Husband moving to work abroad - please help!

[Flavia 1]

I just got my CR1 visa, in summer we are going to the US to "open it".

But now my husband has to go to Dubai to work there for some time, maybe a couple if years, and I have to go with him, of course.

What do I do with my US visa and Green card? I heard there is a requirement to stay 6 months out of one year - what if I can't stay there for this long yet? Do I lose the visa? Or is there a way to get a permit to live abroad?

How soon can I get my citizenship?

If someone could help me or post some links to web page with more info, I would be grateful!

[YuAndDan 153]

The 6 month requirement has to do with eventualy naturalizing to obtain US Citizenship, being out of country longer than 6 months resets the time requirement for that.

Maintaining Permanent Residence You may lose your permanent residence status if you commit an act that makes you removable from the United States under the law in section 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. If you commit such an act, you may be brought before the immigration courts to determine your right to remain a Permanent Resident.

You may be found to have abandoned your permanent resident status if you:

• Move to another country intending to live there permanently.
  
• Remain outside of the US for more than one year without obtaining a reentry permit or returning resident visa. However in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the US may be considered, even if it is less than one year.
  
• Remain outside of the US for more than two years after issuance of a reentry permit without obtaining a returning resident visa. However in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the US may be considered, even if it is less than one year.
  
• Fail to file income tax returns while living outside of the US for any period.
  
• Declare yourself a “nonimmigrant” on your tax returns.
  

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

If you are out of country more than a year you need to do a few things to maintain residence status, maintain domicile in the USA, that is maintain a permanent address in the USA, such as "living with parents", File IRS returns, you may be exempt from paying tax, but not exempt from filing returns, File I-131 to get a re-entry permit, and have it with you before leaving the country, if more than 2 years out of country you will need to obtain a returning resident visa.

[pushbrk 12,761]

The 6 month requirement has to do with eventualy naturalizing to obtain US Citizenship, being out of country longer than 6 months resets the time requirement for that.

Maintaining Permanent Residence You may lose your permanent residence status if you commit an act that makes you removable from the United States under the law in section 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. If you commit such an act, you may be brought before the immigration courts to determine your right to remain a Permanent Resident.

You may be found to have abandoned your permanent resident status if you:

• Move to another country intending to live there permanently.
  
• Remain outside of the US for more than one year without obtaining a reentry permit or returning resident visa. However in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the US may be considered, even if it is less than one year.
  
• Remain outside of the US for more than two years after issuance of a reentry permit without obtaining a returning resident visa. However in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the US may be considered, even if it is less than one year.
  
• Fail to file income tax returns while living outside of the US for any period.
  
• Declare yourself a “nonimmigrant” on your tax returns.
  

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

If you are out of country more than a year you need to do a few things to maintain residence status, maintain domicile in the USA, that is maintain a permanent address in the USA, such as "living with parents", File IRS returns, you may be exempt from paying tax, but not exempt from filing returns, File I-131 to get a re-entry permit, and have it with you before leaving the country, if more than 2 years out of country you will need to obtain a returning resident visa.

I think Dan pretty much nailed it but I would add that if you return to the USA for a visit once a year, you'll simplify things considerably.

[meauxna 15]

Follow the top two links in my signature and see if you can get some ideas about how to preserve your US residency (if you choose to come to the US first). Depending on the nature of your husband's work, you may qualify for different exceptions than most of us.

Alternately, you can skip it altogether, go to Dubai and re-apply when you are ready to move to the US permanently. A case filed overseas (DCF) goes much more quickly.

This would be a useful topic to discuss with an immigration attorney.

[Flavia 1]

OH MY GOD!

I'm so sorry, there must've been some problem with my browser!

I thought I got no answer to my question, until I deleted cookies and refreshed the browser!!

Thanks a million!!!