Travelling Back to Home Country after Immigration

[LightSear 8]

This seems like a simple question, but I still seem to have difficulties navigating around the visajourney website to find answers I'm looking for.

My Chinese wife is planning on immigrating with me to the US in June. We both live in China now. We are married and will use Direct Consulate Filing. She has some concerns that if her elderly parents become seriously ill she won't be able to go back to China to visit her parents.

Are there restrictions of travelling when you have arrived in the US? Would she apply for a tourist visa to go China when she is in the US? How long could she stay in China?

Thanks all. I love the support at visajourney.

[Boiler 43,434]

That would depend on what country she is a citizen of, she gave up her Chinese citizenship?

[Jawaree 717]

She should be able to travel back or if not get Advance Parole for

an emergency travelt

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

If she enters with a spousal visa, then she will become a permanent resident upon entry. She can travel freely and re-enter the US as a LPR.

As for how long she can stay.. she would need to maintain her permanent residency and if she ever needs to be out of the US for longer than a year, she should file for a re-entry permit, not advance parole. http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/B5en.pdf

[CowBoE 429]

This seems like a simple question, but I still seem to have difficulties navigating around the visajourney website to find answers I'm looking for.

My Chinese wife is planning on immigrating with me to the US in June. We both live in China now. We are married and will use Direct Consulate Filing. She has some concerns that if her elderly parents become seriously ill she won't be able to go back to China to visit her parents.

Are there restrictions of travelling when you have arrived in the US? Would she apply for a tourist visa to go China when she is in the US? How long could she stay in China?

Thanks all. I love the support at visajourney.

I assume she's a Chinese citizen, then she certainly would not need a tourist visa (from China)

to go back to China. KDC answered your question on her ability to return to US.

[Pitaya 2,576]

To visit her parents in China:

If she is a Chinese citizen (i.e., still has a valid Chinese passport), and is a US permanent resident (LPR); she will need her valid Chinese passport to enter China, and her valid Green Card to gain re-entry to the US. As a LPR, generally, her length of stay in China cannot exceed 180 days, otherwise USCIS may consider the LPR status abandoned.* (*Review KayDeeCee's link for further specific details.)

If she is a US citizen, she will need her US passport with the appropriate Chinese visa attached (obtained prior to the intended visit). the authorized length of stay is stated on the Chinese visa. Check with the PRC embassy/consulate located near you for more details.

Good luck on your journey.

Edited January 30, 2015 by A&B

[LightSear 8]

Thanks All. You answered my question. She will most likely stay a Chinese citizen for a while especially if it gives her easy access to get back to China. We haven't thought that far down the road. She is much more attached to her parents than China itself.

[LightSear 8]

My wife had an additional question. When she returns to US after being in China for a while, what is the minimum about of time she needs to stay in the US?

[aaron2020 11,651]

My wife had an additional question. When she returns to US after being in China for a while, what is the minimum about of time she needs to stay in the US?

There is no set minimum time.

A green card is for living in the US. The general rule of thumb is that one should spend more time at home rather than time abroad.

Google "maintaining legal permanent residency."