Do Green Card Holders Have To Perform Jury Duty?

According to the United States government, to be legally qualified for jury duty, an individual must:

• be a United States citizen;
• be at least 18 years of age;
• reside primarily in the judicial district for one year;
• be adequately proficient in English to satisfactorily complete the juror qualification form;
• have no disqualifying mental or physical condition;
• not currently be subject to felony charges punishable by imprisonment for more than one year; and
• never have been convicted of a felony (unless civil rights have been legally restored)

What To Do If You’re A Green Card Holder and are Called for Jury Duty

Potential jurors are usually selected from voter registration lists or Department of Motor Vehicle records. Jury duty notifications are sent out by mail. The jury summons has questions about the individual’s eligibility to serve as a juror, including “Are you a US citizen?”

If you are a green card holder or another individual who is not a U.S. citizen,

• Complete and return the juror questionnaire.
• Be sure to indicate that you are not a citizen of the United States.
• Do not report for service.
• You will be mailed confirmation not to report.

What Happens If NonCitizens Serve On A Jury?

If you are not a citizen and were called for jury duty and served on a jury. DO NOT file for citizenship without speaking to an immigration attorney. The U.S. government may consider that you lied about your citizenship status and that you are guilty of fraud.

An experienced immigration lawyer can help you evaluate the circumstances and why you served on a jury without being a citizen, and the best course of action to move forward with your immigration or citizenship application.

Illinois Immigration Attorney

United States immigration laws are complex and are updated frequently. If you have a question about immigration, contact Mario Godoy and the immigration attorneys at Godoy Law Office in Chicago, Illinois at 630-345-4164. 

AREAS WE SERVE: Godoy Law Office has 3 offices in the  Chicago, Illinois area and helps clients In all 50 states.