Thousands of Green Card holders may worry about losing their Permanent Resident Card. According to USCIS, permanent residents are free to travel abroad temporarily or briefly.
In general, temporary or brief travel does not affect you as a Green Card holder. However, if USCIS determines that you did not intend to make the USA your permanent place of residence, “you will be found to have abandoned your permanent resident status.”
How long can a Green Card holder be out of the U.S.?
USCIS states that a general guide used is whether you have been out of the U.S., so you have been absent, for more than a year. On other occasions, you may be found to have abandoned your permanent resident status in trips of less than 12 months.
This happens when USCIS believes you did not have the intention to make the United States of America your permanent home. Do not worry because most short trips abroad are not an issue.
Bear in mind that an officer will take into account several things to decide whether abandonment takes place or not. So, have a look at a few of the things they may check.
Check it if you are a Green Card holder
Here is the criteria an officer may pay close attention to if you are a Green Card holder and you travel out of the United States in 2025.
- If your intention was to visit abroad only temporarily
- If you maintained community and family ties in te United States
- If you kept your job or not in the U.S.
- If you filed Federal Income taxes and pay taxes to the IRS
- If you established your intention to come back to the USA as your permanent home
- If you had a U.S. mailing address while you were abroad
- If you still have a U.S. bank account
- If you have a valid U.S. driver’s license
- If you own property in the USA
- If you run a business in the U.S.
Source: USCIS https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-we-grant-your-green-card/international-travel-as-a-permanent-resident