Foreigners who reside permanently and legally in the United States have no restrictions on the number of times they can leave and re-enter the United States territory, however it should be noted for those who travel regularly or stay away for long periods, that the Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) establishes that the frequency and duration of trips abroad could influence the evaluation of residence status, it reported. Infobae.
Since prolonged absences could be interpreted as abandonment of permanent residence status, it is clarified that it is necessary to comply with certain requirements in order not to lose the green card.
For example, for USCIS, leaving the country for more than twelve months could result in the loss of permanent residency. Therefore, people who need to remain outside the United States for a period of more than one year are advised to apply for a re-entry permit before traveling.
This document allows you to return to the United States without having to obtain another type of immigration visa, and makes the process less cumbersome.
This return document has a maximum validity of 24 months, and must be requested through form I-131, while the applicant is still in the US. However, the fact that immigration authorities approve this permit does not mean that the applicant is exempt from problems upon re-entering US territory.
Likewise, for permanent residents who travel frequently or make multiple short trips to foreign countries, it is suggested to have proof of clear ties to the United States, whether family relationships, employment, property, among others.
Normally, absences of less than twelve months do not tend to harm the immigration status of residents, however, prolonged trips can be considered a problem since the authorities could question the person's intentions to reside permanently in the United States.
For those who are in the country waiting to obtain their green card, but have not yet received the document, USCIS provides the option of processing an advance departure permit. This document is known as Advance Parole, and it allows you to return to the United States once you travel, while the residency process is being processed. This document must also be processed before you leave the country.
If you do not have the physical document proving your permanent residence in the US, and you are in the process of receiving it, and you have not processed your reentry, or Advance Parole, in the case that you have traveled without authorization from USCIS, the pending application for residence could be cancelled, warns the Department of Homeland Security.
On the other hand, those who are in the process of adjusting their status should make sure that they have the necessary documentation to avoid any mishaps.
