Departing and the returning to the US with conditional GC

[Deagle 508]

Hi everyone,

I have a 2 years conditional GC and I want to visit my country for a week or 10 days, I am in the Us since 11 month,not even a year. Is it ok if I travel then return to the US using my GC? Is there anything specific I need to do or to know? Thanks!

[ndprulx 5]

u can travel without any restrictions, as long as your trips are of certain duration, such as not exceeding 6 months.

[Deagle 508]

u can travel without any restrictions, as long as your trips are of certain duration, such as not exceeding 6 months.

Thanks

[Dave&Roza 748]

Hi everyone,

I have a 2 years conditional GC and I want to visit my country for a week or 10 days, I am in the Us since 11 month,not even a year. Is it ok if I travel then return to the US using my GC? Is there anything specific I need to do or to know? Thanks!

You are a LPR and have the rights and responsibilities of any LPR that has a GC. You may leave the US and return using your GC. You may want to check out the USCIS website about maintaining your LPR status and what a trip greater than 6 months does to your ability to get citizenship.

Trips that are less than 6 months are not an issue unless you take several in a row and spend more time outside the US than in the US. Trips between 6 months and a year can be done. Expect to show that you are still residing in the US. A trip greater than 6 months does break your continuous residency used for citizenship. Any trip greater than a year and up to two years requires a re-entry permit to be applied for before leaving. Any trip greater than two years causes you to loose your LPR status.

Book your tickets in the name that is in your passport. You will need to show the GC and your passport in order to board the airplane back to the US. You only have to show your GC upon entering the US, but the last couple of times the CBP person wanted to see my wife's passport too. Also, you must have the proper visas when traveling based on your home countries requirements--this is for destinations other than your home country. The GC may make obtaining a visa easier than I you applied from your home country.

Enjoy your trip,

Dave

Edited December 15, 2015 by Dave&Roza

[Deagle 508]

You are a LPR and have the rights and responsibilities of any LPR that has a GC. You may leave the US and return using your GC. You may want to check out the USCIS website about maintaining your LPR status and what a trip greater than 6 months does to your ability to get citizenship.

Trips that are less than 6 months are not an issue unless you take several in a row and spend more time outside the US than in the US. Trips between 6 months and a year can be done. Expect to show that you are still residing in the US. A trip greater than 6 months does break your continuous residency used for citizenship. Any trip greater than a year and up to two years requires a re-entry permit to be applied for before leaving. Any trip greater than two years causes you to loose your LPR status.

Book your tickets in the name that is in your passport. You will need to show the GC and your passport in order to board the airplane back to the US. You only have to show your GC upon entering the US, but the last couple of times the CBP person wanted to see my wife's passport too. Also, you must have the proper visas when traveling based on your home countries requirements--this is for destinations other than your home country. The GC may make obtaining a visa easier than I you applied from your home country.

Enjoy your trip,

Dave

I am only traveling for one week and my wife is not going with me. I don't know if as a GC holder do I need a transit visa for Canada and Switzerland?

[NikLR 13,227]

Not for Canada you will not. Green card holders do not need special visas to visit Canada. I'm unsure about Switzerland however.

[Dave&Roza 748]

I am only traveling for one week and my wife is not going with me. I don't know if as a GC holder do I need a transit visa for Canada and Switzerland?

As a US GC holder, you can travel in the Western Hemisphere and some countries will accept the GC instead of a visa. For international travel, you will have to see if a person from Lebanon needs a visa in order to travel to that country. My wife needs a visa in order to travel to any EU country, but she can travel to Russia without a visa, but I need one. All the GC does is allow you back into the US without the need for a visa.

Dave