International Travel as a Permanent Resident

If you were injured in a car accident, you might be entitled to compensatory damages from the party who...

You may be entitled to compensation for injuries caused by another party’s negligence or wrongdoing....

Perhaps you are seeking a work visa or investor visa. Perhaps you want to bring your fiancée, spouse...

When facing serious criminal charges, you need to understand your legal rights and all the potential...

If you have an impairment that prevents you from working, you may be eligible for benefits under Social...

If you were injured in a car accident, you might be entitled to compensatory damages from the party who...

You may be entitled to compensation for injuries caused by another party’s negligence or wrongdoing....

Perhaps you are seeking a work visa or investor visa. Perhaps you want to bring your fiancée, spouse...

When facing serious criminal charges, you need to understand your legal rights and all the potential...

If you have an impairment that prevents you from working, you may be eligible for benefits under Social...

If you were injured in a car accident, you might be entitled to compensatory damages from the party who...

You may be entitled to compensation for injuries caused by another party’s negligence or wrongdoing....

Perhaps you are seeking a work visa or investor visa. Perhaps you want to bring your fiancée, spouse...

When facing serious criminal charges, you need to understand your legal rights and all the potential...

If you have an impairment that prevents you from working, you may be eligible for benefits under Social...

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If you were injured in a car accident, you might be entitled to compensatory damages from the party who...

You may be entitled to compensation for injuries caused by another party’s negligence or wrongdoing....

Perhaps you are seeking a work visa or investor visa. Perhaps you want to bring your fiancée, spouse...

When facing serious criminal charges, you need to understand your legal rights and all the potential...

If you have an impairment that prevents you from working, you may be eligible for benefits under Social...

Geocoding Error Occured.

Tried to Geocode:

Error Type:

Please be sure to follow the tutorial on how to setup the Google APIs required for the Advanced Google Map Widget.

Are you a lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder) in the United States? If you plan to travel abroad, special rules apply. “Will I need a U.S. passport?” Generally speaking, you will need to use a passport from your home country, the country where you are a citizen. If you are a refugee, you will need to present your refugee travel document if you wish to travel to outside the U.S.

Re-Entering the United States

If you plan to travel abroad temporarily; for example, for work or for a vacation, you will need specific documents to re-enter the United States as a permanent resident. You will need the following:

• The passport from your country,
• Your valid and unexpired Green Card,
• A foreign national ID card, or
• A valid U.S. driver license.

Can Travelling Abroad Affect My Green Card Status?

The United States does not stop Green Card holders from travelling outside the United States. If you decide to travel outside the U.S. briefly, that will not affect your permanent resident status. However, if the USCIS learns that you did not intend to make the U.S. your permanent home, it will find that you abandoned your status as a permanent resident.

“But how long is too long?” As a general rule, if you leave the U.S. for more than 12 months, you’re considered to have abandoned your Green Card status. If there is question about how long you left the United States and whether you abandoned your permanent resident status, the USCIS will want to know:

• Did you intend to make the U.S. your permanent home?
• Do you have family in the U.S.?
• Did you maintain employment in the U.S.?
• Did you file U.S. income taxes as a resident?
• Did you maintain a U.S. mailing address?
• Did you keep U.S. bank accounts?
• Did you keep a valid U.S. driver license?
• Did you own property in the U.S.?
• Did you own a business in the U.S.?

Is there any question about your permanent resident status after taking a long trip abroad? Or, are you a Green Card holder who wishes to travel outside the U.S.? Either way, the Plano immigration lawyers at The Zen Law Firm can help you with all of your immigration needs. Contact us to get started.