10 yr Green Card & Traveling

[jamaicadiva 0]

Hey Yardies !!...my 8 yr old stepson has a 10 yr green card along with his his father ( my husband). He went to visit his mom in Jamaica in June 08 for the summer as usual, but this time, we decided to let him stay with his mom to attend school, at least for one year. My question is, can he only stay for 6 mos, or can he stay for at least a year because he has the 10yr green card? And if he comes back, how long does he have to stay in the US before he can go back to Jamaica, lets say to finish this school year out? A week? Longer? I thought I would post here before I call the USCIS.

[SupportOAFJF 0]

with a 10yr GC.immigration want to see u returning to ur home country..this is still a visitors visa and staying in the country for more than the allowed time doesn't look good in their eyes..why don't u guys file paper work for him to become a permanent resident and him staying in JA for 1yr looks better than him possibly overstaying. 10yr GC means he can travel onthe visa for 10yrs..not that he can stay in the country for yrs at a time. BTW does ur stepson live with u here in the states and only goes to JA in the summer?

Edited September 28, 2008 by Hotlegz

[Dakine 26]

Hey Yardies !!...my 8 yr old stepson has a 10 yr green card along with his his father ( my husband). He went to visit his mom in Jamaica in June 08 for the summer as usual, but this time, we decided to let him stay with his mom to attend school, at least for one year. My question is, can he only stay for 6 mos, or can he stay for at least a year because he has the 10yr green card? And if he comes back, how long does he have to stay in the US before he can go back to Jamaica, lets say to finish this school year out? A week? Longer? I thought I would post here before I call the USCIS.

If he stays more than 6 months he should file a I-131 for a reentry permit.

[jamaicadiva 0]

Hi HotLegz....yes he has been living here with us since 2005, and only normally goes to visit his mom for the summer. But this summer we decided to try something different to benefit him and her. ( that another story). Maybe I didnt say this right, but he does have the 10year permanent resident card. They came on a fiancee visa...then got the temp 2 year card, and now he has the 10 year card. So you saying that 10 year permemant resident card, is only good for working and traveling( only 6 mos at a time)??

[sus 70]

Yes, Jamdiva - There are provisions with the green card about how long you can stay out of the country before they consider it to be abandoned - That is what the re-entry permit is for.

[SupportOAFJF 0]

ok oh..thanks for clarifing..i don't know why i thought visa..sorry

Sus is correct

[jamaicadiva 0]

ok so what are those provisions? where can i find that ?

[Completely 3]

Hey Yardies !!...my 8 yr old stepson has a 10 yr green card along with his his father ( my husband). He went to visit his mom in Jamaica in June 08 for the summer as usual, but this time, we decided to let him stay with his mom to attend school, at least for one year. My question is, can he only stay for 6 mos, or can he stay for at least a year because he has the 10yr green card? And if he comes back, how long does he have to stay in the US before he can go back to Jamaica, lets say to finish this school year out? A week? Longer? I thought I would post here before I call the USCIS.

You should file Application for Travel.

I never lived in the US but I was a greencard holder and become naturalized recently. We always travel back to the US before 11 months even for how many days, just to meet the physical presence requirement of GC and there is no problem..

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

Edited September 29, 2008 by Completely

[Completely 3]

Hey Yardies !!...my 8 yr old stepson has a 10 yr green card along with his his father ( my husband). He went to visit his mom in Jamaica in June 08 for the summer as usual, but this time, we decided to let him stay with his mom to attend school, at least for one year. My question is, can he only stay for 6 mos, or can he stay for at least a year because he has the 10yr green card? And if he comes back, how long does he have to stay in the US before he can go back to Jamaica, lets say to finish this school year out? A week? Longer? I thought I would post here before I call the USCIS.

You should file Application for Travel, if the travel will be more than a year.

I never lived in the US but I was a greencard holder and become naturalized recently. We always travel back to the US before 11 months even for how many days, just to meet the physical presence requirement of GC and there is no problem..

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

[TRELAWNY PARISH 10]

Hi Diva,

This was many years ago, but my family did the same thing. My brother and I was living in the states for many years. When I finished elementary school I spent the summers in Jamaica like I had done in the past, but this time my brother and I wanted to stay to stay. If my memory serves me right, we were told that we could only be out out of the country for more than 11 months at a time. We made it work some how by returning at the end of each school term for 2 weeks. The laws may have changed since then.

[*JG* 2]

If you plan on leaving the country for more than one year, then apply for a re-entry permit *before* you leave the US. You must maintain residency in the US to keep your green card. If you travel to the US at least once a year you may be able to keep the green card, but if you are not planning to return for several years you will lose it. When entering the US on a green card, US immigration specifically asks how long you were out of the country, and may not let you in if its more than a year.

[SweetSugahDumplin 0]

ok glad i found this post. If someone has been out of the country, in JA since 2005 do they send the I131 form to the embassy or to USCIS? how would they get an appointment? Im checkin on this for my friend. They think that they r supposed to fill out the DS156 and make appointment online via the NIV system. Any advice.

[SweetSugahDumplin 0]

Hey this sounds a bit diff. check this out

http://kingston.usembassy.gov/dhs_transportation_letter.html

Department of Homeland Security

Transportation Letter

Requirements

In order to process your application for a Transportation Letter which will allow you to travel to the United States, the following documents and/or information are required by the Department of Homeland Security Sub-Office in Kingston, Jamaica:

IMMIGRATION & NATURALIZATION SERVICE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE AND SWORN STATEMENT IN AFFIDAVIT FORM:

This will be given to you when your number is called to come to the DHS window. Every question on the Questionnaire form and the attached "Record of Sworn Statement In Affidavit Form" (Form I-215W) require complete responses. Please take your time in responding to each question. The more thorough and concise information you provide, the better the DHS Office will be able to assist you.

A NON-REFUNDABLE PROCESSING FEE OF US$120.00 OR THE EQUIVALENT IN JAMAICAN CURRENCY:

This fee of US$120.00 or the Jamaican currency equivalent must be paid in advance for each Transportation Letter requested. All travelers are required to have separate Transportation Letters. This non-refundable fee must be paid to the American Consulate, located at 16 Oxford Road, Kingston. You will be given a "Consular Record of Fees" form at the DHS window which you must take with you to the Consulate at the time of payment. You must bring the receipt of "Consular Fees Paid" back to this Office.

POLICE REPORT:

If your Permanent Resident Card is lost or stolen, you are required to obtain a local Police Report describing the circumstances surrounding the loss of the Permanent Registration Receipt Card (previously referred to as a "Green Card").

VALID PASSPORT:

Your passport and information indicating your most recent departure from the United Sates and arrival into your country of origin such as your Jamaican "Immigration Landing Card."

PICTURE IDENTIFICATION CARD:

This can be a driver’s license, student I.D. or employee I.D.

PROOF OF LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS:

Your Permanent Resident Card, any written communication received from DHS confirming your status, or the presence of your Permanent Resident Card Number which begins with the letter "A".

FOUR IDENTICAL NATURAL COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS:

These photos of yourself must have been taken within the last 30 days. The photos must have a white background, be un-mounted, be glossy, and must not have been retouched. The photographs must show your entire face in a three-quarter (3/4) view showing your right ear and your left eye. The photographs cannot be larger than 2x2 inches. Once you have the photographs you must lightly print your complete name and Permanent Resident Card or Registration Number on the back of all four photographs.

PROCESSING TIME: Requests for Transportation Letter(s) will be officially accepted only after the above DHS requirements have been fully met and satisfied. The process takes from four to eight weeks to be completed. Please contact this Office after the fourth week from the date your request was officially accepted at the DHS window for an update on the status of your individual request(s) at (876)-926-6098. When your Transportation Letter(s) are completed, this Office will confirm a scheduled appointment date and time for you to appear at the DHS window to collect the Travel/Transportation Letter(s).

Instructions for the Transportation Letter Questionnaire

Instructions: To better assist you in the Transportation Letter process, it is extremely important that this Office is able to read the responses/information you provide on this form. Therefore, please print your responses to all questions legibly. In the event that you are unable to fill out this form and the attached "Record of Sworn Statement In Affidavit Form" on your own, the signature of the person preparing/answering the questions on your behalf will be required.

Transportation Letter Questionnaire

[*JG* 2]

Always so much dang paperwork.

[Islandwoman 0]

with a 10yr GC.immigration want to see u returning to ur home country..this is still a visitors visa and staying in the country for more than the allowed time doesn't look good in their eyes..why don't u guys file paper work for him to become a permanent resident and him staying in JA for 1yr looks better than him possibly overstaying. 10yr GC means he can travel onthe visa for 10yrs..not that he can stay in the country for yrs at a time. BTW does ur stepson live with u here in the states and only goes to JA in the summer?

I'm confused. I thought when you have a 10 year green card you are a permanent resident....???

EDIT: I see this was cleared up. Guess I should have read further....

Edited October 2, 2008 by Islandwoman