Greencard! Only 6 months to establish residency in US?? HELP/Confused

[Mr. S 0]

Hi everybody,

not sure if this is the right forum, if it isn't I apologize. Hopefully you all can still help me out.

Ok so here's my situation. I'm german and my wife is american and we're both living in Germany.

I already found out that I could file my petition for the greencard through the embassy here in Germany and that it would be most likely be faster this way. We've already been married for over five years.

I would like to get a greencard so that I can give it a try and join the US Air Force, however I read that once my greencard has been approved I only have six months to move to the states and establish my residency there. And if I don't do it within the six months my greencard expires and I would have to do everything (paperwork/paying) again. Is that correct so far?

Since I've been out of school for a very long time I might have a hard time learning/passing the test (ASVAB) to join the US military. So if for some reason I fail the test once or twice and I decide to take a different path and not join the military and stay here in Germany for another few years but move to the states later what's going to happen to my greencard?

I always thought that once I have a greencard I could live anywhere in the world without it expiring?!

Could I travel to the states after I receive my greencard and establish residency there and maybe after a month or so just come back to Germany.

Or would that be considered an illegal thing?

Please adivse!! I really want to give the Air Force a shot but the only thing that discourages me is not making it in six months and then having to re-do everything again and of course I don't want to be paying for it twice either.

If anybody has had a similar situation where you received your greencard but are not currently living in the US please let me know.

Please please people!! I would appreciate any kind of advice!!

Thanks in advance.

[Cesar & Cata 35]

Hi everybody,

not sure if this is the right forum, if it isn't I apologize. Hopefully you all can still help me out.

Ok so here's my situation. I'm german and my wife is american and we're both living in Germany.

I already found out that I could file my petition for the greencard through the embassy here in Germany and that it would be most likely be faster this way. We've already been married for over five years.

I would like to get a greencard so that I can give it a try and join the US Air Force, however I read that once my greencard has been approved I only have six months to move to the states and establish my residency there. And if I don't do it within the six months my greencard expires and I would have to do everything (paperwork/paying) again. Is that correct so far?

Since I've been out of school for a very long time I might have a hard time learning/passing the test (ASVAB) to join the US military. So if for some reason I fail the test once or twice and I decide to take a different path and not join the military and stay here in Germany for another few years but move to the states later what's going to happen to my greencard?

I always thought that once I have a greencard I could live anywhere in the world without it expiring?!

Could I travel to the states after I receive my greencard and establish residency there and maybe after a month or so just come back to Germany.

Or would that be considered an illegal thing?

Please adivse!! I really want to give the Air Force a shot but the only thing that discourages me is not making it in six months and then having to re-do everything again and of course I don't want to be paying for it twice either.

If anybody has had a similar situation where you received your greencard but are not currently living in the US please let me know.

Please please people!! I would appreciate any kind of advice!!

Thanks in advance.

In order to maintain permanent resident status, you actually need to be a permanent resident, meaning you need to live/reside in the USA. This is met by living in the US a minimum of 6 months out of the year.

Edited August 12, 2012 by Cesar & Cata

[Anh map 2,098]

You receive a green card upon entering the US with a valid immigrant visa. It is not issued outside of the US. A green card is for living in the US. Serving in the active duty military would not cause your GC to lapse.

It seems that you have some more information gathering ahead of you to determine your course of action.

[Darnell 8,478]

you have confused 'greencard' with 'visa'.

you have 6 months to make that first immigration trip into the USA.

After you are in USA, you will receive a 10 year green card.

[Ryan H 3,812]

I already found out that I could file my petition for the greencard through the embassy here in Germany and that it would be most likely be faster this way. We've already been married for over five years.

Your wife files the petition, not you. You will apply for a visa.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Silly question , but if you have been out of school for a long time how old are you ? The air force has the lowest max age of all the branches and if you have ages out then you can't join.