how long I can stay in my home country.

[Oneil76 0]

Hi everyone!

I am planning to go home to Manila this year and will stay there for 3 months. Can I do that? I have a 10 year Green Card. I came here last September 2015.

[teeak 224]

Yes. Just don't stay out of the country for more than 1 year.

[Georgia16 2,858]

Yes you can stay for 3 months. Enjoy your visit home

[Greenbaum 12,262]

There is no single rule for how long you can or cannot leave the U.S. However, if you keep in mind that your goal is to demonstrate to a border official that your permanent residence is in the U.S., here are some general guidelines: Entering the U.S. within six months of leaving will usually avoid any problems. Avoid leaving the U.S. for more than a year and If you do plan on being outside of the U.S. for a year or more, apply for a reentry permit.

So, if your plan is for only three months then you will have no problems with reentry into the U.S.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hi everyone!

I am planning to go home to Manila this year and will stay there for 3 months. Can I do that? I have a 10 year Green Card. I came here last September 2015.

Sure you can, no issue with staying three months. My wife and I visited last summer for 3 months.

[Hank_ 9,174]

There is no single rule for how long you can or cannot leave the U.S. However, if you keep in mind that your goal is to demonstrate to a border official that your permanent residence is in the U.S., here are some general guidelines: Entering the U.S. within six months of leaving will usually avoid any problems. Avoid leaving the U.S. for more than a year and If you do plan on being outside of the U.S. for a year or more, apply for a reentry permit.

So, if your plan is for only three months then you will have no problems with reentry into the U.S.

It is getting back in the USA where the rules apply.

Does travel outside the United States affect my permanent resident status?

Permanent residents are free to travel outside the United States, and temporary or brief travel usually does not affect your permanent resident status. If it is determined, however, that you did not intend to make the United States your permanent home, you will be found to have abandoned your permanent resident status. A general guide used is whether you have been absent from the United States for more than a year. Abandonment may be found to occur in trips of less than a year where it is believed you did not intend to make the United States your permanent residence. While brief trips abroad generally are not problematic, the officer may consider criteria such as whether your intention was to visit abroad only temporarily, whether you maintained U.S. family and community ties, maintained U.S employment, filed U.S. income taxes as a resident, or otherwise established your intention to return to the United States as your permanent home. Other factors that may be considered include whether you maintained a U.S. mailing address, kept U.S. bank accounts and a valid U.S. driver’s license, own property or run a business in the United States, or any other evidence that supports the temporary nature of your absence.

What if my trip abroad will last longer than 1 year?

If you plan on being absent from the United States for longer than a year, it is advisable to first apply for a reentry permit on Form I-131. Obtaining a reentry permit prior to leaving the United States allows a permanent or conditional permanent resident to apply for admission into the United States during the permit’s validity without the need to obtain a returning resident visa from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. Please note that it does not guarantee entry into the United States upon your return as you must first be determined to be admissible; however, it will assist you in establishing your intention to permanently reside in the United States. For more information, see the “Travel Documents” page.

• If you remain outside of the United States for more than 2 years, any reentry permit granted before your departure from the United States will have expired. In this case, it is advisable to consider applying for a returning resident visa (SB-1) at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. An SB-1 applicant will be required to establish eligibility for an immigrant visa and will need a medical exam. There is an exception to this process for the spouse or child of either a member of the U.S. Armed Forces or civilian employee of the U.S. Government stationed abroad on official orders. For more information on obtaining a returning resident visa, see the Department of State’s webpage on returning resident visas.

https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-green-card-granted/international-travel-permanent-resident

https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-green-card-granted/maintaining-permanent-residence

[Greenbaum 12,262]

Yup. Pretty much what I said but without the wind. :-)

[Oneil76 0]

Thank you so much Greenbaum, Hank_, Georgia16, Teeak for all the answers that you have provided.:-)

[Greenbaum 12,262]

YW

[CheDan 4]

Hi everyone!

I am planning to go home to Manila this year and will stay there for 3 months. Can I do that? I have a 10 year Green Card. I came here last September 2015.

Are you married more than 3yrs? You came here from K1 visa? Edited April 12, 2016 by CheDan

[Oneil76 0]

Are you married more than 3yrs? You came here from K1 visa?

Hi! :-). I came here in an IR1 Visa.