IR 1 Holder But Need To Travel Regularly For Work

[JohnnyLs 0]

Hi everyone,

 

Recently been granted my IR 1 Visa and very excited to make the move and finally be with my spouse permanently.

 

I am a small business owner that works across Europe - I have to regularly travel for work over the next couple years, with periods ranging from 1 to 3 months at a time. My spouse will be joining me for some of my trips, but I will largely be travelling alone due to my spouses own work commitments. I won't be out of the US for more than 3 months at a time, but I will likely be out of the country for 6 months cumulatively over the next 12 months.

 

I have read that this can cause issues with CBP - embassy states no more than a year at a time, but some other forums have suggested that they may regard my cumulative time away as abandoning my permanent residence and that I am nearly 'touching down' in the US in between work trips. I am hoping my international travel reduces in 2024, but having recently been granted permanent residence I want to make sure I'm not causing myself and my spouse any added stress. There seems to be mixed messages as to what 'temporary' visits abroad can mean to specific border agents.

 

Have plenty of evidence of international clients and my line of work does need to be in-person contact.

 

Thanks for your help.

[pushbrk 12,245]

5 minutes ago, JohnnyLs said:

Hi everyone,

 

Recently been granted my IR 1 Visa and very excited to make the move and finally be with my spouse permanently.

 

I am a small business owner that works across Europe - I have to regularly travel for work over the next couple years, with periods ranging from 1 to 3 months at a time. My spouse will be joining me for some of my trips, but I will largely be travelling alone due to my spouses own work commitments. I won't be out of the US for more than 3 months at a time, but I will likely be out of the country for 6 months cumulatively over the next 12 months.

 

I have read that this can cause issues with CBP - embassy states no more than a year at a time, but some other forums have suggested that they may regard my cumulative time away as abandoning my permanent residence and that I am nearly 'touching down' in the US in between work trips. I am hoping my international travel reduces in 2024, but having recently been granted permanent residence I want to make sure I'm not causing myself and my spouse any added stress. There seems to be mixed messages as to what 'temporary' visits abroad can mean to specific border agents.

 

Have plenty of evidence of international clients and my line of work does need to be in-person contact.

 

Thanks for your help.

This should not be a problem since none of your individual absences will exceed six months.  If ever asked, explain it truthfully, like you did above.

 

[JohnnyLs 0]

1 minute ago, pushbrk said:

This should not be a problem since none of your individual absences will exceed six months.  If ever asked, explain it truthfully, like you did above.

 

Thank you! Aware I'm probably over thinking the situation and appreciate the reassurance 

[TBoneTX 43,433]

Thread is moved from the CR-1 Process forum to the "Moving to the US" forum.

[pushbrk 12,245]

25 minutes ago, JohnnyLs said:

Thank you! Aware I'm probably over thinking the situation and appreciate the reassurance 

"I have read" and "some other forums" are notoriously unreliable sources of information.  It's true that how this is viewed can be interpreted differently by different agents, but your explanation should satisfy them.  Be sure to have some good explanation and travel itinerary to show as evidence, you were traveling and doing business during the trips, not just going back to your REAL home.

 

[Boiler 43,764]

Somebody I know got a scare having been out for 5 months, that was a long time ago and perhaps the PoE guy was having a bad day. I did tell him nothing they could do, evidence is on them to prove he abandoned his residency.

 

I think VJ record is being gone 9 years.

 

May delay naturalisation if you are looking to do that.