If I get Citizenship, Is it a must to give green card back?

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The main reason is to check that you are not in the US illegally or on a short term visa. If you are either, they want you to go back to your home country to renew the passport.

But anyway in that case it is impossible or at least hard to renew passport without proof of legal status. If you still have GC after becoming a US citizen, you can still renew your former country's passport if you have GC
 
There is every possibility that the USCIS card production center will de-activate the card once the card holder becomes a citizen. It is like a credit card. They can just activate and de-activate it at their command center after following proper legal procedures though. I can't believe we are actually discussing this issue :) Some are stressed out waiting for IL and interview process while some are thinking of holding a US passport as well as GC. :) I guess, such threads provide some entertainment while we wait. :)
 
But anyway in that case it is impossible or at least hard to renew passport without proof of legal status. If you still have GC after becoming a US citizen, you can still renew your former country's passport if you have GC
As a US citizen, you would simply use your US passport to prove long-term legal status in the US. If the other country allows dual citizenship, they'll renew the passport without a problem. If they don't allow dual citizenship, you would be committing fraud by attempting to renew the passport, whether you do the renewal within the US or in the other country.
 
Then use it outside USAS jurisdiction. The worst case is to get deported back to USA. Many other countries do not enforce law as strictly as USA
does. It is easy to get away from that



Counsulates of Some countries in USA do not extend their citizens passport
without checking applicants status in USA, part of reason is they they
do not aknowlewde dual citizenship so they want to make sure you are
naturalized yet.

This is just a silly discussion:illegally using your GC to renew your foreign passport and the risk of getting deported by your home country for doing so.
 
As a US citizen, you would simply use your US passport to prove long-term legal status in the US. If the other country allows dual citizenship, they'll renew the passport without a problem. If they don't allow dual citizenship, you would be committing fraud by attempting to renew the passport, whether you do the renewal within the US or in the other country.

I think what WBH is trying to point out is that for countries NOT allowing dual citizenship you could potentially use his suggested method to deceptively keep passports of 2 countries and still not commit any major crime under US law.

But WBH what really is one going to achieve in the long run by doing this? You could at most renew your passport one time but what happens when your GC expires? Then would you tell your original country that you became US citizen 12 years ago and land yourself in trouble for the rest of your life by not being allowed in that country with pending arrest warrants/court summons/no VISA? Also, you cannot assume the fact that a person committing crime under one countries law is immune to it everywhere else as there are often international treaties. I agree there maybe hundreds of ways to break the systems (especially is it spans across borders) but what you are suggesting does not really have much advantage in the long run.

I have heard cases where people go to a different country on visitors VISA and then trash/shred their passports. No country in the world would then take them back (even the original home country generally refuses for lack of proper papers and these people obviously do not want to produce copies to remain in the host country). So where would the host country deport them to? and they remain forever in the host country. Sorry! besides the point....

But even if one gets away with your idea I see no major advantage in the long run considering the potential risk.
 
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I think what WBH is trying to point out is that for countries NOT allowing dual citizenship you could potentially use his suggested method to deceptively keep passports of 2 countries and still not commit any major crime under US law.
QUOTE]

Which of course using a Green card for any reason after being a citizen is illegal and a crime under US law...
 
I think what WBH is trying to point out is that for countries NOT allowing dual citizenship you could potentially use his suggested method to deceptively keep passports of 2 countries and still not commit any major crime under US law.
QUOTE]

Which of course using a Green card for any reason after being a citizen is illegal and a crime under US law...

I was just pointing out what WBH was trying to suggest! I have agreed though in my previous post that it would be rather silly for someone to actually do it. I doubt US would take the use in a foreign consulate seriously enough to prosecute someone although I wouldn't be stupid to try it :). I hope WBH was not serious when he suggested this. Maybe just trying to kill some time on a Friday afternoon. :D
 
Which of course using a Green card for any reason after being a citizen is illegal and a crime under US law...

I know an example of a non-US ciztizen borrow another's US passport to enter his home country, get sentenced there, sent back to USA and USA welcome that person as a hero simply because he is a dissident of that country. He does not face deportation by claiming he is a US citizen even use US passport fraudulently
 
Thanks to you all. Lots of insight in to various issues. Lots of thoughts. Lots of laughs!

My idea was that green card could be cancelled and returned. Like when you apply for a new passport the old passport is normally returned.

In any case if my Citizenship gets approved, I will talk to them to about holding on to the green card. But if they refuse to give me oath, then I will give it back. How does that sound? I will keep you all posted.

Thanks again!
 
Thanks to you all. Lots of insight in to various issues. Lots of thoughts. Lots of laughs!

My idea was that green card could be cancelled and returned. Like when you apply for a new passport the old passport is normally returned.

In any case if my Citizenship gets approved, I will talk to them to about holding on to the green card. But if they refuse to give me oath, then I will give it back. How does that sound? I will keep you all posted.

Thanks again!

Do keep us posted. If you let us know the date and location of oath, we will probably come there to watch the specter.
 
My idea was that green card could be cancelled and returned. Like when you apply for a new passport the old passport is normally returned.
Cancelled passports may still have stuff in it that is of legal significance and validity, such as arrival/departure stamps and visas. A canceled green card has no such information (not on the card itself, although the info may be in a database).
 
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Thanks to you all. Lots of insight in to various issues. Lots of thoughts. Lots of laughs!

My idea was that green card could be cancelled and returned. Like when you apply for a new passport the old passport is normally returned.

In any case if my Citizenship gets approved, I will talk to them to about holding on to the green card. But if they refuse to give me oath, then I will give it back. How does that sound? I will keep you all posted.

Thanks again!

LOL, hey just give away your GC, you don't need it. I have 8 more years on my GC and I paid money too, but your green card will not cost a penny after you'll take the Oath. If you worrying about your money wait 5 more years, and apply right before expiration date. Im rather to have a Passport Card than Green Card. If you wanna do something with it after becoming US Citizen it's illegal. Don't play games.
 
I am amazed about we still spend our time responding to this ...There is a good chance this is a joke or making fun of this forum. There are more serious issues and concerns people have here...

If this is not a joke, it appears that OP does not understand the difference between GC (LPR) status and USC (Citizenship)...and the difference between documents (GREEN CARD, Naturalization Document (Citizenship Certificate, Passport) which each represent different immigration status.

For example, when you got GC (LPR status), you can no longer use and benefit from the Non-Immigrant Visas (H1/H4/H2, B1/B2, L1, E1, O1, J1, etc) in your passport. In the other words, each immigration level requires own documents. When you get citizenship, you reached the top of the pyramid for immigration purposes. This also means that the citizenship documents (Naturalization docs, Citizenship certificate, US Passport or US Passport Card, etc) will be your identification documents for US immigration purposes, GC (which links you to LPR status) will be no lomger accurate/valid document to keep/use after obtaining citizenship.....
 
I am amazed about we still spend our time responding to this ...There is a good chance this is a joke or making fun of this forum. There are more serious issues and concerns people have here...

I am assuming this thread is not serious and treating it so. However, please explain what does this thread have anything to do with other serious issues and concerns. Nothing. How about my time? Again, nothing to do with other threads. Come on, let's chill out a bit. Actually, I think we can do with some improvements on the board such as ... a) most outrageous question of the week. It need not be all fun, and we could have other categories such as ... b) case most helped this week (without needing a lawyer).
 
Counsulates of Some countries in USA do not extend their citizens passport without checking applicants status in USA, part of reason is they they do not aknowlewde dual citizenship so they want to make sure you are naturalized yet.
Take Ukraine, for example. They do not allow dual citizenship, but at the same time they do not revoke Ukrainian citizenship automatically. It sounds illogical, but it is true :D You are still considered Ukrainian citizen, but the consulate will not do anything for you if they know that you are a US citizen. For instance, to get a new passport from consulate, they need a copy of your GC. If you are an honest person (such as I am :) ), you will not send them a copy of GC because you are not an LPR anymore. But then you will not get the passport and will not be able to travel to Ukraine... unless you travel on a US passport... which is illegal because you are still a citizen of Ukraine... Hmm... Are you with me still?

If I want to renounce my Ukrainian citizenship, I will have to collect dozens of documents (some of which can only be obtained in Ukraine in person), spend $$$, travel to the district consulate and then wait for up to 2 years. I personally gave up during the stage of collecting documents because in order to get some of them, I would have to register with Ukrainian military service, obtain Ukrainian tax number and renew my internal Ukrainian passport. To do the above tasks, I would have to travel to Ukraine and spend several months there. I just can't spend that much time.
 
Take Ukraine, for example. They do not allow dual citizenship, but at the same time they do not revoke Ukrainian citizenship automatically. It sounds illogical, but it is true :D You are still considered Ukrainian citizen, but the consulate will not do anything for you if they know that you are a US citizen. For instance, to get a new passport from consulate, they need a copy of your GC. If you are an honest person (such as I am :) ), you will not send them a copy of GC because you are not an LPR anymore. But then you will not get the passport and will not be able to travel to Ukraine... unless you travel on a US passport... which is illegal because you are still a citizen of Ukraine... Hmm... Are you with me still?

If I want to renounce my Ukrainian citizenship, I will have to collect dozens of documents (some of which can only be obtained in Ukraine in person), spend $$$, travel to the district consulate and then wait for up to 2 years. I personally gave up during the stage of collecting documents because in order to get some of them, I would have to register with Ukrainian military service, obtain Ukrainian tax number and renew my internal Ukrainian passport. To do the above tasks, I would have to travel to Ukraine and spend several months there. I just can't spend that much time.

Does that make it right (and legal) for someone to keep the GC after naturalization?
 
Take Ukraine, for example. They do not allow dual citizenship, but at the same time they do not revoke Ukrainian citizenship automatically. It sounds illogical, but it is true :D You are still considered Ukrainian citizen, but the consulate will not do anything for you if they know that you are a US citizen. For instance, to get a new passport from consulate, they need a copy of your GC. If you are an honest person (such as I am :) ), you will not send them a copy of GC because you are not an LPR anymore. But then you will not get the passport and will not be able to travel to Ukraine... unless you travel on a US passport... which is illegal because you are still a citizen of Ukraine... Hmm... Are you with me still?

If I want to renounce my Ukrainian citizenship, I will have to collect dozens of documents (some of which can only be obtained in Ukraine in person), spend $$$, travel to the district consulate and then wait for up to 2 years. I personally gave up during the stage of collecting documents because in order to get some of them, I would have to register with Ukrainian military service, obtain Ukrainian tax number and renew my internal Ukrainian passport. To do the above tasks, I would have to travel to Ukraine and spend several months there. I just can't spend that much time.

Are you saying that a Ukranian consulate in the U.S. will not renew a Ukranian passport if the applicant provides a U.S. passport as a proof of legal status in the U.S.? I would find that very surprizing.

I am originally from Russia and I thought that Russia and Ukraine have similar (and similarly cumbersome) passport rules. In the case of Russia, they do require a proof of legal status in the U.S. for passport applicants, but they accept a U.S. passport as a proof of such status.
 
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