Traveling outside the United States as a permanent resident involves understanding specific documentation and potential impacts on your residency status. This guide clarifies what you need to know if you ask yourself, “Can I Travel With My Residence Card?”
What documents do I need to travel outside the United States?
Generally, to travel to a foreign country, you will need to present a valid passport from your country of citizenship or your refugee travel document. It’s crucial to check the Department of State’s website for the specific entry and exit requirements, including visa requirements, of the country you plan to visit.
What documents do I need to present to re-enter the United States?
To re-enter the United States after temporary travel abroad, you must present a valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551), commonly known as a “Green Card.”
At a U.S. port of entry, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will review your Green Card and any other identity documents you present, such as your passport, foreign national ID card, or U.S. driver’s license, to determine your admissibility. For detailed information regarding entry into the United States, refer to U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s webpage.
Does travel outside the United States affect my permanent resident status?
Yes, extended travel can affect your permanent resident status. While permanent residents can travel outside the United States, lengthy absences can raise concerns about whether you intend to maintain the United States as your permanent home.
Temporary or brief travel typically does not affect your status. However, if CBP determines that you did not intend to make the United States your permanent home, you may be found to have abandoned your permanent resident status. Absence from the United States for more than a year is a general guideline used to assess abandonment.
Abandonment can even be determined for trips shorter than a year if there is evidence suggesting you do not intend to maintain the United States as your permanent residence. The officer may consider several factors, including:
- Whether your intention was to visit abroad only temporarily.
- 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 otherwise established your intention to return to the United States as your permanent home.
Other factors considered include maintaining a U.S. mailing address, U.S. bank accounts, a valid U.S. driver’s license, owning property or running a business in the United States, or any other evidence supporting the temporary nature of your absence.
What if my trip abroad will last longer than 1 year?
If you anticipate being absent from the United States for longer than a year, it is strongly recommended that you apply for a reentry permit using Form I-131 before you leave the United States.
Obtaining a reentry permit allows a permanent or conditional permanent resident to apply for admission into the United States during the permit’s validity without needing a returning resident visa from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. It’s important to understand that a reentry permit does not guarantee entry into the United States upon your return; you must still be determined admissible. However, it significantly helps establish your intention to permanently reside in the United States. For more information, see the Travel Documents page.
If you remain outside of the United States for more than two years, any reentry permit issued before your departure will have expired. In this case, consider applying for a returning resident visa (SB-1) at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. As an SB-1 applicant, you must establish eligibility for an immigrant visa and undergo a medical exam. There is an exception for spouses or children of U.S. Armed Forces members or civilian employees of the U.S. Government stationed abroad on official orders. For more information on obtaining a returning resident visa, see the Department of State’s webpage on returning resident visas.
Additionally, absences from the United States of six months or more can disrupt the continuous residency required for naturalization. If your absence is one year or longer and you wish to preserve your continuous residency for naturalization, you may file an Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes on Form N-470. For more information, please see the Continuous Residence and Physical Presence Requirements page.
What if I lose my Green Card or reentry permit or it is stolen or destroyed while I am temporarily traveling outside of the United States?
If your Green Card or reentry permit is lost, stolen, or destroyed while you are abroad, you may need to file a Form I-131A, Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation).
This document allows an airline or other transportation carrier to board a lawful permanent resident traveling to the United States without penalty. For more information, please see the Form I-131A, Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation) page.
Traveling with your residence card requires careful planning and awareness of the rules. Ensure you have the proper documentation and understand how your travel might affect your permanent resident status. Always consult official sources for the most up-to-date information and regulations.
