Oren

I wonder if anyone has experience or knowledge regarding the rules that
apply if greencard holde does not live all the time in the US - how long
every year could one be out of the US, does immigration has a way to tell
exactly how long one actually was out of the US and can they take away the
greencard on that basis?

Thanks

Dan

Maarten Andriessen

"Oren" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I wonder if anyone has experience or knowledge regarding the rules that
    > apply if greencard holde does not live all the time in the US - how long
    > every year could one be out of the US, does immigration has a way to tell
    > exactly how long one actually was out of the US and can they take away the
    > greencard on that basis?

It is my understanding that you can leave the United States up to one full
year before you have to return to the United States, and that you can leave
up to two full years if you apply for a re-entry permit before you leave the
U.S.

I'm not sure how they can tell that you have been gone as I have left for
Canada for two weeks (flew to Detroit, drove over the border at Port
Huron/Sarnia) and they only took a "quick glance" at my green card each time
I left and re-entered the country - which was more then once as the family
we visited live right at the border - on both sides of the border. This was
in September 2002 and I was with 2 other U.S. citizens. They only thing they
seemed to check was the picture to make sure it was me on the green card. I
had my Dutch passport as well and they seemed to care less about that.

I have not left the country yet by airplane, perhaps they will swipe the
card through a reader at airports. I will see in Jan. 2004 when I have a
trip to Holland coming up

If they can tell that you have been out of the country for longer then you
are allowed to you will lose your greencard and you will be forced to return
to your home country.

Maarten

Ingo Pakleppa - See Web Site For Email

Please visit my FAQ page. The rules are fairly complex, and while usually
six months to a year out of the US are the limit, in some cases, other
criteria apply (and not always time-related, either, but rather BCIS will
look at the overall circumstances).

On Wed, 30 Jul 2003 12:05:32 +0200, Oren wrote:


    > I wonder if anyone has experience or knowledge regarding the rules that
    > apply if greencard holde does not live all the time in the US - how long
    > every year could one be out of the US, does immigration has a way to
    > tell exactly how long one actually was out of the US and can they take
    > away the greencard on that basis?
    >
    > Thanks
    >
    > Dan

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