Hello! I would really appreciate if anyone could help me out here!🙏💦
<My situation>
I have an Advance parole(expires in 2025) and am still waiting for my green card.
I traveled outside the US for a consecutive 95days this year. I had no issue of reentering the US with my AP.
In October I want to travel again for 140days consecutively till February, 2024.
But I am expecting and hoping that my GC will arrive before October, because USCIS is currently reviewing my RFE response that "will help them make final decision on my case" according to the RFE letter.
The letter sounds like I might be lucky to get my GC without an interview before October.
❓<My questions>❓
1) I heard two different rules so far that you shouldn't travel outside the US for more than 180days, or 1 year in a year.
But both the USCIS and US customs&border protection webpages say that a green card holder can travel upto a year in one trip without reentry permission.
https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-we-grant-your-green-card/international-travel-as-a-permanent-resident
https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-820?language=en_US
Where did the "6 months rule" come from? and which is true, 1year or 6months?
Is it the same rule for AP holders also?
2) My friend(green card holder) told me that the US customs and border officer told her "you cannot travel outside the US for more than 180days with GC. The 180days is counted from the first day of your departure from the US."
Has anyone heard or experienced the similar situation as my friend? I cannot find such information neither on USCIS or US customs&border protection webpages.
She traveled for 181days and was finally allowed to reenter the US after a few hours of questions by the officer.
3) If I receive GC before October, is my past travel days outside the US with my AP going to be renewed? (meaning that my travel days will be counted from zero again because I will use my GC in the next trip)
Thank you so much for reading this and I would really appreciate your help!
Best,