Immigrants: Your Rights as a Permanent Resident

Under federal law, immigrants who are in the U.S. as permanent residents enjoy many of the same freedoms that U.S. citizens enjoy. Under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, permanent residents also enjoy the right to be free from discrimination based on their race, ethnicity, and national origin -- in employment, education, health care, and housing (among other settings). Following is a discussion of basic rights and freedoms of permanent residents.

Rights of Permanent Residents

As a permanent resident, you have the right to:

• Live and work permanently anywhere in the U.S.
• Apply to become a U.S. citizen once you are eligible.
• Request a visa for your husband or wife and unmarried children to live in the U.S.
• Get Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, and Medicare benefits, if you are eligible.
• Own property in the U.S.
• Apply for a driver's license in your state or territory.
• Leave and return to the U.S. under certain conditions.
• Attend public school and college.
• Join certain branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
• Purchase or own a firearm, as long as there are no state or local restrictions saying you can't.

See also:

• Returning Resident Aliens From the U.S. Department of State