Green card holder and foreign assignment with present US emplyer

[sargodhian]

Hello everyone,

My present US employer is sending me to the middle east to fill a position that has been vacant for over a year. I will be back in USA after 23rd month from the date of start to re-file my re-entry permit and possible citizenship application. My employer is willing to file all necessary documents like N-470, Re-entry permit and all the legal paper work so that I can get my citizenship on time. I am in the USA for over 13 years. I got my green card in May 2005, so I am about 2 month short of my physical presence in the USA. If everything goes as planned, I will be leaving at the end of September 2007. I will be selling my home but will be renting a small basement to store my stuff. I will have my bank account, credit card, 401k, and mailing address in the USA. I will also file my yearly federal and state taxes. I would like to know:

1. Is there any thing else I need to file so that I don’t lose my green card and opportunity to be US citizen when I will be eligible around Feb. 2010?
2. Will I be eligible for Foreign Earned Income credit while working abroad and filing as US resident for tax purpose. I did some research and found out that I will not be able to file for citizenship if I declare and non-resident on my state tax return.
3. I will be based in Dubai but will be traveling about 17 countries year around, is it going to effect my situation?

Please let me know if there is anything else I need to be aware of before I commit for this assignment. This is long term assignment.

Thank you all for your help and inputs

[Micronesia]

Originally Posted by sargodhian

Hello everyone,

My present US employer is sending me to the middle east to fill a position that has been vacant for over a year. I will be back in USA after 23rd month from the date of start to re-file my re-entry permit and possible citizenship application. My employer is willing to file all necessary documents like N-470, Re-entry permit and all the legal paper work so that I can get my citizenship on time. I am in the USA for over 13 years. I got my green card in May 2005, so I am about 2 month short of my physical presence in the USA. If everything goes as planned, I will be leaving at the end of September 2007. I will be selling my home but will be renting a small basement to store my stuff. I will have my bank account, credit card, 401k, and mailing address in the USA. I will also file my yearly federal and state taxes. I would like to know:

1. Is there any thing else I need to file so that I don’t lose my green card and opportunity to be US citizen when I will be eligible around Feb. 2010?
2. Will I be eligible for Foreign Earned Income credit while working abroad and filing as US resident for tax purpose. I did some research and found out that I will not be able to file for citizenship if I declare and non-resident on my state tax return.
3. I will be based in Dubai but will be traveling about 17 countries year around, is it going to effect my situation?

Please let me know if there is anything else I need to be aware of before I commit for this assignment. This is long term assignment.

Thank you all for your help and inputs

1)Keep in mind that You need return back to US to reapply for a new/(extension)REP before the expiry of validity of previous REP .
The applications need to be applied /signed by YOU only and not by your Employer and Employer can only provide documents substantiating the reuirements in 470 etc.
2)For taxes refer my other thread.
3)Once you satisfy REP and N470 issuance conditions in toto,it doesn't matter where you are stationed and you can travel to 100 countries if you wish but only you should be working with N470 qualified employer for which N470 is issued and have an valid REP/N470.
4)Maintian all other requisites stipulated to mainatin PR status as per CIS.

[Micronesia]

Originally Posted by Micronesia

1)3)Once you satisfy REP and N470 issuance conditions in toto,it doesn't matter where you are stationed and you can travel to *100 countries* .

As a word of caution --visiting some countries from or US or by an US GC, have some restrictions from US side(For example visiting Cuba from US side and may raise some Qs).
See my replies for a thread about 'Cuba' travel.
This is only a caution to be more safe but not an 'alarming' thing.
Check the DOS travel advisory for the lists and with notations which you can avoid if you want/or can.