Does anybody know how long

[kotag kris]

a GC holder(if it is a child) can stay out of the country?without the GC status getting effected

 

[rsrgc]

6 months

6 months is allowed but if the child needs to stay for more time u have to apply to ins explaining the reason and then get their approval

 

[Karunesh Srivastava]

Findout from INS

This is a tricky question..

I have heard ( I cannot validate it though) that child can remain outside the country for longer times also.. Example, to get education in their own country.. Also, one of the parents can also accompany them.. It is just like that you can go outside the country for 2 years in a stretch on pretext of re-location after GC approval. But only once in your lifetime..

But again, finout from your attorney or INS..

 

[rsrgc]

reply

I have been listening to a program on satellite tv dish network
there is a program on a channel called TV asia which features on sunday afternoon 2=00 pm to 2=30 pm call Immigration where a prominent Immigration attorney Suresh Dalal from New Jersey answers questions sent to him by email and Fax and letters

He maintains that any person holding a Green card should not be out of the country for more than 6 months. If person needs to do so he should contact INS and fill a form and explain the reason and obtain a waiver for the same.
If he does not do so then it is upto the discretion of the officer at the port of entry to allow or to disallow the person
Normally they do allow a first offence with a warning
but after september 11 his advice is not to take a chance

It is not difficult to apply to INS and get a waiver
Go to the service center and make enquiries or contact ur attorney and do the needfull

also u may visit \'after green card experiences\' - i hope that in that section of this bulletin board this has been covered

 

[kotag kris]

Thanks<EOM>

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