How long u can be out of USA after GC?

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blessed_by_INS

Registered Users (C)
Hi gurus
I got my GC last month after a long ordeal of 6 years.But Now I want to go to India for good.Can some one tell me how long I can be out of USA ( if want citizenship :rolleyes: ) ? My welcome letter says 1 year whereas some folks says 180 days.Can some one shed some light on this issue. It is really funny, that all along I was chasing this fu**ing card and now I want to go.But thats life.I will appreciate some serious answer to this deliberation.
 
Checkout the following links:
* http://www.immihelp.com/greencard/retain-greencard.html
(Search for Maintaining Permanent Residence)
* http://www.murthy.com/pr_thngs.html
(Search for Travel)

Source Murthy.com:

For individuals who need or want to leave the United States for an extended period of up to two years, it is necessary to obtain a reentry permit. This permit often establishes permission to reenter the U.S. to resume un-relinquished residence. This works well for individuals who wish to work or study abroad, visit or care for family for long periods, take care of financial matters or property dispositions, or otherwise explore the world for more than a year.
 
Just FYI, even with re-entry permit, you will still need to show a strong tie here in US. Otherwise, they can still refuse your entry. Good luck.
 
First of all, congratulations for your GC (yay)

There're 2 issues here: Keeping your GC active and becoming a citizen

They can take away your GC for whatever reason they like. So say if you're absent for 6 months without getting a re-entry permit before you leave, you should be worried.

Generally speaking, you have to wait for 5 years before applying for citizenship. You also have to be living here for 2.5 years out of those 5 years to be eligible. If you ever go on a trip, it can't be over 6 months, or else you'll have to count those 5 years from the beginning.

So I can so imagine you spending 1/2 year here and 1/2 year there. Unless you own your own your business or you're a housewife/househubby (j/k), I don't see how you can do it.

If you're desperate for the citizenship, I'd sit here for another 5 years before leaving if I were you. Otherwise, be happy that your GC is still active and keep renewing it every 10 years.

You can look up more information on eligibility from http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/us...nnel=96719c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD
 
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You may be found to have abandoned your permanent resident status if you:

* Move to another country intending to live there permanently.
* Remain outside of the US for more than one year without obtaining a reentry permit or returning resident visa. However in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the US may be considered, even if it is less than one year.
* Remain outside of the US for more than two years after issuance of a reentry permit without obtaining a returning resident visa. However in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the US may be considered, even if it is less than one year.
* Fail to file income tax returns while living outside of the US for any period.
* Declare yourself a “nonimmigrant” on your tax returns.

Source:
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/us...nnel=4f719c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD
 
Thank you all

Hi there
Thank you all for such informative links and info. I am going thru those links and does not seems to be cake walk to maintain the GC.Even I wait for 5 years, my son will be just 15 and hence 3 more years wait for him.Then I will be be left with no energy to do some thing afresh. So then there will be no point in going back to India.WoW .No I will not fall into another loop.God bless America.
Thanks you all and good luck for your GC and citizenship.
 
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