living abroad while on 10yr GC

[charlie & yeng 0]

There's a possibility that we may go back to Singapore for a few months to a year soon. Has anyone done that while in posession of their 10-yr GC? If anyone has any experience in this, I'd appreciate hearing about it.

Thanks!

[Mononoke28 135]

As an LPR you should not stay outside of the US for more than 6 months, after that the Immigration officer at POE may give you a hard time of why you stayed away for so long but will let you go through. At 12 months you will definitely have a very good reason to explain your absence and hope that they let you through.

The best thing would be to file for Advance Parole before you leave the US just in case your trip takes closer or longer than a year. This AP will allow you to stay outside of the country for up to two years, but it has to be filed before you leave.

Diana

[Completely 3]

There's a possibility that we may go back to Singapore for a few months to a year soon. Has anyone done that while in posession of their 10-yr GC? If anyone has any experience in this, I'd appreciate hearing about it.

Thanks!

Hi Charlie, & Yen.. You may want to apply for a travel document, I just forget the form for this but research this online.. This form will allow you to be outside in the US even 2 years .. They will issue your wife a card that looks like a passport..

My supervisor's wife is from Bosnia, and he went to Middle East to work.. They said it takes a lot of money to go back and forth to the US so they applied for this Travel Document Request. I emailed my friend to ask for the exact form.. Email me sometime and maybe I have the answer for the form.

[Reba 2]

She'll actually need a re-entry permit, not AP.

Of course while she is living outside the country she is not accruing time toward her eligibilitly to apply for citizenship.

[Reba 2]

sorry for triple post, connection is messed up these days,

Edited July 28, 2008 by Reba

[Reba 2]

She'll actually need a re-entry permit, not AP.

Of course while she is living outside the country she is not accruing time toward her eligibilitly to apply for citizenship.

[Mononoke28 135]

You're correct, I meant to say that form I-131 needs to be filed before leaving the country which is the same form used for AP.

Diana

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Also, maintain a US address for mail or some such that you can list as your US residence. Giving up US residence to live abroad is considered a reason to cancel permanent residence status. Make sure they know it is only temporary and that you plan on returning and maintain some sort of identity in the US while out of the US (ie address, bank accounts, etc.).