How can an immigrant lose his or her green card?
The coveted green card (which is, however, not green) enables a foreign national to work in the United States. The right to work is not absolute, however, and a green card holder can lose the card and the corresponding employment status. Generally, there are two ways to lose a green card: losing permanent residence status, and becoming deportable. Immigrants lose resident status when they abandon the United States as their permanent home. Without the support of a continuing legal resident status, the green card becomes invalid. The quickest path to deportation is conviction of a serious crime. Serious crimes include, but are not limited to, those involving: moral turpitude, controlled substances, and prostitution. Due to the importance of the green card, if a holder is charged with a crime, he or she should seek professional legal help immediately. Immigrants should also consult an attorney to ensure that their travel or other plans do not legally indicate an intention to abandon resid
