Don't die In New Jersey as a green card holder !
#16
Re: Don't die In New Jersey as a green card holder !
Depends what you call "play nicely".
For example most states will give you a drivers license but the validity is tied to whatever evidence you can provide regarding your status. So if you only give them a conditional greencard, your license will expire in 2 years.
There are lots of jobs which are out of reach for LPRs as you have to be a citizen. Police, various City, State, Federal government jobs or many civil service jobs in general.
There are quite strict laws against LPRs voting.
For example most states will give you a drivers license but the validity is tied to whatever evidence you can provide regarding your status. So if you only give them a conditional greencard, your license will expire in 2 years.
There are lots of jobs which are out of reach for LPRs as you have to be a citizen. Police, various City, State, Federal government jobs or many civil service jobs in general.
There are quite strict laws against LPRs voting.
#18
Re: Don't die In New Jersey as a green card holder !
In New Jersey though it's only $675,000.
#19
Re: Don't die In New Jersey as a green card holder !
The major exceptions are civil service jobs and voting rights. There are some differences in tax law: Estate Planning When You’re Married to a Noncitizen | Nolo.com
As Pulaski mentioned, transfers to an LPR spouse are taxed.
New Jersey seems to have copied that into State law, which matters because New Jersey has a much lower estate tax limit than at the Federal level.
I still think though that in the situation described, i.e. two LPRs who have been married and resident in the US for decades, that the way New Jersey is doing it violates the 14th Amendment. Especially in the light of US v. Windsor.
One could argue the Federal law on LPRs would be unconstitutional on the same basis, but I don't think anyone has bothered to challenge it.
As Pulaski mentioned, transfers to an LPR spouse are taxed.
New Jersey seems to have copied that into State law, which matters because New Jersey has a much lower estate tax limit than at the Federal level.
I still think though that in the situation described, i.e. two LPRs who have been married and resident in the US for decades, that the way New Jersey is doing it violates the 14th Amendment. Especially in the light of US v. Windsor.
One could argue the Federal law on LPRs would be unconstitutional on the same basis, but I don't think anyone has bothered to challenge it.
#22
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 264
Re: Don't die In New Jersey as a green card holder !
Well it's just another example of why you should apply for US citizenship. I'm sure this law is unconstitutional but it would have saved a lot of hassle of going to court.
My personal view is if you live country X you should always become a citizen of country X if it is possible. Even if you live in the Schengen Area, because I'm sure there's a lot of people living in Switzerland who didn't think Switzerland would vote to leave it.
My personal view is if you live country X you should always become a citizen of country X if it is possible. Even if you live in the Schengen Area, because I'm sure there's a lot of people living in Switzerland who didn't think Switzerland would vote to leave it.
#23
Re: Don't die In New Jersey as a green card holder !
There was a referendum last year, the Swiss are pissed off because of the high price of housing. According to the result, the govt. has three years to figure out how to leave the Schengen Area (or more accurately, to impose an immigration quota which would violate the agreement). Which in other words, means to hold another referendum and reverse the result. But technically they are planning on leaving in 2017.
#24
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 264
Re: Don't die In New Jersey as a green card holder !
There was a referendum last year, the Swiss are pissed off because of the high price of housing. According to the result, the govt. has three years to figure out how to leave the Schengen Area. Which in other words, means to hold another referendum and reverse the result. But technically they are planning on leaving in 2017.
P.S. Is this a reference to the Swiss immigration referendum to restrict freedom of movement? If so, I remember that. Didn't know it'd affect Schengen.
#25
Re: Don't die In New Jersey as a green card holder !
Switzerland is not in the EU, so Schengen is what facilitates free movement. So no free movement, less immigrants, house prices go down, theoretically.
#26
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 264
Re: Don't die In New Jersey as a green card holder !
It is? Schengen is about abolition of border controls if I understand correctly, nothing to do with who is allowed to live and work and buy property, no? I knew they were planning immigration restrictions, but this is the first I've heard of them leaving Schengen.
#27
Re: Don't die In New Jersey as a green card holder !
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_..._February_2014
There appear to be various bilateral agreements with the EU that have something do with it as well with they obviously are abrogating if they follow through with that referendum result. I assume they're similar to the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty although I can't say I've read them.
It's kind of hard what it will or will not lead to because it hasn't been implemented yet, but anyway the way it was portrayed in the press was "Switzerland leaving Schengen", which at a bare minimum means some sort of immigration quota. So that would seem to imply you'd be better off being a Swiss citizen if you want to live there.
There appear to be various bilateral agreements with the EU that have something do with it as well with they obviously are abrogating if they follow through with that referendum result. I assume they're similar to the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty although I can't say I've read them.
It's kind of hard what it will or will not lead to because it hasn't been implemented yet, but anyway the way it was portrayed in the press was "Switzerland leaving Schengen", which at a bare minimum means some sort of immigration quota. So that would seem to imply you'd be better off being a Swiss citizen if you want to live there.
#28
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 264
Re: Don't die In New Jersey as a green card holder !
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_..._February_2014
There appear to be various bilateral agreements with the EU that have something do with it as well with they obviously are abrogating if they follow through with that referendum result. I assume they're similar to the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty although I can't say I've read them.
It's kind of hard what it will or will not lead to because it hasn't been implemented yet, but anyway the way it was portrayed in the press was "Switzerland leaving Schengen", which at a bare minimum means some sort of immigration quota. So that would seem to imply you'd be better off being a Swiss citizen if you want to live there.
There appear to be various bilateral agreements with the EU that have something do with it as well with they obviously are abrogating if they follow through with that referendum result. I assume they're similar to the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty although I can't say I've read them.
It's kind of hard what it will or will not lead to because it hasn't been implemented yet, but anyway the way it was portrayed in the press was "Switzerland leaving Schengen", which at a bare minimum means some sort of immigration quota. So that would seem to imply you'd be better off being a Swiss citizen if you want to live there.
#30
Banned
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,154
Re: Don't die In New Jersey as a green card holder !
For reasons unknown (well, probably the reason is incompetence, but who am I to say) the RMV here gave me a 5 year DL on the basis of my L1 visa. The visa was valid for 5 years, but my I-94 was for 3 years.