What is next after the Permanent Resident Card

[catfrances 3]

Hi All,

Sorry to ask a simple question, but I am confused what come next on the "to do list for never ending visa processes".

I have the Permanent Resident Card that is due to expire in March next year and I have been looking through the forums but getting confused with the lingo on here

Can someone advise what the next step is, roughly how long it takes and cost's?

Is the next step aiming to get the 10 year card?

Also I want to go home to the UK in December, am I allowed to do this if I start paper work again for the next step?

Any Help appreciated, thanks all!

[IzelNAl 0]

Yes 3 months before your 2 year Green card expires you should apply for the lifting of condition which means to get your 10 year Green Card . About your 2nd question , YES you can go anywhere outside the US as long as your 2 year GC is not yet expired and if you are planning to go outside the US while your filling for lifting of condition is on process you can still travel outside the US just make sure that you will be back in US before the expiration date of your 2 year GC comes that way you will not gonna have problems of entering US again.

[catfrances 3]

Thank you.

What is the 10 year card called?

When you get that, is that it for nearly 10 years?

Can you leave the states and live back in the UK for say a year when you have it?

[Chocolot 0]

Thank you.

What is the 10 year card called?

When you get that, is that it for nearly 10 years?

Can you leave the states and live back in the UK for say a year when you have it?

The 10 year card is the same as your current green card, it just isnt 'conditional' and lasts for 10 years before it expires. You may choose to renew it after 10 years or apply for naturalisation and become an American citizen after 3 years if you are eligible and still married to the USC, or else wait 5 years.

You can apply for the removal of conditions 3 months before the expiry of the conditional *2 year* card that you currently have. If you need to travel before you get the 10 year card but after the expiry of the 2 year one, it is possible to make an appointment at your local uscis office and obtain a stamp in your passport to indicate your legal status, so that you can return to the US.

A green card or aka permanent residence card is usually valid only while you reside in the USA and trips for longer than 6 months can be problematic, depending on circumstances I think you can apply for a return visa if you need to be away for longer, but am not sure about those details, and you can probably find the answers in the guides or by a search of the forum.

good luck, best wishes on the next stage of your journey

Edited September 7, 2009 by Jayde