what does it mean to get a green card?

[pushbrk 12,883]

(please feel free to move it to the correct thread).

Hi all,

Just wondering, what does it mean to get a green card?

I'm asking this because I have just gotten my fiancee visa and I will enter the USA soon and start the whole AOS, work authorisation process.

The thing is, I am doing this because I want to marry my fiance and be with him in the same country. We have discussed this issue and we have not ruled out moving back to Asia (where I am from) in the future. Someone told me if I took on the Green Card, it would also mean paying USA taxes for the rest of my life (even if I'm working in Asia).

So my question is, what does it mean if i do not get a green card, if i only get work authorisation?

Do i have to renew it every year? what rights am i denying myself?

I am happy to pay US taxes if I'm working in USA, it just scares me a little i would potentially need to keep paying even if I left USA in the future.

It is unlikely I'll renounce my citizenship and my country doesnt allow dual citizenship.

1. Work authorization will not give you permission to remain in the USA.

2. More than $90,000 USD in foreign income is exempt from US taxes. You're required to file a US tax return as part of maintaining your Green Card (Legal Permanent Resident Status)

3. Google "Maintaining Permanent Resident Status US" for everything you need to know on the subject.

[gyselle 4]

Both of you need to decide where you want to live, in US it is different than Asia. Come visit and see or take a chance. Green Card means a permanent residence, you can vacation in Asia, travel on your home county passport etc. Life your life with who you want not the government.

I appreciate your comment. No matter what, we will be together. I have been to the US on numerous occasions and for now..the decision is to be based there for the next 5 years and then we will take stock again. But there are other external factors to consider; the economy, job opportunities, ageing parents...not just the government. I was just wanted to understand the implication of the Green Card, taxes etc and see if there was a possible alternate route, should there be a need for us to move.

[gyselle 4]

Thank you everyone for your replies.

It has certainly been really helpful in helping me understand the implications of the GC and taxes.

Best regards to all

[pushbrk 12,883]

Thank you everyone for your replies.

It has certainly been really helpful in helping me understand the implications of the GC and taxes.

Best regards to all

I meant to say you are required to file a US tax return to maintain permanent resident status but that doesn't necessarily mean you'll actually owe/pay any taxes. You would get the foreign income exclusion which covers something like $93,000 now and tends to go up periodically. Only if you earn more than that would any tax be due. The trick is maintaining the permanent resident status. If you don't, you can always re-acquire it later, if needed.