ties to the U.S.;

• 6 to 12 months: may trigger questions from immigration officers, especially if it becomes a pattern;

• 12 months or more: usually results in loss of your Green Card, unless you obtained a Reentry Permit before leaving.

To protect your permanent residency:

• Avoid long trips abroad without a clear reason;

• Apply for a Reentry Permit if you plan to be away for more than 6 months;

• Keep documents like utility bills, tax returns, lease agreements, or property deeds in the U.S.

U.S. immigration enforcement has become more rigorous. It’s essential to be prepared to prove that you maintain real residence and ties to the United States.

Getting a Green Card is an important step, but keeping it requires continuous attention to your tax, immigration, and legal obligations.

If you’re unsure about how to meet these requirements - or need help building your immigration strategy - our team is here to guide you.

At Murtaz Law, we offer strategic, personalized support backed by years of real-world experience in U.S. immigration law.

Click here to contact us and have your profile evaluated for free by our team.

We’re ready to walk this path with you with clarity, confidence, and responsibility.

About Murtaz Law

With more than a decade of experience, we take pride in guiding families and individuals on their journey to legally immigrate to the USA, whether temporarily or permanently.

Our success story spans a variety of cases, including temporary immigration, family reunification, naturalization, and especially, work visas like the EB2-NIW, which leads to the Green Card. Over the years, we have built a solid reputation and become a reference for skilled professionals, artists, and elite athletes who wish to expand their careers or undertake ventures in the USA.

Our 99.5% approval rate in cases demonstrates our commitment to a personalized approach, combining ethics, creativity, and deep knowledge of the laws and economic issues. We recognize that each client has a unique story and work side by side, individually, to create tailored strategies that achieve the desired outcomes. We take the importance of our work in our clients' lives seriously. Your future deserves a unique strategy, and we at Murtaz Law have the experience and expertise to meet your immigration needs.