Travelling/living overseas with Green Card

[postholedigger]

Hi! I had a question. It might seem kind of dumb but the question is this. Once I have a green card, what's the deal with traveling abroad? Do I need advance parole? What if (for an example) I am actually LIVING (abode) in Mexico but WORK in the US, going across the border often. Would that pose a problem since I wouldn't technically be RESIDING in the US? Do I need to actually be living in the US for X-percent of the time or I lose my green card? Do I just have to show up in the US and not be absent longer than X-amount of months or years to keep my green card? Is there someone who can point me in the right direction or tell me where I can find things like this out? Thanks so much!

 

[amishah]

Hi! I had a question. It might seem kind of dumb but the question is this. Once I have a green card, what's the deal with traveling abroad? Do I need advance parole? What if (for an example) I am actually LIVING (abode) in Mexico but WORK in the US, going across the border often. Would that pose a problem since I wouldn't technically be RESIDING in the US? Do I need to actually be living in the US for X-percent of the time or I lose my green card? Do I just have to show up in the US and not be absent longer than X-amount of months or years to keep my green card? Is there someone who can point me in the right direction or tell me where I can find things like this out? Thanks so much!

To maintain your Permenant Residency, you have to be living in the US. According to the rules, to maintain GC you have to come in the US every 11 months but if you do this very often then you will be questioned at port and they may cancel your GC. Also if you live out side US then that small period of time that you spent in the US won't count towards the Citizenship requirement since for Citizenship you can not live out side more than 5 months out of a year.
This is all scenario that I can think of. Now it is your call what is important for you and what you want to do.

 

[dr_lha]

I think you're on dangerous ground living outside of the US, even if you spend most of your time here working. Green Cards are for US immigration (i.e. coming to live here), if you don't actually immigrate they'll take it away for you.