ainmana

I was wondering if anyone knew what happened to one's green card if you do not reside in the US. My dad received his green card in 2002, but was not able to live in the US because my brother [who he was going to stay with] could not put him up, so he went back home. [I was not in the country at the time]. It's been five years, and now he wants to come back as he is older, 80 years, and has no one to care for him at home, all the family is here. Does anyone know if that green card is still valid and if he can travel on it?
Any advice would be appreciated as he is very old and does not have long to live.

Joe Feise

ainmana wrote on 03/04/07 11:01:

> I was wondering if anyone knew what happened to one's green card if you
> do not reside in the US. My dad received his green card in 2002, but
> was not able to live in the US because my brother [who he was going to
> stay with] could not put him up, so he went back home. [I was not in
> the country at the time]. It's been five years, and now he wants to
> come back as he is older, 80 years, and has no one to care for him at
> home, all the family is here. Does anyone know if that green card is
> still valid and if he can travel on it?
> Any advice would be appreciated as he is very old and does not have
> long to live.
>


If a Permanent Resident is abroad for over 1 year, the GC is gone.
If a PR does not reside in the US, the GC is abandoned, regardless of how long
the person is abroad.
--
I am not a lawyer.
For reliable advice, consult a competent immigration attorney.

scrubbedexpat099

What's an 80 year old going to do about Medical Insurance.

ainmana

Can they not get medical insurance?

Noorah101

They can, but it would be very expensive.

There is no black and white answer to whether his green card is useful anymore or not. If a green card holder no longer lives in the USA, usually their premanent residency is considered abandoned, especially if they have not maintained a residence in the USA, paid US taxes, spent more time in the USA than out of it, etc. If a green card holder needs to be working outside the USA for a couple of years, they can get a re-entry permit which helps, but sounds like your dad didn't apply for that either. He can try going to the US Consulate and trying for a "returning resident visa", at least that way he'll know over there instead of making the long trip here and being turned away at the POE.

Rene

Ray

I would not bank on that at all ...

farmerwife

You are right Ray ... it would be wise to find out what is available before coming here!

I had talked with a health insurance broker with 40 years experience in the industry, and extensive contacts with other brokers. He said that, as far as he and others in the industry know, there are no standard major medical policies offered by the (standard reputable) health insurance companies for the over 65 s age group.
At your particular state level, the state may provide coverage - Mass Health for instance. It depends on your state for what that would/wouldn't be, or what it would/wouldn't provide.

Ray

I have been refused by most companies and I ain't nowhere near 80 .....

Joe Feise

ainmana wrote on 03/06/07 07:51:

>> What's an 80 year old going to do about Medical Insurance.
>
> Can they not get medical insurance?
>


For exorbitant amounts of premiums only, if at all.
--
I am not a lawyer.
For reliable advice, consult a competent immigration attorney.

Templar

> ainmana wrote on 03/06/07 07:51:
>
> >> What's an 80 year old going to do about Medical Insurance.
> >
> > Can they not get medical insurance?
> >
>
>
> For exorbitant amounts of premiums only, if at all.
> --
> I am not a lawyer.
> For reliable advice, consult a competent immigration attorney.

What's the point about the insurance? It is a 99.9999999% certainty
(can't never say 100% I reckon) his green card is a piece of plastic and
nothing more. He has sod all chance of getting a returning resident
visa. 5 years absence elminates pretty much any excuses he might have
had. His green card is as good as gone.

--

CarlM

Its the sleeping with a loaded gun under your pillow thats causing you problems matey.

meauxna

So what if it is as good as gone? He can re-immigrate if everyone is motivated enough.