Got my greencard. What's next?

V

Victoria20

New Member
Hello everyone! I just got my greencard, in september, but I'm not living in hte USA. I'm doing my bachelor's in Europe. I understood that it's mandatory to visit the US at leats every 6 months after the issue date of the greencard. Can somebody please confirm this? Are there any other (serious, urgent-to-be-taken-care-of) rules that I need to know about?
I appreciate the information!
 
Let me clarify a few things:

You only have to "visit" the US every 12 months to maintain the greencard.

The "every 6 months" is a mix of maintaining the greencard (requires no absence of more than 12 months without a reentry permit) and maintaining the counter towards US citizenship (no absence of more than 6 months for the eligibility period to apply for US citizenship - 3 years in case of marriage to a US citizen, 5 years in all other cases).

Having said all that, please keep in mind that "visiting" in order to maintain the greencard is not going to work indefinitely. Basically at some arbitrary point the border guards will either advise that the practice cannot continue or take away the greencard and send you to an immigration judge, so either way it's not practical for eternity.

However, if you graduate soon and then plan to make the move, I would not expect too many problems.
 
Risah said:
You only have to "visit" the US every 12 months to maintain the greencard.
Click to expand...

You cannot "visit" the US as a GC holder, since if you visit the US it means you do not reside here, and you must reside here as a permanent resident. Returning to the US for a few days every six to twelve months is not guaranteed to maintain the GC, nor will it count for continuous residency purposes towards naturalization.

Having said all that, please keep in mind that "visiting" in order to maintain the greencard is not going to work indefinitely. Basically at some arbitrary point the border guards will either advise that the practice cannot continue or take away the greencard and send you to an immigration judge, so either way it's not practical for eternity.
Click to expand...

Agreed. And with increased tracking of departures and arrivals, it gets less practical every year.

However, if you graduate soon and then plan to make the move, I would not expect too many problems.
Click to expand...

Yes. When does the OP plan to return to the US?
 
I think you misunderstood. You are meant to "live" in the US not "visit" as a GC holder
 
I cannot start a new thread so I'm gonna put my question here.

What has changed since adopting new healt care reform? Is now everybody obligated to get a medical insurance?
 
And one more important question. When does this HEALTH CARE REFORM enter into effect - is it NOW or later in 2013 ??
 
Hannah7 said:
And one more important question. When does this HEALTH CARE REFORM enter into effect - is it NOW or later in 2013 ??
Click to expand...

Don't count your chickens until they are hatched (is this how they say it). Nothing is signed. The reconciled bill is not even approved by either house or senate. Things might change.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top