I immigrated to America. Now I have to go back to China to deal with some personal affairs. It will take half a year. Can I keep my green card?

Although the United States does not explicitly stipulate that green card holders need to meet certain living conditions before they can keep their green cards, if green card holders stay outside the United States for a long time and only return to the United States once or twice a year, they are considered to have given up their intention to stay in the United States permanently and face the possibility of being deprived of their green cards.

The travel record of residence time and the degree of social connection integration are the important basis for the US government to interpret whether green card holders have permanent residence intentions. The longer green card holders live in the United States, the more cohesive they are and the deeper they integrate into American society. The more solid he is, the more obvious his intention to stay in the United States permanently, and the less likely he is to be deprived of his green card.

The decisive factor for green card holders to keep their green cards is the length of stay outside the United States. 1 year and 180 days are two key turning points.

7 key certificates can keep the green card!

If the green card holder has left the United States 1 year or more and has not applied for a re-entry permit, the green card holder will lose his green card (except for long-term departure due to uncontrollable reasons); If the green card holder has been away from the United States for less than 65,438+0 years but more than 65,438+080 consecutive days, the green card holder can prove that he has not given up his intention to stay in the United States permanently by the following means:

1. Green card holders leave the United States for sightseeing, traveling, business trips, business trips, visiting relatives and friends, and the return time is clear.

2. Green card holders have jobs and occupations in the United States, or have short-term tasks or business trips outside the United States for a fixed period of time through American employers.

3. Green card holders' families (spouses/children) live, work and study in the United States.

4. The main property of the green card holder is in the United States, and there is no record of sale or lease. He has a bank account and a credit card in the United States, and he changed his new driver's license in time.

5. Green card holders fulfill the responsibilities of permanent residents to their permanent residence (government and community) by filing tax returns (because of the tax treaties concluded between the United States and foreign countries, green card holders do not have to actually pay taxes to the US Inland Revenue Department, but they must file tax returns. )

6. Green card holders actively participate in community organizations, interest clubs and other social activities in the United States to contribute to the community.

7. Although the green card holder stayed outside the United States for a long time, he applied for a re-entry permit before leaving the United States, clearly expressing his intention to return to the United States (the re-entry permit is valid for 2 years, which does not necessarily guarantee that the holder will be allowed to enter the country).