Going home for a visit

[MrsH23 37]

Hi guys been a while since I’ve been on here. I’ve had my greencard since December 2020. I haven’t been home in 5 years and I just recently found out a member of my immediate family is very sick with cancer. As a greencard holder how long is an acceptable time to go home to your home country?(uk) also I didn’t know what section to put this question in. Has anyone as a greencard holder went home for a long period of time ? 

[Crazy Cat 41,884]

A Green Card holder can stay outside the US for up to a year without obtaining a re-entry permit.  Just be prepared to possibly answer questions when you return if your stay is longer than 6 months.  

[Loren Y 2,755]

As others have said, up to 12 months is pretty much the Max. Over 6 could end up with questions, but technically not wrong. If you have some time before you have to leave, you can apply for a reentry permit just to be safe, or if you know it will be under a year you should be fine. Also, I always recommend keeping track of your time outside the US for trips or vacations, as you will have to have dates and time out of the US when you apply for citizenship. I have an excel spreadsheet I keep track of the wifes days outside of the US.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

3 hours ago, MrsH23 said:

Hi guys been a while since I’ve been on here. I’ve had my greencard since December 2020. I haven’t been home in 5 years and I just recently found out a member of my immediate family is very sick with cancer. As a greencard holder how long is an acceptable time to go home to your home country?(uk) also I didn’t know what section to put this question in. Has anyone as a greencard holder went home for a long period of time ? 

 We have a VJ friend who had to go back to Essex to care for her extremely ill Mum. She was an only child and had to be the care giver. Mum appeared to be close to death, but good care kept her going. Our friend was gone at least 2.5 years and had to apply for something at the embassy…maybe a special visa??  She was able to return. Perhaps my wife will remember. She and the friend still keep in touch.

 

Does anybody know what I’m talking about? What other ways could one return after a long absence? 

 

 

 

[Boiler 45,522]

SB1?

[Wuozopo 4,293]

41 minutes ago, Boiler said:

SB1?

Yes that’s the number 👍

 

 

Returning Resident Visas (SB1)

Permanent resident aliens, who were unable to return to the United States for reasons beyond their control within the travel validity period of the Permanent Resident Card (Green Card), or the Reentry Permit, may apply for a special immigrant Returning Resident(SB1) visa.