How to protect and maintain U.S. permanent residency 2

If you have obtained your permanent residence in the United States, you should know that it is your responsibility to comply with certain requirements to protect and maintain it in force.

In my column this week in La OpiniónI explain what you should do to safeguard this valuable benefit and not harm your status as a permanent resident in this country.

Permanent residency is the first step on the path to U.S. citizenship. To protect and maintain your residency, you must fulfill certain responsibilities. As soon as you are approved for residency you must:

- Apply for your social security card if you do not already have one. With this number you will be able to work legally in the country and pay your taxes.

- Send your tax return to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and to the state where you live, when applicable. If you fail to do so, you may lose your permanent resident status.

- If you are a man between 18 and 26 years old, you must register for selective service: it is the law.

- Keep your permanent resident card up to date. You must renew it before it expires.

Although you may now travel freely outside the U.S., you are not allowed to stay outside the country for more than one year. If you need to be out of the country for an extended period, you must apply for a "reentry permit." Otherwise, you could lose your permanent residency and complicate your eligibility for citizenship.

Once you have achieved this great benefit, you can help one or more members of your family become a permanent resident. As a permanent resident you can petition for your spouse and unmarried children of any age. Married children do not qualify.

The process begins by submitting an alien relative claim application to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. You will need to show a relationship to sponsor the person and prove that you have enough income to support him or her when he or she arrives in the US. In addition, your relative must be admissible to the country.

It is important to apply as soon as possible, because your family member's place on the visa waiting list will depend on the date the application was filed.

Unfortunately, due to the high demand and the limits set by immigration law on how many people can immigrate each year, your family members will have to wait several years before they can get a visa to join you.

Although it is a lengthy process, the great benefit is family reunification. Avoid delays by meeting all entry requirements.