How long can I stay outside of the US with a green card?
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How long can I stay outside of the US with a green card?
I have about the Green Card. How long can you be outside the US with a green card? If you are outside the US for almost a year, will my green card disqualify? Will it also disqualify if I go back for the allotted time but kept leaving the US? For example, I left to another country but I return to America for a period and return back, is that acceptable? Also, are there any special rules for people who are under 18 who left the country and kept returning like explained earlier? What if someone was a minor when they left the US but is 18 when returning back? I was told that if a minor leaves, they could be held longer period of time outside America even if they were to turn the age of an adult. By the way, how old will an adult be in this situation, would it go by the US age of an adult or the other country’s adult age?
Asked on April 29, 2016 under Immigration Law, Indiana
Answers:
SB Member California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
A green card holder is a person who has intent to permanently reside in the US. That means he/she cannot spend more than 6 months outside the US without possibly jeopardizing one's status. If one does need to be outside the US for an extended period of time, one should apply for a reentry permit prior to departing the US.
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