How Long Can a Green Card Holder Stay Outside the USA?

Green Card holders often need extended periods abroad, whether for family, work, or personal reasons. But how long can you stay outside the US with a Green Card without compromising your residency?

Read on to find out how much time a Green Card holder can stay outside the US, what a Re-entry Permit is, and how it can help you maintain your residency status.

Table of contents

• Physical Presence Requirement for Green Card Holders (Legal Permanent Residents)
• Tips for LPRs Planning Long Absences to Ensure Continuous Residence.
• What if I’m an LPR and Need to Spend More Than 1 Year Outside the USA?
• Re-entry Permit Application Process and Documentation
• USA Re-entry Permit Photo Requirements
• Get a Complaint USCIS Photo Online!
• USCIS Photo App
• How Absences From the USA Affect Eligibility for U.S. Citizenship

Physical Presence Requirement for Green Card Holders (Legal Permanent Residents)

Can you live outside the US with a Green Card? Having a Green Card doesn't mean you can live outside the USA for a long time and visit occasionally. If you're away too much, border officials might think you've abandoned your permanent resident status.

Green Card holders, also called Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs), must be in the US a lot to keep their status. Specifically, they should be in the country for at least 2 and a half years (30 months) in the 5 years before they try to become US citizens through naturalization.

This rule helps prove that Green Card holders really want to live in the United States permanently.

Tips for LPRs Planning Long Absences to Ensure Continuous Residence.

If you're a Green Card holder (legal permanent resident) and you plan on being away from the US for a long time, here are some tips to help you keep your residency status:

• Know how long a person can stay outside the US with a Green Card. To keep your status and later apply to become a US citizen, you must have lived in the US for at least 2 and a half years (30 months) out of the last 5 years. Being away too much might interrupt this count.
• Get a Re-entry Permit if you'll be away for more than a year. This is important if you plan to leave the US for more than a year. It will help you maintain your Green Card status, but remember, it doesn't count toward the time you need to live in the US to become a citizen. You should apply for it before you leave the US.
• Stay connected to the United States. Try to visit the US often, keep things like a US address, bank accounts, credit cards, and memberships, and keep in touch with friends and family. These ties show that you still consider the US your home while you are abroad.
• Keep track of your travel, especially if you are away for a long time. Also, keep proof of your connections to the USA, such as bills or membership cards, in case you need to show them when you return.
• Talk to an Immigration lawyer. If you're planning to be abroad for a lot, it might be wise to talk to an immigration attorney. They can help you understand the rules and ensure you do everything right to keep your Green Card.
• Understand what “Continuous Residence” means. Owning or renting a US place doesn't necessarily count as living here. Your main home, where you spend your time, matters.

What if I’m an LPR and Need to Spend More Than 1 Year Outside the USA?

Can I stay more than 12 months outside US with Green Card? If you are a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) and plan to be outside the United States for more than one year, you should know that it may interrupt your “continuous residence”. This means it might affect your ability to become a US citizen later on.

If you know you'll be out of the country for over a year, you should get a Re-entry Permit before you go. This permit helps you come back to the US after your trip. Although it doesn't keep your continuous residence time going, it helps you re-enter the US if you're gone for less than two years.

Re-entry Permit Application Process and Documentation

To obtain a Re-entry Permit, you need to fill out Form I-131 and submit it to the USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) at least 60 days before you plan to travel. You can also find the required Forms on the official USCIS website.

When you submit your Re-entry Permit application, make sure to include these documents:

• A photocopy of an official identification with your photo, name, and birthdate.
• You also need to provide one of the following items:
  • A photocopy of both sides of your Green Card (also known as Form I-551).
  • If you don't have Form I-551, you should include photocopies of your passport's bio pages and the visa page showing you were admitted as a lawful permanent resident.
  • A photocopy of Form I-797 (which is a Notice of Action) if you have received a notice approving your application to replace your Form I-551 or any other temporary proof that you are a lawful permanent resident.

USA Re-entry Permit Photo Requirements

When applying for a US Re-entry Permit, you'll need to provide a photo that meets the same requirements as a US passport or visa photo:

• The photo must be recent and taken within the last 6 months.
• Use a plain white or off-white background.
• The photo's size should be 5×5 cm (2×2 inches). If it's a digital photo, make sure it's between 600 and 1200 pixels.
• Your face should take up 70% of the photo, meaning your head height (from the bottom of your chin to the top of your hair) should be between 1 inch and 1-3/8 inches (25 and 35 mm).
• The photo needs to be in color.
• Look straight at the camera with a natural expression and both eyes open.
• Eyeglasses should not be worn unless you must wear them for medical reasons. In this case, you must provide a doctor's note explaining why.
• Don't wear hats or head coverings except for religious reasons.

Here is an example:

Get a Complaint USCIS Photo Online!

Avoid the hassle and ensure your USCIS photo meets the exact requirements by using Visafoto.com, a professional photo editing service with a remarkable 99.7% approval rate.

Simply take your photo against a plain white background with your phone or digital camera, and upload it to Visafoto.com. Our team will make all the necessary adjustments, including image size, format, background color, and face positioning, to ensure your photo meets USCIS standards. If you're not satisfied with the result, we offer a full refund.

You'll receive both a digital copy for online applications and a print-ready version.

Visafoto will change the background, adjust the resolution, do some color correction, and crop the photo to the required size.

The original picture:

The pictures you will get:

USCIS Photo App

For an even more streamlined experience, check out the 7ID App by Visafoto.com. This intuitive app is designed to simplify the process of creating ID, passport, and visa photos using your smartphone. It is compatible with iPhone and Android devices, making it easy to use for everyone.

With 7ID, you upload your photo and select the document type and country. The app automatically adjusts your photo to meet official specifications, handling size, format, and background color, and making sure your face and eyeline are perfectly centered. We’ll provide you with a digital file and a print template that fits standard paper sizes such as 4×6, A4, A5, or B5.

For even higher-quality results, use 7ID's Expert Tool. It uses advanced algorithms to improve your photos, regardless of background. Perfect for important documents like passports and DV lottery applications, our technical support team is available 24/7 to help.

How Absences From the USA Affect Eligibility for U.S. Citizenship

Traveling for a short period usually doesn't affect a person's Green Card status, but staying outside the US for Green Card holders for an extended time could be considered giving up one's status as a Legal Permanent Resident. If you don't spend enough time in the US, you might face problems keeping your Green Card or becoming a citizen later on.

Before going abroad for a long time, be sure to obtain a Re-entry Permit to protect your permanent resident status.

How long can a Green Card holder stay out of the US with a Re-entry Permit? This permit allows you to stay outside the USA for up to two years without losing your status. You'll need to provide evidence, such as documentation of your work in the US, that you intend to return and live in the United States.

Use Visafoto.com and 7ID App to get professional USCIS-compliant photos in just seconds!