The Act does not prohibit individuals with permanent resident status (commonly referred to as “green card holders”) from making contributions or donations in connection with federal, state or local elections, as they are not considered foreign nationals. § 611(b), which includes a foreign organization or “other combination of persons organized under the laws of or having its principal place of business in a foreign country.”
In general, foreign nationals are prohibited from the following activities: The Act and Commission regulations include a broad prohibition on foreign national activity in connection with elections in the United States. Please note, however, that the Commission’s jurisdiction is limited to provisions of the Act and does not include other laws that may also apply to foreign national activity. For questions involving proposed activity for which there may not be clear guidance, you may consider requesting your own advisory opinion (AO) from the Commission. Readers should consult the Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act) and Commission regulations, advisory opinions, and relevant case law for additional information. While this article responds to some of the most common questions, it does not cover all aspects of foreign national activity. The FEC often receives questions about the rules governing foreign nationals’ participation in U.S.