IR-5 Parent length of Stay outside US

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

6 months is incorrect, you may have got that confused with the continuous residence for naturalization.  12 months is the cutoff.

Most of my family were out for 11 months after we got our green cards as it was a fairly complex situatIon wrapping things up at “home” before the move. But I got a bigger grilling coming back for a short trip after 5 months than they did after 11, and I’m convinced it was because my first trip back was on a return ticket out, the 11 month reentry everyone was on one-way tickets, so the intent was clear. One longish absence is generally not a huge issue, repeated ones will be, especially as described above. As others have said, she needs to choose where she actually wants to live.  A green card is not a “super visa” or a “plan B card” - it’s for residing in the US.

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

16 hours ago, greatk said:

another followup question - can she come back within 180 days and then goes back after 2-3 months for another 4-5 months?

Sure she can do that. Does she plan to re-enter the US at the end of that second 4-5 months, however? How good will your mom be holding up against potentially aggressive CBP questioning trying to determine whether or not she has abandoned residence? That travel pattern sure looks like a 2-month visit to the US from her home elsewhere. What concrete ties in the US will she have to show? Does she have an apartment in her own name? A job? A drivers license and car? Own insurance policies on health and property?etc?

[WeGuyGal 1,052]

I'm certain it applies to other nationals too, but having lived in India, I've seen close up how Indian nationals tend to push the envelope with US immigration.. living in the US close to 6 months on a B2 visa, spending a good length of time in India on a GC. 

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

11 minutes ago, WeGuyGal said:

I'm certain it applies to other nationals too, but having lived in India, I've seen close up how Indian nationals tend to push the envelope with US immigration.. living in the US close to 6 months on a B2 visa, spending a good length of time in India on a GC. 

And it always works, until it doesn’t. As one can see in the tourist visa forum especially, once a B visa is revoked it’s usually the end of the line forever.

i guess with a parent GC it’s just a case of how much money the kids are prepared to throw at sponsoring new ones, at least until the category gets ditched.