How long you were allowed??

[mrsGORE 13]

So finally after 2 mos after the the interview got Card production and hopefully I will the GC next week

my question is

1.how long I can stay out the country with my 2yr Conditional GC??

2.Will I purchase the ticket match with my passport or GC? (passport still in maiden name)

3.any idea how soon I'll get the GC after CPO??

[himher 634]

We stayed out 11 straight months in 2009 on a conditional GC (>330 days for tax purposes). I think it's a VJ record.....

So finally after 2 mos after the the interview got Card production and hopefully I will the GC next week

my question is

1.how long I can stay out the country with my 2yr Conditional GC??

2.Will I purchase the ticket match with my passport or GC? (passport still in maiden name)

3.any idea how soon I'll get the GC after CPO??

[mrsGORE 13]

We stayed out 11 straight months in 2009 on a conditional GC (>330 days for tax purposes). I think it's a VJ record.....

Wow really and you dont encounter any problem after??

was planning to stay with my family back home for a month but i heard that its better to stay for only less than a month or 3weeks...for me thats too short knowing that this my ist time visit to my family after 5 years...

[hmh33 117]

Anything less than 6 months will be no problem at all. (Assuming you don't do anything stupid that could be interpreted as establishing residency abroad)

[mrsGORE 13]

Anything less than 6 months will be no problem at all. (Assuming you don't do anything stupid that could be interpreted as establishing residency abroad)

Oh i got..but yeah I'll behave and don't do anything that will create a negative effect to my residency...

thanks.........

[Tahoma 2,292]

I think the name on your ticket should match the name on your passport. Call the airlines to make sure.

[mrsGORE 13]

I think the name on your ticket should match the name on your passport. Call the airlines to make sure.

yeah I'll do that...

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

So finally after 2 mos after the the interview got Card production and hopefully I will the GC next week

my question is

1.how long I can stay out the country with my 2yr Conditional GC??

2.Will I purchase the ticket match with my passport or GC? (passport still in maiden name)

3.any idea how soon I'll get the GC after CPO??

1. 12 months without an advanced parole. If you stay out of the country more than 6 months bring with you evidence you maintained your residency. Drivers license, bank information, tax return, etc. for your return. Our son did an entire college education while an LPR and stayed out of the country for up to 10 months at a time, never had a re-entry permit and always carried evidence of maintaining his residency. Stays of more than 6 months CAN affect your eligibility for citizenship depending on the reason.

2.Match the passport, carry evidence of your marriage to explain the name change. You sue the green card only for entry back into the USA so it is important the ticket matches your passport

3. None.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Anything less than 6 months will be no problem at all. (Assuming you don't do anything stupid that could be interpreted as establishing residency abroad)

More or less true. Multiple absences of 4 months, for example, could raise questions. If you will have frequent extended abseces always carry evidence of maintaining residenmy

[mrsGORE 13]

thanks for all the response....I'm just planning to stay out of the country for 4weeks....

[Noel194 53]

Losing Permanent Residence Because of Travel

There are many myths about how long a permanent resident (green card holder) may remain outside of the United States before losing his or her green card status. This article will address some of those myths and provide the information necessary to try and avoid getting into trouble due to staying outside of the U.S. longer than the immigration law permits.

Myth 1 - Now that I have my green card I can move back to my country.

If you remain outside of the U.S. for more than one year continuously, you may lose your green card automatically. The Immigration Service takes the position that if you stay out this long, you have abandoned your green card status.

Myth 2 - If I visit the U.S. once a year I’ll be okay.

This is wrong. The law and the Immigration Service look to your intent or the purpose of your travel, not just whether you have returned to the U.S. once in a while. In fact, even if you travel to the U.S. frequently but you are living abroad, the Immigration Service may find that you have abandoned your residence and revoke your green card. The test is whether you intended to be abroad temporarily or whether you plan to live abroad permanently, not simply the time you spend outside of the U.S.

For example, if a person stays outside of the U.S. continuously and returns every few months but has no roots in the U.S., such as a job, bank accounts, a home, yearly tax returns, etc., the Immigration Service may find abandonment. On the other hand, if a person has strong ties to the U.S. but only returns once a year because he or she is abroad taking care of an ill or elderly family member, a finding of abandonment would not be appropriate if all other aspects of the person’s life establish that he or she has no intent of abandoning his or her residence (e.g., maintains a home, pays taxes, owns a business, etc.).

In determining whether a person has abandoned his residence, the courts have generally looked at the following factors: a. Purpose of departure; b. Existence of fixed termination date for visit abroad; and c. Objective intention to return to U.S. as place of permanent employment or actual home.

How will the Immigration Service know how long I’ve been gone?

This typically occurs either at the time you return to the U.S. and come through customs or when you apply for citizenship and the Immigration Service inquires about your travels.

It is important to note that you have the right to contest the Immigration Service's allegation that you have abandoned your residence.

In order to prevail on a finding that someone has abandoned her green card status, the Immigration Service must prove by clear, unequivocal and convincing evidence that residence has been abandoned.

If it was not your intent to abandon your residence and you maintained strong ties to the U.S., do not be intimidated by the Immigration Service merely because an immigration officer makes allegations of abandonment – make them prove it!

Myth 3 - I am automatically eligible for citizenship after five years.

One last point about traveling abroad is that it may effect your eligibility for U.S. citizenship. In addition to maintaining your ties to the U.S., you must also be physically present in the U.S. for certain periods of time in order to be eligible for citizenship. Generally, you must be physically present in the U.S. for at least half of the previous five years.

For most travelers, abandonment of residence will not be an issue, but for those who stay outside the U.S. for extended periods of time, the above tips should be kept in mind.

[mrsGORE 13]

Losing Permanent Residence Because of Travel

There are many myths about how long a permanent resident (green card holder) may remain outside of the United States before losing his or her green card status. This article will address some of those myths and provide the information necessary to try and avoid getting into trouble due to staying outside of the U.S. longer than the immigration law permits.

Myth 1 - Now that I have my green card I can move back to my country.

If you remain outside of the U.S. for more than one year continuously, you may lose your green card automatically. The Immigration Service takes the position that if you stay out this long, you have abandoned your green card status.

Myth 2 - If I visit the U.S. once a year I’ll be okay.

This is wrong. The law and the Immigration Service look to your intent or the purpose of your travel, not just whether you have returned to the U.S. once in a while. In fact, even if you travel to the U.S. frequently but you are living abroad, the Immigration Service may find that you have abandoned your residence and revoke your green card. The test is whether you intended to be abroad temporarily or whether you plan to live abroad permanently, not simply the time you spend outside of the U.S.

For example, if a person stays outside of the U.S. continuously and returns every few months but has no roots in the U.S., such as a job, bank accounts, a home, yearly tax returns, etc., the Immigration Service may find abandonment. On the other hand, if a person has strong ties to the U.S. but only returns once a year because he or she is abroad taking care of an ill or elderly family member, a finding of abandonment would not be appropriate if all other aspects of the person’s life establish that he or she has no intent of abandoning his or her residence (e.g., maintains a home, pays taxes, owns a business, etc.).

In determining whether a person has abandoned his residence, the courts have generally looked at the following factors: a. Purpose of departure; b. Existence of fixed termination date for visit abroad; and c. Objective intention to return to U.S. as place of permanent employment or actual home.

How will the Immigration Service know how long I’ve been gone?

This typically occurs either at the time you return to the U.S. and come through customs or when you apply for citizenship and the Immigration Service inquires about your travels.

It is important to note that you have the right to contest the Immigration Service's allegation that you have abandoned your residence.

In order to prevail on a finding that someone has abandoned her green card status, the Immigration Service must prove by clear, unequivocal and convincing evidence that residence has been abandoned.

If it was not your intent to abandon your residence and you maintained strong ties to the U.S., do not be intimidated by the Immigration Service merely because an immigration officer makes allegations of abandonment – make them prove it!

Myth 3 - I am automatically eligible for citizenship after five years.

One last point about traveling abroad is that it may effect your eligibility for U.S. citizenship. In addition to maintaining your ties to the U.S., you must also be physically present in the U.S. for certain periods of time in order to be eligible for citizenship. Generally, you must be physically present in the U.S. for at least half of the previous five years.

For most travelers, abandonment of residence will not be an issue, but for those who stay outside the U.S. for extended periods of time, the above tips should be kept in mind.

thanks for the info....

I will be stay out for the country for only 3-4weeks...thats for sure

[ceadsearc 516]

You'll be fine!! Have fun!

[mrsGORE 13]

You'll be fine!! Have fun!

thanks...