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Long Travel outside of US after green card

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Hi everyone. my husband is currently waiting for his green card interview date. we understand there are many delays due to the virus. We were hoping to travel back to his country ( for maybe up to a year) once he received his green card. will this cause any complications in his next green card process? or reentry ? or anything ?? we don’t want to take any chances or risk him losing what we worked so hard to get. Just unsure of the laws/procedures/ his rights. Thanks!

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Filed: F-2A Visa Country: Iraq
Timeline

Depends really. A greencard is for permanent residency, not for occasional visits. They might not question him if he stays outside of the country for less than 6 months, after that they can ask questions and the burden is on him to proof that he didn't abandon his permanent residency. Permanent residency can be considered abandoned for instance if you don't maintain a home, job, etc in the US. If you work in a different country, you are clearly more a resident there than here.

If he stays outside of the country for more than a year, the automatic assumption is that LPR status has been abandoned and it would be an uphill battle to proof otherwise.

There is a waiver (re-entry permit) that he can apply for if you have reasons to stay outside the US for so long - but it must be approved before he departs.

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44 minutes ago, Quarknase said:

Depends really. A greencard is for permanent residency, not for occasional visits. They might not question him if he stays outside of the country for less than 6 months, after that they can ask questions and the burden is on him to proof that he didn't abandon his permanent residency. Permanent residency can be considered abandoned for instance if you don't maintain a home, job, etc in the US. If you work in a different country, you are clearly more a resident there than here.

If he stays outside of the country for more than a year, the automatic assumption is that LPR status has been abandoned and it would be an uphill battle to proof otherwise.

There is a waiver (re-entry permit) that he can apply for if you have reasons to stay outside the US for so long - but it must be approved before he departs.

Working in another country is fine as long they don't stay there for more than 6 mo and they continue to file US resident taxes. So if a LPR files NR taxes or doesn't file them at all, while living abroad, then they've a problem.  Just working abroad is perfectly okay otherwise. 

03/04/2016 AOS (EB2-NIW concurrent with I-485) mailed to Lewisville TX Lockbox
03/07/2016 AOS delivered to USCIS and signed
03/12/2016 Case received by Nebraska Service Center (NSC)
03/14/2016 Text notification received for I-140/I-485/I-765/I-131.
04/08/2016 Biometrics notice received for 04/21
04/13/2016 Biometrics early walk-in completed.
04/15/2016 EAD/AP combo card received in mail.

 

Long wait begins...

 

11/04/2016 I-140/485 cases transferred from Nebraska to TCS
12/01/2016 Prepared package for EAD/AP renewal (expires 04/09/2017)
12/23/2016 USCIS suddenly changes several forms, invalidating my EAD/AP renewal package (not yet sent)
12/27/2016 USCIS suddenly reforms the entire NIW criteria system, replacing a 20 years old one. Uncharted waters. 
01/07/2017 (Saturday!) EAD/AP renewal package with new forms received in Phoenix "reception desk"
01/17/2017 EAD/AP renewal case accepted; text/email with receipt numbers was received
01/30/2017 Law firm finally confirms that USCIS has suspended processing all EB2-NIW cases due to new criteria. 
02/23/2017 USCIS slowly starts adjudicating NIW cases again.
04/21/2017 Extended EAD/AP received in mail. Valid for 2 years. 
05/06/2017 Received a massive RFE on I-140 NIW case.
07/20/2017 RFE response received by USCIS (a very long response with 30 pages of docs)
09/14/2017 I-140 NIW approved!!! 
11/28/2017 RFE for new medical issued (plus another request re Supp J for employment which is clearly issued in error)
12/04/2017 RFE received in mail
12/07/2017 repeated medical exam for I-485
12/08/2017 Attorney receives documents for responding to I-485 RFE
12/21/2017 Response to RFE received by USCIS 
02/09/2018 I-485 approval (text, email) :)
02/08/2018 I-485 approval notice issued (the "welcome letter") - I'm LPR now
02/16/2018 Green card received
 
11/14/2022 Filed N-400 online; receipt and biometrics reuse form received online
03/07/2023 N-400 Interview scheduled 
04/xx/2023 N-400 approved, same-day Oath ceremony completed. I'm a US citizen.
05/xx/2023 US passport in hand

 

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