Hello,
I am a US citizen. My wife is from Argentina and holds a 10 year green card. Her and I have been married and lived in the USA since 2008. She hasn't travelled outside the USA in 6 years since we had 2 kids. The only time she would have travalled before was to visit Argentina for about 1 month per year.
I have received an offer to do a temperary assignment in Japan for 2.5 years. I want to take her and the kids there with me during the assignment. We have no intention of staying in Japan, We would return to USA. My company would easily provide evidence in a letter if needed.
I read that with a GC and leaving the USA for long periods of time, specifically more than 1 year is grounds for abandoning her PR. So I saw there is a form for I-131. A few questions I have
1) If we apply for I-131 would we be able to go to Japan starting in Feb 2024? Is that enough time to get approval? Would this qualify for expedite? I read on USCIS website I-131 are taking 17 months to process.
2) Is an I-131 required? If my wife were to come home to USA for a month in the middle of the assignment would that satisfy her not abandoning her permanant resident status? We wil do the I-131 anyway to express our intention of returning. I think if she is gone so much during the next 2 years they will quesiton her without it.
3) Is there a danger in my wife doing this with me and having her GC revoked?
Has anyone ever done something similar to this and can share their experience?