Ted Gonzalez

Is there a residency requirement after getting the green card? In other words, is there a
rule as to how long you must stay in the US after just getting your green card before you
could leave for an extended period of time? AFOAF would like to know. Thanks!

Joachim Feise

Ted Gonzalez wrote:
>
> Is there a residency requirement after getting the green card? In other words, is there
> a rule as to how long you must stay in the US after just getting your green card before
> you could leave for an extended period of time? AFOAF would like to know. Thanks!

Well, sure. You are supposed to have your permanent home in the US. After all, that's what
Permanent Residency is about. You would loose your GC the moment you take up residency
somewhere else. Temporary absences under 180 days are not a problem, though. For absences
between 180 days and 1 year, you may need to provide evidence that you didn't abandon your
US residence. Ties to the US, owning property, having bank accounts, etc. helps. If you
stay outside the US for over 1 year, you loose your GC, unless you get a re-entry permit
*before* you leave. The re-entry permit moves the limit up to two years.

-Joe