Request for clarification + question about residency requirement

[educatedcat]

Dear friends,
THANK YOU for this wonderful site--which kept me sane during the four years I struggled in I-485 hell. Now, it has been a year since I got my green card. I have read the USCIS pages on residency requirements, but maybe I am dumb, because I am confused. If you will be patient with me and answer the following questions, I will be really grateful.

1. To maintain GC, I have to remain in the US for more than six months total PER year or can I be outside the country for only six months (cumulatively) in all the five years I have before I can apply for citizenship? I am completely confused about this.

2. I may be marrying someone who is a US citizen by birth. Now, he is thinking of attending graduate school for two years in Europe, starting in September (the two year anniversary of my getting GC through my employer). Because I want to start a family and be with him, is there any way I can move to Europe with be with him after we have married and while he is studying?

3. If I marry my American bf, will my GC status change or be affected?

4. If I take a leave of absence from my job for two years to be with my bf/hopefully (fingers crossed) husband, will my GC be revoked?

I really don't know where to start my research on getting answers, so I hope someone will help me here.

 

[happigal]

I would say read this as it will provide the answers that you seek.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/M-476.pdf

If you plan on leaving the US for more than one year, it is advisable that you apply for a re-entry permit so that you don't loose your green card status.

This part will be of interest to you (it's from pg.22 of the Guide to Naturalization):

Q: What if I was outside the United States for 1 year or
longer?

A: In almost all cases, if you leave the United States for 1 year or more, you have disrupted your continuous
residence. This is true even if you have a Re-entry Permit.
If you leave the country for 1 year or longer, you may be eligible to re-enter as a Permanent Resident if you have a Re-entry Permit. But none of the time you were in the United States before you left the country counts toward your time in continuous residence.

If you return within 2 years, some of your time out of the country does count. In fact, the last 364 days of your time out of the country (1 year minus 1 day) counts toward meeting your continuous residence requirement.


Your status shouldn't change as you already have your green card. Just get a re-entry permit if you plan to be away for longer than a year. Good Luck!