Jump to content
Hamza Sufi

How long can you stay outside the US with non conditional greencard

 Share

27 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Pakistan
Timeline
21 minutes ago, Nitas_man said:

The rules say up to (1) year

After 6 months they may or may not bring you to secondary.  

After a year they can assume you have abandoned residence and send you to immigration court.

 

When you return IF they bring you to secondary clearly explain what you were doing and be firm (but polite) that you are not surrendering your green card or going back.  They cannot take your green card, only an immigration judge can do that so you have to get a hearing.

 

As the loss of your father extended your stay you might want to carry some documentation on that.

 

 

Dont stay out for over a year.  

 

You have to apply for a travel document to be out for an extended time before you leave.  It’s too late for that.

 

Good luck

 

Thank you sir things are much more clear now , so let me get things straight, you said that most likely I am not going to experience an issue , I can be sent to secondary I’m there I can explain to them what I was doing here , along with some documentation... right ? 

 

You also mentioned about about getting a travel document when traveling for an extended period of time. What does this extended period of time specifically mean ? More than a year or less than a year ? 

Is the travel document the same thing as getting a re entry permit ? 

 

 

Thank you 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

48 minutes ago, Hamza Sufi said:

Thank you sir things are much more clear now , so let me get things straight, you said that most likely I am not going to experience an issue , I can be sent to secondary I’m there I can explain to them what I was doing here , along with some documentation... right ? 

 

You also mentioned about about getting a travel document when traveling for an extended period of time. What does this extended period of time specifically mean ? More than a year or less than a year ? 

Is the travel document the same thing as getting a re entry permit ? 

 

 

Thank you 

He is referring to the re-entry permit. This is for those who are going to be out for more than 12 months. 

 

However, since you are in the process of closing all your affairs now, you surely won’t need this in the future. When you return to the US you will be staying permanently and only taking short business, social or vacation trips out of the country. You don’t need a re-entry permit for those trips.

Timeline in brief:

Married: September 27, 2014

I-130 filed: February 5, 2016

NOA1: February 8, 2016 Nebraska

NOA2: July 21, 2016

Interview: December 6, 2016 London

POE: December 19, 2016 Las Vegas

N-400 filed: September 30, 2019

Interview: March 22, 2021 Seattle

Oath: March 22, 2021 COVID-style same-day oath

 

Now a US citizen!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
2 minutes ago, JFH said:

He is referring to the re-entry permit. This is for those who are going to be out for more than 12 months. 

 

However, since you are in the process of closing all your affairs now, you surely won’t need this in the future. When you return to the US you will be staying permanently and only taking short business, social or vacation trips out of the country. You don’t need a re-entry permit for those trips.

Not to mention that the OP is already outside the US so a re-entry permit application is a moot point.

Visa Received : 2014-04-04 (K1 - see timeline for details)

US Entry : 2014-09-12

POE: Detroit

Marriage : 2014-09-27

I-765 Approved: 2015-01-09

I-485 Interview: 2015-03-11

I-485 Approved: 2015-03-13

Green Card Received: 2015-03-24 Yeah!!!

I-751 ROC Submitted: 2016-12-20

I-751 NOA Received:  2016-12-29

I-751 Biometrics Appt.:  2017-01-26

I-751 Interview:  2018-04-10

I-751 Approved:  2018-05-04

N400 Filed:  2018-01-13

N400 Biometrics:  2018-02-22

N400 Interview:  2018-04-10

N400 Approved:  2018-04-10

Oath Ceremony:  2018-06-11 - DONE!!!!!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Hamza Sufi said:

Thank you sir for your elaborate response , from what information I gathered i found out that you don’t require a re entry permit if you come back within one year , which I will be coming back in around 10 months, so that’s why I didn’t apply for a re entry permit when leaving the US , is that right or will I be needing a re entry permit even if I am gone for less than a year ?

It's best suited for those who plan to be out over a year. My remark was based on not having an absolute time to be back in the US (things could happen) but knowing it was at least near a year.

If you're already abroad then it is a moot point now. Just be sure to come back before the 1 year.

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: F-2A Visa Country: Pakistan
Timeline
8 hours ago, Hamza Sufi said:

Why are you confused sir ? @Awais424

 

20 hours ago, Hamza Sufi said:

Hello everyone , 

i got my greencard in April 2019 and came back from the US in May 2019 , I stayed there a total of two months from March to May 2019. 

 

The only reason of me coming back from the US was to wrap up my business and property over here, I will be mostly done with everything until January

 

what I wanted to ask was when can I travel back to America without causing any problems at the entry points , I’ve heard more than a year is a problem, but if I go in mid February will that be a problem ? Is it too close to being a year ? 

 

Please help as im looking at tickets these days so that I can buy accordingly 

 

best regards 

before 6 months come back to usa .then after entry again to usa go back to pakistan. 2nd option is get a 2 years re entry form and stay there long period.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Pakistan
Timeline
39 minutes ago, geowrian said:

It's best suited for those who plan to be out over a year. My remark was based on not having an absolute time to be back in the US (things could happen) but knowing it was at least near a year.

If you're already abroad then it is a moot point now. Just be sure to come back before the 1 year.

Will the one year be counted from the day I left the US ? Or the day I entered the US for the first time ? 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 minutes ago, Hamza Sufi said:

Will the one year be counted from the day I left the US ? Or from the day I entered US for the first time ? 

Date of exit from the US.

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Other Country: Saudi Arabia
Timeline
4 hours ago, Hamza Sufi said:

Thank you sir things are much more clear now , so let me get things straight, you said that most likely I am not going to experience an issue , I can be sent to secondary I’m there I can explain to them what I was doing here , along with some documentation... right ? 

 

You also mentioned about about getting a travel document when traveling for an extended period of time. What does this extended period of time specifically mean ? More than a year or less than a year ? 

Is the travel document the same thing as getting a re entry permit ? 

 

 

Thank you 

Officially it means more than a year

it covers long exits for up to two years.

As noted, you have to apply for it and do biometrics for it before you leave the US so it is not applicable here.

@secondary - yes.  Explain your absence, show them some documentation, and decline anything related to surrendering your green card or self-deporting.  No matter how long you are there or what they ask for just politely repeat that if needed you will resolve the issue before an immigration judge.

You’ll be fine.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
- Back to Top -

Important Disclaimer: Please read carefully the Visajourney.com Terms of Service. If you do not agree to the Terms of Service you should not access or view any page (including this page) on VisaJourney.com. Answers and comments provided on Visajourney.com Forums are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Visajourney.com does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. VisaJourney.com does not condone immigration fraud in any way, shape or manner. VisaJourney.com recommends that if any member or user knows directly of someone involved in fraudulent or illegal activity, that they report such activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You can contact ICE via email at Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov or you can telephone ICE at 1-866-347-2423. All reported threads/posts containing reference to immigration fraud or illegal activities will be removed from this board. If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by contacting us here with a url link to that content. Thank you.
×
×
  • Create New...