What should I do after I get my green card?

[blackedge 0]

My marriage-based AOS was recently approved and I received my green card in the mail, but I'm surprised that the package came with barely any instructions! What should I do now?

1. I noticed that my green card expires in 2 years' time... what should I do as my green card draws close to the expiry date? Is there a form that I am supposed to file? The IO at my interview mentioned briefly about some form or interview that I will have to do in 2 years' time, but I didn't receive any instructions in my AOS approval/green card package.

2. Is there anything else I should do immediately besides apply for my SSN?

3. My effective income is $0 now... Is there some government subsidy for medical care that I should apply for? Medicare/Medicaid?

4. I received a census form asking for my party allegiance etc. Is there anything else I need to do with regards to voting etc.?

5. What about jury duty? Do I wait for it to come to me?

6. I have yet to set up myself with a job here and I don't have an SSN yet. In the meantime, tax season is drawing close... Am I supposed to file some tax form for this tax year? The forms seem to require an SSN but I might get mine too late for the tax filing deadlines... is the IRS going to keep track of me when I don't even have an SSN yet? What should I do if I miss the deadline?

7. About (4), (5) and (6), where am I supposed to update the government agencies on my whereabouts? What if I changed my residential address - how are they going to mail me about these matters?

I hope answers on this thread will help other people who just completed their AOS process! Thanks!

[Hypnos 6,578]

1) 90 days before your conditional green card expires you should file an I-751 seeking to remove your conditional permanent resident status. You will need to include proof of a bona fide marriage with your application.

2) Dance the macarena.

3) You can use http://www.healthcare.gov site to see if you qualify for subsidised healthcare.

4) There is no census right now. It's done every ten years and was last carried out in 2010, meaning it won't be done again until 2020. You may have received a voter registration form; it is imperative that you do not complete this form or mail it in. Only US citizens can vote in American elections, and a false claim of US citizenship by an alien (such as by registering to vote) can lead to your deportation, since there is no waiver available and it is a lifetime bar from the US.

5) This is the other thing reserved solely for US citizens. You should not receive a summons to sit on a jury, but if you ever do just contact the clerk of the relevant court immediately and tell them you are not a US citizen and are therefore ineligible to serve on a jury.

6) If you have no income then you are unlikely to need to file taxes.

7) Upon permanently moving to another address you need to file an AR-11 (change of address) form with USCIS; you can do this online or mail it in. You must do this within 30 days of moving, and willfully failing to do so is a federal crime.

Edited February 24, 2014 by Hypnos

[CCB 3]

1. I-751

3. What about your spouse's income?

4. You cant vote

5. Wait for it

6. Filed jointly with your spouse since you did not earn any income. You should receives your SSN in a week or two after applying so you should be ok

[blackedge 0]

1) 90 days before your conditional green card expires you should file an I-751 seeking to remove your conditional permanent resident status. You will need to include proof of a bona fide marriage with your application.

2) Dance the macarena.

3) You can use http://www.healthcare.gov site to see if you qualify for subsidised healthcare.

4) There is no census right now. It's done every ten years and was last carried out in 2010, meaning it won't be done again until 2020. You may have received a voter registration form; it is imperative that you do not complete this form or mail it in. Only US citizens can vote in American elections, and a false claim of US citizenship by an alien (such as by registering to vote) can lead to your deportation, since there is no waiver available and it is a lifetime bar from the US.

5) This is the other thing reserved solely for US citizens. You should not receive a summons to sit on a jury, but if you ever do just contact the clerk of the relevant court immediately and tell them you are not a US citizen and are therefore ineligible to serve on a jury.

6) If you have no income then you are unlikely to need to file taxes.

7) Upon permanently moving to another address you need to file an AR-11 (change of address) form with USCIS; you can do this online or mail it in. You must do this within 30 days of moving, and willfully failing to do so is a federal crime.

@2: Haha thanks, will do.

1. I-751

3. What about your spouse's income?

4. You cant vote

5. Wait for it

6. Filed jointly with your spouse since you did not earn any income. You should receives your SSN in a week or two after applying so you should be ok

Thank you both so much! I'll proceed to apply for my SSN and healthcare plan.

Just to clarify regarding 4), I checked again and it seems that I received a city census. I'm glad you warned me about any mistake regarding voter registration could be viewed as a false claim of US citizenship.

Noticed you guys are in CA/IL - hope you're enjoying fairer weather than out here in the east. Have a great week ahead of you!