Effect of moving out of country on Permanent Resident status

[HeartOfAllThings 2]

I hope I'm posting in the right section. Here it goes:

I got my permanent resident status in February of 2011. Since then, loads of stuff happened, along with raising our first child who is now just over a year old.

To keep things short, we're considering moving to Canada next Spring. This would be after removing conditions at the two-year mark. How would living abroad affect my status? Meaning, if we want to move back to the US, will I have to go through the whole deal again? Or is my green card valid so long as I keep renewing it?

Thanks for your help!

[Kastrs 723]

In order to maintain permanent resident status you must remain a permanent resident, meaning if you spend more time out of the us than in the us you are no longer a permanent resident.

[didopage 337]

Read this link: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=3f443a4107083210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=3f443a4107083210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

"You may be found to have abandoned your permanent resident status if you:

• Move to another country intending to live there permanently"

So if you decide to move to Canada for a while, you will have to start all over again (spousal visa) in order to move back to the US in the future.

In short it's simple: if you don't intend to reside in the US, then you can't be a permanent resident (green card holder) of this country anymore.

If you plan to leave the US temporarily, then read this link: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=0c353a4107083210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=0c353a4107083210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

[caly 48]

Unless the move is immediately required, I'd wait a bit more, apply for US citizenship at the 3 year mark, and become a US citizen before I move if I were in your position. Just a thought.

[HeartOfAllThings 2]

I appreciate all you guys' input. It's pretty much as I thought. Just wasn't entirely sure since I had a couple friends living in Montreal that both had green cards for a long time while living there.

I also made a mistake in the date of my approval for permanent residence. 2012, not 2011. Not sure if we're willing to wait two years(+ however long it takes after we apply)! It is a good point though. I guess we have some thinking to do!

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

*** Moving from AOS to Travelling During US Immigration forum for more answers *****

[Nisha 1]

Yes, I would wait and get citizenship before you move. The consensus seems to be that if you spend more than 12 months abroad, your status is revoked. I assume you would have to go through the whole process all over again if you ever wanted to move back to the US. However, if you're planning to stay in Canada for less than 2 years, you can file I-313 which gives you a re-entry permit that's valid for 2 years.