How long can a Green Card holder stay outside the US?

[Nouchigang 200]

Hello VJ community,

 

I hope I posted in the right forum.

My mother has a 10 year GC, she lives with us and helps take care of our children.

She needs to get Eye surgery but since she doesnt qualify for health insurance here, and has to handle some personal affairs back home, so early next year we are planning for her to be away for about 8 to 9 months.

We were told that the time limit now for a permanent resident to be outside of the US without having to request a visa has now changed from 6 months to a year is it true? I searched online on the USCIS and didn't find any recent update.

All I could find thru Google is that if you spent less  1 year and 1 day outside of the US you can travel back to the US without a travel permit/visa request but of course it will be at the discretion of the immigration officer.

Anybody heard anything about this recent change or have a recent experience about this please?

Your help will be appreciated

 

Thank you 

 

[arken 4,197]

Nothing has changed. Go by the official link/info not rumors.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-we-grant-your-green-card

 

Reminders about Green Card Benefits

You can use your Green Card to:

• Prove employment eligibility in the United States when completing the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification.
• Apply for a Social Security Card and a state issued driver’s license.

A Green Card is valid for readmission to the United States after a trip abroad if you do not leave for longer than 1 year. If your trip will last longer than 1 year, a reentry permit is needed.

Visit Settling in the U.S. for information on many different topics about living in the United States and a welcoming guide in multiple languages for new permanent residents.

Edited August 13, 2022 by arken

[Lil bear 4,218]

4 minutes ago, Nouchigang said:

Hello VJ community,

 

I hope I posted in the right forum.

My mother has a 10 year GC, she lives with us and helps take care of our children.

She needs to get Eye surgery but since she doesnt qualify for health insurance here, and has to handle some personal affairs back home, so early next year we are planning for her to be away for about 8 to 9 months.

We were told that the time limit now for a permanent resident to be outside of the US without having to request a visa has now changed from 6 months to a year is it true? I searched online on the USCIS and didn't find any recent update.

All I could find thru Google is that if you spent less  1 year and 1 day outside of the US you can travel back to the US without a travel permit/visa request but of course it will be at the discretion of the immigration officer.

Anybody heard anything about this recent change or have a recent experience about this please?

Your help will be appreciated

 

Thank you 

 

Over 6 months triggers a  break in continuity of residdncy for naturalization purposes.. over 12 months triggers the question of failure to maintain lpr conditions .. not difficult to overcome if strong ties are maintained .. but for safety i would recommend she applies for a reentry permit which gives her up to 2  years out of the US without any ussues with reentry. She can apply, stay in the US until she does biometrics, then leave and pick up the permit at her overseas US consulate. She may plan for only 9 months but you never know what may eventuate 

[Boiler 45,525]

First question is about how she well get it done in Canada?

 

Also she does qualify for Health Insurance as a US PR.

[Crazy Cat 41,888]

35 minutes ago, Nouchigang said:

Hello VJ community,

 

I hope I posted in the right forum.

My mother has a 10 year GC, she lives with us and helps take care of our children.

She needs to get Eye surgery but since she doesnt qualify for health insurance here, and has to handle some personal affairs back home, so early next year we are planning for her to be away for about 8 to 9 months.

We were told that the time limit now for a permanent resident to be outside of the US without having to request a visa has now changed from 6 months to a year is it true? I searched online on the USCIS and didn't find any recent update.

All I could find thru Google is that if you spent less  1 year and 1 day outside of the US you can travel back to the US without a travel permit/visa request but of course it will be at the discretion of the immigration officer.

Anybody heard anything about this recent change or have a recent experience about this please?

Your help will be appreciated

 

Thank you 

 

There has been no change in policy.  Over 6 months can cause scrutiny.  Over a year will require a reentry permit.  But,  @Boiler raises some good points. 

[SalishSea 17,836]

3 hours ago, Nouchigang said:

Hello VJ community,

 

I hope I posted in the right forum.

My mother has a 10 year GC, she lives with us and helps take care of our children.

She needs to get Eye surgery but since she doesnt qualify for health insurance here, and has to handle some personal affairs back home, so early next year we are planning for her to be away for about 8 to 9 months.

We were told that the time limit now for a permanent resident to be outside of the US without having to request a visa has now changed from 6 months to a year is it true? I searched online on the USCIS and didn't find any recent update.

All I could find thru Google is that if you spent less  1 year and 1 day outside of the US you can travel back to the US without a travel permit/visa request but of course it will be at the discretion of the immigration officer.

Anybody heard anything about this recent change or have a recent experience about this please?

Your help will be appreciated

 

Thank you 

 

(Assuming she’s from Canada), you might want to confirm that she hasn’t lost her provincial health care coverage by becoming a US resident.   @Ontarkie ?

[Nouchigang 200]

4 hours ago, Boiler said:

First question is about how she well get it done in Canada?

 

Also she does qualify for Health Insurance as a US PR.

My mum is from Ivory Coast, that's where I am originally from and where she plans on getting the Eye Surgery sorry for the confusion

For Health insurance she does qualify you are right but private plans are so expensive and since she didn't work here she doesnt qualify for Medicare yet according to my research, (we are in MD) and I cant add her to my health insurance through my job

 But If you have any tips for me I will gladly accept about affordable health insurance plans. She got her GC in Dec 2020

4 hours ago, Lil bear said:

Over 6 months triggers a  break in continuity of residdncy for naturalization purposes.. over 12 months triggers the question of failure to maintain lpr conditions .. not difficult to overcome if strong ties are maintained .. but for safety i would recommend she applies for a reentry permit which gives her up to 2  years out of the US without any ussues with reentry. She can apply, stay in the US until she does biometrics, then leave and pick up the permit at her overseas US consulate. She may plan for only 9 months but you never know what may eventuate 

I see thank you for clarifying

[Nouchigang 200]

4 hours ago, arken said:

Nothing has changed. Go by the official link/info not rumors.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-we-grant-your-green-card

 

Reminders about Green Card Benefits

You can use your Green Card to:

• Prove employment eligibility in the United States when completing the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification.
• Apply for a Social Security Card and a state issued driver’s license.

A Green Card is valid for readmission to the United States after a trip abroad if you do not leave for longer than 1 year. If your trip will last longer than 1 year, a reentry permit is needed.

Visit Settling in the U.S. for information on many different topics about living in the United States and a welcoming guide in multiple languages for new permanent residents.

Thank you for the link

[Boiler 45,525]

https://www.marylandhealthconnection.gov/glossaryslug/affordable-care-act/

[SalishSea 17,836]

49 minutes ago, Nouchigang said:

My mum is from Ivory Coast, that's where I am originally from and where she plans on getting the Eye Surgery sorry for the confusion

For Health insurance she does qualify you are right but private plans are so expensive and since she didn't work here she doesnt qualify for Medicare yet according to my research, (we are in MD) and I cant add her to my health insurance through my job

 But If you have any tips for me I will gladly accept about affordable health insurance plans. She got her GC in Dec 2020

I see thank you for clarifying

Ah, okay.  Thanks for clarifying.