Congratulations on your approval!
Next steps:
Use your new green card: It’s a big deal to have a green card! Below are a few of the benefits of having one, plus tips on how to renew it or become a U.S. citizen.
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You can now live and work permanently in the United States.
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You may eventually qualify for Social Security retirement benefits.
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Check out this guide to being a new green card holder in the United States.
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Your green card will eventually expire. Here’s how to renew it or become a U.S. citizen:
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If you’ve been married less than 2 years at the time of green card approval, your green card will be marked “CR1” (for “conditional green card”) and will be valid for 2 years. Our guide to renewing a conditional green card has more details.
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If you’ve been married more than 2 years at the time of green card approval, your green card will be marked “IR1” (for “immediate relative green card”) and will be valid for 10 years. Renewal is typically a simple process.
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If you want to vote in U.S. elections, run for office, or bring your family to the United States, you can become a citizen through a process called “naturalization.” Our guide to naturalization has more details about eligibility, requirements, and steps.