moving back to europe, do i lose greencard?

[evahamilton 0]

Hello everyone,

I hope this is the right place to post, if not mods are welcome to move.

I am living in virginia and have a CR1 visa. My adjustment of status is november 2009. I am moving back to the netherlands next month, and my husband will join me there in january next year.

Will i lose my greencard? What will i have to do to keep it? We do not know if we will move back eventually or not.

Thanks in advance!

[john_and_marlene 162]

If you establish domicile in a different country, you are no longer a resident in the U.S. The permanent resident card is to identify you as a "permanent resident" of the U.S. -- not a sometimes resident or a maybe later resident.

Edited May 20, 2008 by john_and_marlene

[SomeGuy4186 0]

Hello everyone,

I hope this is the right place to post, if not mods are welcome to move.

I am living in virginia and have a CR1 visa. My adjustment of status is november 2009. I am moving back to the netherlands next month, and my husband will join me there in january next year.

Will i lose my greencard? What will i have to do to keep it? We do not know if we will move back eventually or not.

Thanks in advance!

why spend all that time trying to get to america only to move back in a couple of months? i'd wait until you got citizenship in 2 years and change before moving back. then you can come and go as you please.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Indeed, since you have a conditional CR-1 and have not yet removed conditions let alone filed for citizenship; you would loose your residency after certain period of time.

Consider your options before the move and, whatever you decide, best of luck!!!

[Army_Wife 2]

I'm someone who did just that .... and I lost my greencard even following the removal of conditions after spending too much time in England due to personal reasons and a misunderstanding with US Immigration

They are really funny about it ... and here I am now needing a greencard so I can be with my Husband and going through the process which is taking forever .... 14 years ago when I first had my card it was 6 weeks from application to having my visa in my hand .... years later and the system is just rediculous.

I certainly won't want to repeat it again

They make you jump through hoops and try to make sure that you don't just want to go and live in the US, but once you're there, you're expected to want to live nowhere else on the planet

Wait to get citizenship is my suggestion and don't even think about spending anymore time out of the US than necessary within a 6 - 12 month period .... the POE officers will come down on you otherwise ..... and can take your card off you when you land on US soil .... I know someone personally that this happened to.

They can do this when people are out of the US too much or too long and don't have 'permission' to do so

It used to be that you could not spend anymore than 364 days of the year out of the US on a greencard .... now I'm sure they are even heavier.

There is a petition (can't remember the name) you can file with US Immigration which allows you to return around the 2 year mark, but it has to be filed and approved.

Do check every avenue on this .... I understand that it's nice to return home for a little while .... just make sure you're little trip home doesn't end up with you having to stay there .... and being separated from your spouse ..... again.

[Marlita 0]

I'm someone who did just that .... and I lost my greencard even following the removal of conditions after spending too much time in England due to personal reasons and a misunderstanding with US Immigration

They are really funny about it ... and here I am now needing a greencard so I can be with my Husband and going through the process which is taking forever .... 14 years ago when I first had my card it was 6 weeks from application to having my visa in my hand .... years later and the system is just rediculous.

I certainly won't want to repeat it again

They make you jump through hoops and try to make sure that you don't just want to go and live in the US, but once you're there, you're expected to want to live nowhere else on the planet

Wait to get citizenship is my suggestion and don't even think about spending anymore time out of the US than necessary within a 6 - 12 month period .... the POE officers will come down on you otherwise ..... and can take your card off you when you land on US soil .... I know someone personally that this happened to.

They can do this when people are out of the US too much or too long and don't have 'permission' to do so

It used to be that you could not spend anymore than 364 days of the year out of the US on a greencard .... now I'm sure they are even heavier.

There is a petition (can't remember the name) you can file with US Immigration which allows you to return around the 2 year mark, but it has to be filed and approved.

Do check every avenue on this .... I understand that it's nice to return home for a little while .... just make sure you're little trip home doesn't end up with you having to stay there .... and being separated from your spouse ..... again.

very good info. Thanks! I was wondering this myself.

[evahamilton 0]

I'm someone who did just that .... and I lost my greencard even following the removal of conditions after spending too much time in England due to personal reasons and a misunderstanding with US Immigration

They are really funny about it ... and here I am now needing a greencard so I can be with my Husband and going through the process which is taking forever .... 14 years ago when I first had my card it was 6 weeks from application to having my visa in my hand .... years later and the system is just rediculous.

I certainly won't want to repeat it again

They make you jump through hoops and try to make sure that you don't just want to go and live in the US, but once you're there, you're expected to want to live nowhere else on the planet

Wait to get citizenship is my suggestion and don't even think about spending anymore time out of the US than necessary within a 6 - 12 month period .... the POE officers will come down on you otherwise ..... and can take your card off you when you land on US soil .... I know someone personally that this happened to.

They can do this when people are out of the US too much or too long and don't have 'permission' to do so

It used to be that you could not spend anymore than 364 days of the year out of the US on a greencard .... now I'm sure they are even heavier.

There is a petition (can't remember the name) you can file with US Immigration which allows you to return around the 2 year mark, but it has to be filed and approved.

Do check every avenue on this .... I understand that it's nice to return home for a little while .... just make sure you're little trip home doesn't end up with you having to stay there .... and being separated from your spouse ..... again.

Thanks!

My husband got through to the USCIS and they told him about the form. It cost 300 and something dollars, but that way we can lift conditions in Holland.

We will definitely move to Holland and we want to stay. The only reason i don't want to lose my greencard yet, is because of the risk that my husband won't get a visa for Holland. Immigration policy in my country is even worse then the USA at the moment.

We found out i am pregnant just a few weeks ago. We cannot support the baby with our incomes in this country. We can't even afford healthcare. In Holland i make twice as much money and healthcare is practically free. I understand the responses. people thinking i am crazy to give everything up i worked so hard for. But right now i just want the best for our baby.

thanks for the responses!