How soon one can travel after GC approval?

[mlck78 0]

Hi Everyone,

We are having our AoS interview on 3/17/21 in Newark, NJ. How soon after getting the approval notice (fingers crossed) can we travel abroad? Do we have to wait for the actual GC to arrive in the mail or can we leave the day after we get the approval text message? In the later case we would have the GC forwarded to our foreign address before returning to the US.

Thank you,

Peter

[Crazy Cat 41,851]

How would you re-enter the US without evidence of your status?  You will need the Green Card or a stamp in your passport as evidence to board a flight.  A text is not valid evidence.

Edited March 10, 2021 by Lucky Cat

[aaron2020 11,651]

Best to wait and take the green card with you.

 

You don't want it to get lost in transit to you overseas.  This has happened to people.  

[aaron2020 11,651]

Peter - just read your other post.  You're going to need to get a Re-Entry Permit if the plan is to be outside the US for 1-2 years.  Gonna be really rough on you to get the necessary paperwork together for ROC and showing that legal residency has been maintained.  

[Crazy Cat 41,851]

23 minutes ago, aaron2020 said:

Best to wait and take the green card with you.

 

You don't want it to get lost in transit to you overseas.  This has happened to people.  

Agree....and there is a possibility the Green Card could have an error.  It is wise to wait until it is in hand.

[mlck78 0]

On 3/10/2021 at 6:02 PM, aaron2020 said:

Peter - just read your other post.  You're going to need to get a Re-Entry Permit if the plan is to be outside the US for 1-2 years.  Gonna be really rough on you to get the necessary paperwork together for ROC and showing that legal residency has been maintained.  

That is a good point, thanks for bringing that up. The original plan was not to travel outside after getting the GC but Covid turned our lives upside down. How long can we be away still being ok at ROC? We have a house in NJ, we file taxes jointly...

[igoyougoduke 1,656]

17 hours ago, mlck78 said:

That is a good point, thanks for bringing that up. The original plan was not to travel outside after getting the GC but Covid turned our lives upside down. How long can we be away still being ok at ROC? We have a house in NJ, we file taxes jointly...

anything more than a 1 year is considered abandonment of GC  and the most important thing is CBP needs to be convinced that you have not abandoned GC status