Question about traveling on new Green Card

[Boulder Eric 0]

Hi all,

My wife just received her conditional Green Card about 2 weeks ago, and she's already looking forward to traveling back home this summer to visit her family who she hasn't seen in almost a year.

I understand that when booking her airline tickets that we should use her maiden name since that's the name still in her Russian passport. For re-entry to the US, she will need to use her Green Card and show a copy of our marriage certificate to the immigration officer at the POE. Correct?

My big question is in regards to what's considered an "extended stay" outside the US. She would like to go visit for two months (June and July). I will be with her in Russia for most of June, but will need to return because of work (I'm a US Citizen). Are there any penalties or risks to her losing her Green Card if she stays two months outside the country? I've heard that spending 6 months or more outside the US during the conditional period can put your status at risk. Can anyone confirm or clarify this info? Thanks!

[motu 6]

My wife was in India and then in Colombia for 5 months and just came back in March. No questions asked. Don't worry about it - anything up to six months is considered okay by most, some even say up to a year is okay, but I think a year is a little dangerous. Good Luck

[Phoenix_Guy 0]

FROM USCIS.GOV:

Maintaining Permanent Residence:

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.