If you hold a permanent resident card (Form I-551, Green Card), you may travel outside the United States. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirms that permanent residents are free to travel abroad under certain conditions. You must follow the rules carefully. Failure to do so may lead to loss of your permanent resident status.
Travel Documents You Must Have
- To travel to another country, you must use a valid passport from your country of citizenship or, if applicable, a valid refugee travel document.
- To reenter the United States after travel abroad, you must present your unexpired Green Card (Form I-551).
- When you arrive at a U.S. port of entry, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will inspect your Green Card and any other identity documents and determine whether you may be admitted.
How Travel Affects Your Permanent Resident Status
- Temporary or brief travel usually does not affect your permanent resident status.
- If it is determined that you did not intend to make the United States your permanent home, you will be found to have abandoned your permanent resident status.
- USCIS uses a general guide of whether you have been absent from the United States for more than a year.
- Abandonment may also be found after a trip of less than a year if there is evidence that you did not intend to make the United States your permanent residence.
Absences of One Year or Longer
- If you plan on being outside the United States for longer than a year, USCIS advises you to apply for a reentry permit (Form I-131) before you leave.
- A reentry permit allows a permanent resident to apply for admission during its validity without obtaining a returning resident visa.
- If you remain outside the United States for more than two years, any reentry permit granted before departure will have expired. In that case, you may need to apply for a Returning Resident (SB-1) visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate before coming back.
Evidence That You Still Reside Permanently in the United States
When you return from abroad, officers may evaluate whether you intended to make the United States your permanent home. USCIS lists several factors that may be considered:
- Whether your trip abroad was temporary.
- Whether you maintained U.S. family and community ties.
- Whether you maintained U.S. employment.
- Whether you filed U.S. income taxes as a resident.
- Whether you maintained a U.S. mailing address, kept U.S. bank accounts, or held a valid U.S. driver’s license.
- Whether you owned property or ran a business in the United States.
These examples show the kind of evidence USCIS may review when deciding if your permanent residence remains valid.
What This Means in Clear Terms
- You are allowed to travel outside the United States as a permanent resident.
- Your Green Card remains valid for reentry unless one of the following occurs:
- Your absence from the United States is longer than one year without a reentry permit.
- You show evidence that you no longer intended the United States to be your permanent home.
- Even shorter absences can create risk if you have weak ties to the United States.
- A reentry permit is strongly advised if you believe your stay abroad will exceed one year.
- Having a reentry permit does not guarantee admission; admissibility is still determined at the port of entry by CBP.
Final Summary
Yes, it is safe for Green Card holders to travel internationally if they maintain their residence in the United States and follow USCIS travel rules. Always carry the proper documents, keep your ties to the United States active, and apply for a reentry permit before leaving if you expect to be abroad for more than one year.
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