Simple English definitions for legal terms
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A lawful permanent resident (LPR) is someone who is allowed to live in the United States forever. They have many of the same rights as citizens, like working and owning property, but they can't vote in elections. To become an LPR, you have to apply and meet certain requirements. You can become an LPR through family, work, or other special circumstances. If you leave the United States for too long or do something bad, you can lose your LPR status.
A Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) is a person who is not a citizen of the United States but has been given permission to live in the country permanently. LPRs have many of the same rights as citizens, such as the ability to work and own property, but they cannot vote in elections or access certain jobs and scholarships that are only available to citizens.
In order to become an LPR, a person must meet certain criteria and apply for the status. This can be done through a family member who is already a citizen or LPR, through employment or skills that are beneficial to the U.S., or through other special circumstances.
Once a person is granted LPR status, they receive a permanent resident card, also known as a green card, which proves their status. However, LPR status can be revoked if the person leaves the country for more than a year without permission or engages in criminal activity.
Example: Maria came to the United States from Mexico to live with her sister, who is a U.S. citizen. Her sister applied for Maria to become an LPR, and after a few years, Maria was granted the status. She now works as a nurse and pays taxes like any other U.S. resident, but she cannot vote in elections.
Example: Ahmed is a skilled engineer from Egypt who was offered a job in the United States. His employer sponsored him to become an LPR so that he could work for the company permanently. Ahmed now lives in the U.S. with his family and enjoys many of the same rights as citizens, but he cannot run for political office.
These examples illustrate how LPR status can be obtained through family connections or employment, and how it grants many of the same rights as citizenship but with some limitations.