Can I get an American green card if I live in China for a long time?

A green card is proof of permanent residence status. From the perspective of the U.S. government, green cards are issued to foreigners who want to live permanently in the United States for a long time. Next, can I get an American green card if I live in China for a long time?

There are often rumors in the market that you have to buy American real estate to keep your American green card, and so on. A green card is proof of permanent residence status. From the perspective of the U.S. government, green cards are issued to foreigners who want to live permanently in the United States for a long time. Maintaining a green card is nothing more than proving to American immigration officials that you intend to live permanently in the United States. Of course, buying real estate is one of the ways to show that you intend to live permanently in the United States, but it is not necessary or sufficient. Let's take a look at the articles published by lawyers on this.

Among the complaints of new permanent residents, we often hear that when they live abroad for more than six months and then return to the United States, they are often asked by immigration officials. Immigration officials may think that permanent residents who stay abroad for more than six months are abusing their green cards and are not sincere about living permanently in the United States.

In order to show immigration officials their sincerity in maintaining permanent residency, green card holders can take the following eight main steps to minimize the trouble after re-entering the United States.

1. Keep and use American savings and current accounts. Just having a bank account is not enough; Green card holders must use the account regularly, so that the bank statement will show the use record of the account.

2. Keep an American address. This roughly means that you need to have an address in the United States. Ideally, having an address in the United States means that permanent residents want to regard the United States as their permanent home. However, if you don't have a house, you can use the home address of a friend or relative. But make sure that all mail (including immigration documents) will be sent to this address.

3. Get an American driver's license. The address shown on the driver's license should be the same as that shown on all official documents.

Obtain a credit card from an American financial institution. Use this credit card regularly, so that the statement of the credit card will show the usage record of the account.

5. Submit the US income tax return. Even if your income is not from the United States, you should file tax returns every year. These declaration forms need to be submitted in the name of "residents". If it is submitted in the name of "non-resident", it will have a negative impact, because it is equivalent to a permanent resident claiming that he is not a US resident.

6. Keep in touch with family and friends in America. It can be proved by emails, letters and even telephone records with family and friends in the United States.

7. Show family relationships to American authorities. Having a child, parents, spouse or other close family members living in the United States shows that you are willing to make the United States your permanent home.

8. Maintain membership in social or professional groups. Active membership in social or professional groups, such as golf clubs, means that permanent residents only leave the United States temporarily, but plan to live here for a long time. It can be proved that it actively participates in membership activities by paying membership fees in time, subscribing to periodicals and attending annual parties.

The above steps apply to those permanent residents who have left the United States for six months to one year. If you stay abroad for more than one year, you need a re-entry permit. It is worth noting that following the above steps can not guarantee that permanent residents will be absolutely safe and worry-free when they re-enter the United States, but it can reduce trouble to some extent. This list only lists a few useful ways and documents, and any other documents that can show the intention of permanent residents to settle in the United States are also very useful.