How long can you stay out after entry (split)

[Ashtim 5]

How long you can stay out of usa after getting your IR/CR-1 entry ( activated ) stamp . ? I think it’s 6 months, one can stay . after that you loose your status as a green card or permanent resident in usa ? Please advise 

[Ontarkie 14,280]

~~One post split off to its own topic and moved to Working and Traveling, from the Canada forum~~

[Mike E 11,740]

56 minutes ago, Ashtim said:

How long you can stay out of usa after getting your IR/CR-1 entry ( activated ) stamp . ? I think it’s 6 months, one can stay . after that you loose your status as a green card or permanent resident in usa ? Please advise 

Absences of 181 continuous days or more are likely to trigger as secondary inspection and/or an admonishment from CBP that LPR status is for living in the USA.  It is even possible CBP will suggest the LPR sign I-407 to abandon status or issue a notice to appear for proceedings to revoke LPR status. 
 

Shorter absences  can still trigger the ire of CBP. You are expected to spend more more one in the USA than outside. 
 

So if you want to say enter the USA on your visa, and then leave the USA for 30 days, first stay in the USA for 31 days.  If you then want to   Go away for 99 days stay in the USA for 100 days. 
 

Now granted people sometimes receive their immigration visas at inconvenient times and so they would like to both secure their LPR status and take several months to several years to wind up their affairs in their prior country of residence.  
 

And for that there is a work around: form I-131

 

As soon as newly stamped LPRs enter the USA, they  can file I-131 to get a re-entry permit that ensures they will treated as returning residents if absent for up to 2 years.  Once they get an I-131 receipt they can safely leave the USA (but should return for their biometrics appointment).  

Edited May 4, 2022 by Mike E