Travelling

[wakikinana]

Hi I am wondering how long i could stay outside of the US for? My husband is in military and will be deployed for 7 months and I am pregnant now, so i would like to go back to my home country having this baby. I might need to stay there for at least 7-9 months. Do i need to apply for the re-entry permit? Btw the one i have is the conditional green card now.

Also, if i stay oversea for over 6 months, can i still apply for us citizenship after 3 years? Thank you!

[mariejm]

Hi I am wondering how long i could stay outside of the US for? My husband is in military and will be deployed for 7 months and I am pregnant now, so i would like to go back to my home country having this baby. I might need to stay there for at least 7-9 months. Do i need to apply for the re-entry permit? Btw the one i have is the conditional green card now.

Also, if i stay oversea for over 6 months, can i still apply for us citizenship after 3 years? Thank you!

SEE LINK PAGE 97 TO 106

http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/Permanent_Residents_%20Naturalization.pdf

OVERVIEW
Before leaving the U.S. on an emergency, business or personal basis, you should determine if you require a travel document to re-enter the country in addition to a valid permanent resident card. The following section examines re-entry permits. To apply for the re-entry permit, file USCIS Form I-131.
A permanent resident usually only needs a valid passport and valid Permanent Resident Card to return to the U.S. after a trip. However, before you leave you can apply for a re-entry permit. A re-entry permit is valid for two years. It serves two purposes. First, it can be used much the same way as a passport. Second, even if you have a valid passport, you may want to apply for one if you think you may be abroad for more than one year. That’s because you can lose your permanent resident status if you remain abroad for more than one year. The re-entry permit basically extends the one-year deadline to two years. You cannot apply after you leave the U.S., so if you think there’s a possibility your stay may last more than one year, you should consider applying for a re-entry permit before you go.
A permanent resident who departs the United States and remains outside the country for one year or more is usually deemed to have abandoned his/her status, unless he/she has a valid re-entry permit in his/her possession upon re-entering the United States. At the very least, that permanent resident should have filed for a re-entry permit prior to departing the United States and have proof of that filing if they have not received the re-entry permit during their absence.
A re-entry permit allows a permanent resident to apply for admission to the United States upon return from abroad during the period of the permit's validity without the necessity of obtaining a returning resident visa. Permanent Residents generally use re-entry permits:
�� To re-enter the U.S. after travel of one year or more,
�� As a travel document because they could not obtain a passport from their home country, or
�� As an additional travel and identity document along with a passport from their home country. Re-entry permits are generally valid for two years from the date of issuance of the re-entry permit.
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