How long can a lawful permanent resident with a green card stay outside of the country without losing their LPR status?

[FrenchieNewYorker 0]

Hello everyone,
 

Looking for some insight here... Originally from France, I have a green card valid through 2027, and I have had to spend bigger chunks of time in France for family reasons over the past year. This will continue in 2024. 

 

I have always been warned that in order to maintain my lawful permanent resident status, it was imperative that I spend at least 6 months in the US every year. Is this still the case today? A friend told me that as a LPR with a green card, you are now allowed to spend up to a year outside of the country without losing your status. The information seems to be confirmed by this article published in July 2023: https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-820?language=en_US

Am I understanding this correctly? I will potentially be out of the country for 6 months depending on what happens back home, but per the above article, my status should be ok, meaning I don't need to apply for a re-entry permit (I-131). 

Would love some insight if anyone knows. 

Thank you very much for your help and guidance. :)

[Lemonslice 4,836]

Time spent outside of the USA is only one factor.  

Please refer to this page to see how you can be deemed to have abandoned your permanent residence, and how to maintain it. 

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

[Boiler 45,467]

If you are going for a long time then a re entry permit would be good insurance.

[OldUser 6,633]

If you spend over 6 months outside of the US on any given trip, you break continuous residence. This means, you can only naturalize 5 years after returning from a long trip (or 3 years based on marriage to a US citizen).

 

If you spend over a year outside of the US, then you risk losing LPR status altogether.

 

I-131 sounds like a good idea unless you're returning shortly for good, which you aren't based on what you described.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 28, 2023 by OldUser

[FrenchieNewYorker 0]

Thank you. I should have been more clear, apologies. The 6 months wouldn't be continuous. It would be over 6 months throughout the year, with periods of 4-6 weeks at a time. Does that change anything?

[Boiler 45,467]

Does not sound like an issue.

[randomstairs 303]

23 hours ago, FrenchieNewYorker said:

I will potentially be out of the country for 6 months depending on what happens back home

You should be fine but do get the re-entry permit just in case. Also, do not refer to any country that is not the US as "home" - unless that's actually the case, of course. Maintaining the LPR status means that your home is in the US, and only in the US.