how long can a US permanent resident stay out of the US?
82638
There is no limit - you can stay out of the US for as long as you want.  But I think you meant how long can a US permanent resident stay out of the US WITHOUT losing the greencard.  \n\nFrom my experience, 6 months is recommended as a guideline to all my clients.  Beyond that, you risk losing your greencard when you try to enter the border.  \n\n6 months is recommended because it is the cut-off line in establishing continuous residency when you apply for naturalization (citizenship).  If you are absent for more than 6 months, your continuity breaks and you need to wait a longer period before applying.  \n\nTherefore, it would appear that 6 months should be a safe period.  Many permanent residents purposefully "visit" the US every 6 months to maintain their status.  \n\nHowever, if you do need to be abroad for more than 6 months, I recommend that you apply for a Reentry Permit.  (see link below).  It'll allow you to re-enter after extended absence.
426602
you cant just live in the US for a certain length of time, you have to be born there. Look at arnie. he has lived in the US for years, but he will never be able to be the president!
693971
REMOVING CONDITIONAL RESIDENCE \nIf the marriage is less than two years old when the foreign-born spouse becomes a permanent resident, the green card will expire after a two-year period. Both spouses must submit a joint petition (form I-751) to remove the two-year condition within the 90-day period immediately preceding the end of the two year period. \nIf the marriage has terminated by reason of divorce, death of the citizen spouse or spousal abuse, the foreign-born spouse may apply for a waiver of the joint petition requirement. \n\nOn April 10, 2003, the CIS issued a policy memorandum which states that a person who has obtained permanent residence based upon a marriage to a U.S. citizen can not submit an application for a waiver of the joint petition requirement based on the "good faith" marriage exception to the joint petition requirement until the person has obtained a final dissolution of the marriage.
964718
No, as long as you have your citizenship.  The One Year Policy only applies to green card holders.  Just make sure that, if you are working abroad, you file your American taxes or you could be in trouble with the IRS when you come back.
1105609
I'm not sure if I understand your question, but if you are a US citizen with Canadian permanent residency, you can keep your Canadian residence status as long as you remain in Canada at least 6 months out of 12.  My American parents have Canadian permanent residence status and they own homes in both countries and spend 6 months per year in each home.
841710
You need to fill out and file a form with CIS BEFORE you leave the United States.  You can be given up to two years.  You will need to explain exactly why you need to be outside the United States so long.\n\nRemember, don't leave until it's been filed and approved.  I'm told it takes about a month for approval.
1109734
The answer is you can lose your status. A permanet resident (not a citizen) can lose their opportunity to stay here(America) if they break a variety of laws. There are 15 violations listed of the paperwork... A simple DUI IS GROUNDS, not being able to support yourself......It's a very interesting ambigous law....
789771
I suggest you consult with an immigration lawyer rather than risk losing your green card status. Not paying US taxes is one of the grounds for the removal of your green card status\n\nFrom the USCIS website http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=fe17e6b0eb13d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=4f719c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD you may be found to have abandoned your permanent resident status if you:\n\n- Move to another country intending to live there permanently. \n- 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. \n- 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. \n- Fail to file income tax returns while living outside of the US for any period. \n- Declare yourself a “nonimmigrant” on your tax returns. \n\nIf you have to stay in Austria, I suggest you don't forget Uncle Sam.
312113
you can leave anywhere in the us legally...at the age of 18
603312
In immigration parlance a visa is a document that allows you to enter the country.\n\nYou have to stay until you have your interview. That's the one prior to being issued a temporary green card ("Resident Alien Card"). There is no set time because it always takes longer than the estimate, which is all the DHS will give you. In my case it was about a year. After your interview you can apply for a Travel Waiver. I never applied for one so I don't have any experience of that. I didn't go back 'home' until five years after I arrived.\n\nYour temporary green card is good for three years. In the meantime, usually about a year before it expires, you can start processing for your permanant green card ("Permanent Resident Card"). Once you have that you can come and go as you please.
966180
i got no clue. i didnt know u could be a permanent resident of any state
1170652
The simple answer is, 8 years. But, I'm sure there is more to it than that, such as what you can do during that time. Immigration laws can be confusing I'm sure.
632385
Yes, if you have your green card... after you get it you can travel all you want, the thing is that you shouldn't stay for more than 6 consecutive months out, and never for an entire year unless you ask for permission from the INS... cause if you get a green card is because you want to RESIDE in the US...
435245
As a green card holder, you have the right to reside in the US.  You also are allowed to travel anywhere and anytime you want.  The limitations on travel are that you must maintain your residence in the US.  This means you must work here, not work outside the US, pay taxes, and maintain a residence.  If you want to travel, you can generally travel for up to six months without any problems (keeping in mind the other conditions I mentioned earlier).  The only way that travel outside the US would affect your ability to apply for American citizenship is that you have to have a certain amount of physical presence in the US.  I am not sure what those requirements are now, and they are subject to change by the time you area eligible to apply.
575289
If they overstay their visa by one day, they are out of status and can be deported. If they overstay by 180 days to 364 days, they will not be able to re-enter the U.S. for 3 years. If they overstay for a year or more, they will not be able to re-enter the U.S. for 10 years.
941994
If a lawful permanent resident (LPR) stays out of the USA more than one (1) year (without prior approval from Citizen and Immigration Services (CIS.GOV)) then they may have been deemed to have abandoned their residency.\n\nThe intent of a LPR to remain a permanent residence in the U.S. is a key factor in the USCIS's determination whether the LPR abandons his/her permanent residence in the U.S. However, a mere oral or written statement of intent to remain a U.S. resident to the USCIS is not controlling. Apart from the length of the absence from the U.S., the USCIS will look to many objective facts that reflect the LPR's intent. The major factors that are considered in determining the LPR's intent include:\n\nThe length of the LPR's absence from the U.S.; \nThe purpose for the LPR's departure; \nThe existence of facts evidencing a fixed termination date for the stay abroad; \nThe continued filing of U.S. tax returns with the IRS in a resident status; \nThe location of the LPR's close family members; \nThe location and nature of the LPR's employment abroad; \nThe maintenance of other ties with the U.S. including mailing address, bank account, ownership of property, driver's license, club membership, mortgage, and credit card, etc. \nThe Totality Test to Determine the Alien's Intent\n\nNo single factor in the above list is controlling with regard to the alien's intent to maintain legal permanent resident status in the U.S. The USCIS officers will analyze all relevant factors and circumstances of the alien, and look to the "totality of the circumstances" to decide. \n\nAs a general rule, if a LPR leaves the U.S. for one year or less, he/she can use the green card as a reentry document. By contrast, when an alien is absent from the U.S. for more than one year, he/she may have a difficult time reentering the country because the USCIS takes the position that an absence of longer than one year in duration indicates a possible abandonment of U.S. residency. For those LPR’s who have been out of the U.S. for more than one year, they will need to obtain reentry permits or special immigrant visas. Many green card holders accordingly believe that in order to keep their LPR status they can simply return to the U.S. once a year and stay for several weeks. This, however, is a grave error. Merely returning to the U.S. and using the green card once a year has little bearing on the question of whether the LPR has maintained the intention to remain a permanent resident of the U.S. In fact, although some aliens have returned to the U.S. more often than once a year, they lose their LPR status because they lack sufficient ties with the U.S. indicating that they consider the U.S. to be their country of permanent residence. An alien may have multiple residences as a LPR, however, in order to keep his/her green card, he/she must retain the U.S. residence as the permanent one. \n\nTherefore, all LPR’s who wish to keep their green cards should take the necessary steps in accordance with the above to establish sufficient facts evidencing that they are maintaining strong ties with the U.S. and retaining the U.S. as their permanent home.\n\nNecessary Steps to Assure Continuity of LPR Status\n\nAn LPR who will travel abroad for a considerable length of time should take certain steps to assure that his/her permanent resident status will not be lost.\n\n· Filing Tax Returns as a U.S. resident \n\nUnder all circumstances, a LPR must file tax returns as a U.S. Resident Alien annually with the IRS. To properly file such a tax return, the LPR must claim his/her worldwide income in the return. Filing a tax return as a resident alien does not necessarily mean that the alien must actually pay income taxes if he/she is employed overseas, because treaties and foreign tax credits may minimize the tax amount actually paid to the IRS. Filing tax returns as a non-resident alien will raise an assumption that the alien has
778426
YES.....Your friend CAN file to remove conditions alone even if married less than 2 years, if she already holds a Conditional Permanent Resident card, but will need to file a Waiver of Joint Filing citing spousal abuse. \n\nYour friend will not, however, be able to file any earlier than 90 days before the expiration date of her Conditional Permanent Resident card.