DV Green Card Terms and Conditions

[khalid_ahq 1]

Dear All,

I'm DV-2015 winner, already submitted the DS 260, please can any one advice me where i can find details of the DV green card terms and conditions, is it 2 years conditional green card or what !! i want to know the details so i can have better plan from now !!

[guestgulkan 9]

I'm not sure what you mean. It's a permanent visa.

After 5 years you can apply for citizenship.

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

Dear All,

I'm DV-2015 winner, already submitted the DS 260, please can any one advice me where i can find details of the DV green card terms and conditions, is it 2 years conditional green card or what !! i want to know the details so i can have better plan from now !!

No, it's an unconditional 10-year green card. Of course you will still be an LPR after ten years (if you haven't become a citizen first) but you would need a new card then.

Unconditional doesn't mean that you can ignore the residency requirements of course.

Edited June 4, 2014 by SusieQQQ

[khalid_ahq 1]

I'm not sure what you mean. It's a permanent visa.

After 5 years you can apply for citizenship.

thank you for your comment, i mean i want to understand as a DV lottery winner if i get a green card what the terms, for example how long i can stay out ? how long i need to stay in us to apply for citizenship ! if it is valid to 10 years then what will happen if the 10 years finished without staying the period i have to stay to apply for a citizenship !! i mean in general where i can find that details ! thank you again

[khalid_ahq 1]

No, it's an unconditional 10-year green card. Of course you will still be an LPR after ten years (if you haven't become a citizen first) but you would need a new card then.

Unconditional doesn't mean that you can ignore the residency requirements of course.

Thank you very much for your always support and comments, in fact i do not know what LPR mean, because of that I need to read these details from an official source to know all details

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

Here is some official info:

http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-green-card-granted/maintaining-permanent-residence

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

Google LPR rights and responsibilities

Or even green card holder rights and responsibilities

Look for USCIS pages (official) as well as lawyer websites which may discuss particular cases

You particularly want to know under what conditions you can lose your green card

This one is important

http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-green-card-granted/maintaining-permanent-residence

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Basically you must live in the US more of each year than out of the US. You must file and pay taxes on your world wide income in accord with US tax law.

[DVer 0]

Basically you must live in the US more of each year than out of the US. You must file and pay taxes on your world wide income in accord with US tax law.

What about Canadians with Green Cards. Do they have to pay taxes in both Countries? That would be too much!

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

What about Canadians with Green Cards. Do they have to pay taxes in both Countries? That would be too much!

Does Canada also have a system where you have to pay tax on all income even if you live elsewhere? I thought that was only the US. The issue of two countries tax should only be a concern for the bit between when you activate your green card and when you move permanently anyway. There is a special dispensation for your first year as a green card holder where you can file as non resident for part of the year and resident for the part when you got your green card. Note: even if you have a green card for one day of a year you are liable to file. In many or most instances there are double tax agreements/tax treaties that prevent you actually paying double tax. Obviously those who keep investments outside the US where they earn income need to be aware of these too.

Much info available on IRS site.

[DVer 0]

Does Canada also have a system where you have to pay tax on all income even if you live elsewhere? I thought that was only the US. The issue of two countries tax should only be a concern for the bit between when you activate your green card and when you move permanently anyway. There is a special dispensation for your first year as a green card holder where you can file as non resident for part of the year and resident for the part when you got your green card. Note: even if you have a green card for one day of a year you are liable to file. In many or most instances there are double tax agreements/tax treaties that prevent you actually paying double tax. Obviously those who keep investments outside the US where they earn income need to be aware of these too.

Much info available on IRS site.

Thanks Sussie,

Actually, the best day to go to the US as an immigrant is on Jan 1st. This way you do not have to pay taxes for the previous year nor part of the year.

This issue needs a research to get clear answers...

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

Thanks Sussie,

Actually, the best day to go to the US as an immigrant is on Jan 1st. This way you do not have to pay taxes for the previous year nor part of the year.

This issue needs a research to get clear answers...

Doesn't help if like me you have a 31 Dec visa expiry :/ We had 5 days of the tax year .... But there is some foreign income exemption to use as well so for 5 days we fell in that!

There is plenty of stuff out there on this. It is all on the IRS website too, not always so easy to find but all the details are there.

Bear in mind paying taxes is one of the criteria they use if there is any questions about needing to determine if residency has been abandoned.

[DVer 0]

Doesn't help if like me you have a 31 Dec visa expiry :/ We had 5 days of the tax year .... But there is some foreign income exemption to use as well so for 5 days we fell in that!

There is plenty of stuff out there on this. It is all on the IRS website too, not always so easy to find but all the details are there.

Bear in mind paying taxes is one of the criteria they use if there is any questions about needing to determine if residency has been abandoned.

The 5 days is a Cool thing to know. It's not the US taxes that worries me. It's the Canadian taxes as they are much higher...

The toughest thing is gonna be adjusting to the US Imperial System, Miles/Pound/F vs Km/Kg/C. One would need to always carry a Pocket Unit Converter

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

But does Canada still tax you if you are resident elsewhere? Most countries don't, the US is an exception to the rule. So as long as you actually plan to move it shouldn't matter. It only matters if you try hang on to your green cad while still living and working in Canada. Unless Canada has the same system?

[Sm1smom 255]

No, Canada does not have the same tax system as the US. Canadian citizens or permanent residents emigrating from Canada are typically considered Non-Residents of Canada for Income Purpose and they're typically not required pay income tax except they have some Canadian source of income even whil living outside Canada.

Of course there are other categories that Canadians living outside of Canada may fall into which may require them to file taxes in Canada

http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/living-abroad/taxation