Time Spent Outside the US? (split)

[Hamm 0]

I got my green card in August 2013.

I stay 2 times outside the united states more than 6 months and less than a year

for my studies. and now i'm in the USA 9 months ago.

my question is I will have problems with naturalization ? and what is going to happen after the expiration of my green card for 5 years ( august 2018) ? if i'm not eligible for naturalization i can lose may statut green card holder ? thank you .

[arken 4,197]

I got my green card in August 2013.

I stay 2 times outside the united states more than 6 months and less than a year

for my studies. and now i'm in the USA 9 months ago.

my question is I will have problems with naturalization ? and what is going to happen after the expiration of my green card for 5 years ( august 2018) ? if i'm not eligible for naturalization i can lose may statut green card holder ? thank you .

Your green card has a validity of 5 years!!!!!

As long as you can provide evidences that you have maintained your primary residence in the US in those times when you were out of the US, you are good. Look up in N-400 instructions on what sort of evidences required. If you can't provide such evidences, you have to wait for another 5 years from the last entry to the US.

[JimmyHou 611]

Trips over 6 months may be a problem but not always. You would have to convince the interviewer that you were continuing to reside in the U.S. And that the trips were only temporary. If you had ties to the U.S., like a house, a car, bills, dependence, etc then it shouldn't be hard. If not then you may be denied for not meeting this condition. You have a decent chance of approval since your trips were under a year, but it will depend on your ability to show that you were not living abroad and rather just visiting.

If you are denied you can reapply when you meet the condition.

The only way you could lose your green card is if they determine that you effectively abandoned your green card by moving abroad. That is not going to happen with two trips of under a year so don't worry about it.

I don't know why your green card is valid for 5 years. That's very unusual. It's supposed to be good for 10 years.

When a 10 year green card expires, your status does not. You are still a legal permanent resident. You just need to renew your card to travel or if you need to prove your status to certain agencies that ask for proof.

Are you sure your green card is good for 5 years only?

[akihon 129]

Trips over 6 months may be a problem but not always. You would have to convince the interviewer that you were continuing to reside in the U.S. And that the trips were only temporary. If you had ties to the U.S., like a house, a car, bills, dependence, etc then it shouldn't be hard. If not then you may be denied for not meeting this condition. You have a decent chance of approval since your trips were under a year, but it will depend on your ability to show that you were not living abroad and rather just visiting.

If you are denied you can reapply when you meet the condition.

The only way you could lose your green card is if they determine that you effectively abandoned your green card by moving abroad. That is not going to happen with two trips of under a year so don't worry about it.

I don't know why your green card is valid for 5 years. That's very unusual. It's supposed to be good for 10 years.

When a 10 year green card expires, your status does not. You are still a legal permanent resident. You just need to renew your card to travel or if you need to prove your status to certain agencies that ask for proof.

Are you sure your green card is good for 5 years only?

Maybe he means it expires in 5 years?

[Hamm 0]

Trips over 6 months may be a problem but not always. You would have to convince the interviewer that you were continuing to reside in the U.S. And that the trips were only temporary. If you had ties to the U.S., like a house, a car, bills, dependence, etc then it shouldn't be hard. If not then you may be denied for not meeting this condition. You have a decent chance of approval since your trips were under a year, but it will depend on your ability to show that you were not living abroad and rather just visiting.

If you are denied you can reapply when you meet the condition.

The only way you could lose your green card is if they determine that you effectively abandoned your green card by moving abroad. That is not going to happen with two trips of under a year so don't worry about it.

I don't know why your green card is valid for 5 years. That's very unusual. It's supposed to be good for 10 years.

When a 10 year green card expires, your status does not. You are still a legal permanent resident. You just need to renew your card to travel or if you need to prove your status to certain agencies that ask for proof.

Are you sure your green card is good for 5 years only?

my green card expire in 2018 (5 years )

[Ontarkie 14,230]

~~Post split off from another members thread. 2 more posts removed from other threads. Do not post your question in other members threads. Any further thread hijacks will result in administrative action.~~

[arken 4,197]

You will not be illegal just because your permanent GC card expired (unless it was a conditional card). Since your N400 processing will take several months, you will have no valid GC card in that time but you won't be illegal. It's up to you whether you will just want to wait for citizenship or apply for GC renewal.

[JimmyHou 611]

Maybe he means it expires in 5 years?

my green card expire in 2018 (5 years )

Ok, got it! Thanks!

You will not be illegal just because your permanent GC card expired (unless it was a conditional card). Since your N400 processing will take several months, you will have no valid GC card in that time but you won't be illegal. It's up to you whether you will just want to wait for citizenship or apply for GC renewal.

Agree with this.

You'll still be a permanent resident if your green card expires.

You can even get a temporary green card stamp if your naturalization application is pending at that time.

Answers to original question about eligibility above.