green card travel in china

[jim&huiyun 0]

Hello. i hope there is someone out there who can help my lao po and i.

My step daughter, who is 21, is currently a green card holder (2 year card). She also holds a Chinese passport (PRC) and currently, is visiting friends and relatives in China. She has been out of the country since November 1, 2009. Basically, she is unsure if she wants to live in the U.S. on a full time basis and is not planning on returning to the U.S. soon. I have heard through the grapevine, that if she stays outside of the U.S. for more than 6 months, she is risking not being let back in (even as a green card holder).

How long can she stay out of the U.S. before she risks not being allowed back into the country (she came to the U.S. as a k-2 visa holder).

Any help is very much apprciated.

[HeatDeath 430]

Fortunately, this question has a nice, simple, cut-and-dried answer. She can stay out for a year. If she tries to come back after more than a year without a reentry permit (which she would have to have obtained before she left) the CBP officer will rule that she has abandoned her permanent residence and will not let her in.

Also, if she stays out for more than 6 months it will delay her eligibility for naturalization, not that she is probably planning on that at this point anyways (especially since China revokes your Chinese citizenship if you get American citizenship, as far as I know).

[jim&huiyun 0]

Fortunately, this question has a nice, simple, cut-and-dried answer. She can stay out for a year. If she tries to come back after more than a year without a reentry permit (which she would have to have obtained before she left) the CBP officer will rule that she has abandoned her permanent residence and will not let her in.

Also, if she stays out for more than 6 months it will delay her eligibility for naturalization, not that she is probably planning on that at this point anyways (especially since China revokes your Chinese citizenship if you get American citizenship, as far as I know).

Thank you so much for your reply. Like you said, i am even sure she wants to return, but it is good to know she has up to one year before her entry would be revoked

[Otto 83]

Thank you so much for your reply. Like you said, i am even sure she wants to return, but it is good to know she has up to one year before her entry would be revoked

Something you could do is a Google-search for "Maintaining Permanent Residency Status" for more on this subject - there are some ins-outs that you'll want to be aware of.

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp...048890d3c90c6fc

[jim&huiyun 0]

Something you could do is a Google-search for "Maintaining Permanent Residency Status" for more on this subject - there are some ins-outs that you'll want to be aware of.

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp...048890d3c90c6fc

thank you very much for your reply. There certainly are some ins-outs, from what i have just researched on google. Good information for anyone in this situation