Who uses my address?

[Hannah7]

I am starting as a permanent resident in September , and after one month comming back to Europe for almost year to finish studyies in order to continue in the U.S.

I have one friend who will help me to catch my green card on her american address , but I am not sure whether I can use her mailbox further.

For what is the mailbox neccessary if don't have to pay any bills yet ( no mortgage , no phone operator ) ?

Two questions:

1) U.S. bureaus are gonna send me only welcome letter and G.C. as default , right?

2) If I had (for example) a bank account, I could say them to send me the prospective bank statements to Europe address ?

 

[Username123]

I think you need to set up a mail address with a mail forwarding company. I intend to do the same thing and use bongous.com. Disclamer: this is not advertising. Please recommend a better provider if you know one.

 

[Jackolantern]

For what is the mailbox neccessary if don't have to pay any bills yet ( no mortgage , no phone operator ) ?

You should have a US address if you want to hold on to your green card after taking long trips outside the US. And establish a US bank account and have the statements sent there.

 

[Hannah7]

You should have a US address if you want to hold on to your green card after taking long trips outside the US. And establish a US bank account and have the statements sent there.

No doubt, it's better to have U.S. address. But I am like newcomer and total stranger. Maybe I can make some friends during one month and ask them to help me with that.

Do you think it's a problem not having a bank account opened? I've got my account in Switzerland ( USD account ).

 

[aabbcc11]

I seriously doubt anyone will permit their adress to be used by a stranger. There are several mail holding companies who will collect your mail and then resend it to your foreign address. Mailboxes inc is one such service but you will have to research their costs and reliability.

 

[Jackolantern]

No doubt, it's better to have U.S. address. But I am like newcomer and total stranger. Maybe I can make some friends during one month and ask them to help me with that.

Do you think it's a problem not having a bank account opened? I've got my account in Switzerland ( USD account ).

The "problem" is with taking an "almost a year" trip outside the US while having a green card. Having a US address (preferably a real house or apartment, not just a PO Box or forwarding service), and a US bank account (preferably one that was established prior to the long trip and maintained throughout, with substantial funds in it not just a couple hundred dollars), are two important ways of overcoming that problem. In addition, get a state ID or driver's license.

The US government is more strict on permanent residents than many other countries treat their permanent residents. The US will revoke your green card if they find that you really are residing primarily outside the US.

As a green card holder you need to report your worldwide income. That includes the interest on your non-US account, and any income for working while you are studying overseas. Note that you won't necessarily have to actually pay tax to both countries, as there are taxation treaties and foreign tax credits whereby you can cancel out most or all of the extra tax, but you still need to report the income on your US tax return next April.