Question:
I recently received my Green
Card, and I am planning to travel outside of United States for more
than one year due to my work and family reason. How to keep my Green
Card in the United States? and I can come back later without any
problem to enter United States?
Answer:
A Green Card holder (U.S. lawful permanent or conditional resident) can
travel outside the U.S. and return, with some limitations. A reentry
permit can help prevent two types of problems: 1) your Green Card
becomes technically invalid for reentry into U.S., if you are absent
from U.S. for one year or more; 2) your Green Card status may
be considered as abandoned for absences shorter than one year, if you
take up residence in another country.
A reentry permit establishes that a Green Card holder did not intend to
abandon U.S. permanent residence status, and it allows you to apply for
admission to U.S. after traveling abroad for up to 2 years without
having to obtain a returning resident visa. If you are a Green Card
holder planning to travel outside of U.S. for one year or more, it is
important that you apply for a reentry permit
A reentry permit is used when a U.S. Green Card holder wishes to leave
the United States for a period of between 1 year and 2 years, but does
not want to be viewed as having abandoned the U.S. residence or Green
Card. The USCIS Form I-131 is used to apply for a Reentry Permit.
As a Green Card holder, you must be in United States when applying for
a reentry permit, and must attend the USCIS biometrics appointment
before leaving United States. But you can request to pick up the
reentry permit approval at a U.S. embassy in your home country, or you
can ask that it be sent to an overseas address. The reentry permit
itself looks similar to a passport, and will contain your photo. It
will normally expire after 2 years.
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