Leaving the U.S. for Too Long? You Could Lose Your Green Card, Warns USCIS
- By Fileright
- Last Updated:
Traveling abroad is one of the biggest perks of living in the United States. But for lawful permanent residents (LPRs), even a simple overseas trip can turn into a major problem if it’s not planned correctly. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the most common reason Green Card holders lose their status is spending too much time outside the United States.
Many LPRs assume that visiting the U.S. once a year is enough to keep their Green Card safe. Unfortunately, this is not true. If immigration officers believe you no longer intend to live in the U.S. permanently, you can be considered to have abandoned your permanent residency — sometimes right at the airport when you try to return.
Why Traveling Too Long Can Cost You Your Green Card
USCIS and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) view long or frequent trips outside the U.S. as a sign that you may have given up your primary home in America. This is officially called “abandonment of lawful permanent resident status.”
This does not mean LPRs cannot travel. But the length, purpose, and frequency of your trips play a huge role in determining whether you still intend to live in the U.S. permanently.
If an officer believes you abandoned your residency, they can issue a Notice to Appear (Form I-862) and begin removal proceedings.
And losing your Green Card also means losing your chance to apply for U.S. citizenship, because continuous residence is a core requirement for naturalization.
How to Know if Your Trip Puts Your Green Card at Risk
There is no single rule — but here is what USCIS looks at:
Long trips = More suspicion
- Short vacations or brief family visits are fine.
- But staying outside the U.S. for several months — even if it’s just once a year — can raise doubts about your true intent to live here.
Emergencies may still be acceptable
If you always intended to return but an unexpected emergency delayed you, immigration officers may see your absence as temporary.
But you must be able to prove your intention to return.
Your purpose matters
- Vacation, medical travel, or short business trips → Usually safe
- Working abroad, long-term assignments, or moving overseas for family → Very risky
If officers believe you’ve built a life outside the U.S., they may consider your LPR status abandoned.
How to Show You Still Live in the U.S.
To protect your Green Card, you must show that the United States is your true home. USCIS recommends maintaining:
U.S. tax filings as a resident
Not filing taxes — or filing as a “non-resident” — is a red flag.
A physical home or lease in the U.S.
U.S. employment or active business ties
A valid U.S. bank account
A U.S. driver’s license or state ID
Close family members who live in the U.S.
These connections prove that your “center of life” is still in America.
What if You Need to Travel for a Long Time?
You can apply for a reentry permit, which helps show that you intend to return to the U.S. after a long absence.
But remember:
A reentry permit is not a guarantee
It only supports your claim of wanting to keep U.S. residence
Your lifestyle and actions still matter more than the document
Owning foreign property, working abroad, or voting in another country can make officers think you’ve moved your life outside the U.S.
Being a Green Card Holder Comes With Responsibilities
A Green Card is not permission to live outside the U.S. indefinitely. You must:
- Maintain your ties to the U.S.
- Travel carefully
- Avoid long absences
- Always plan to return
Protecting your residency is the only way to remain eligible for U.S. citizenship—the ultimate safeguard against losing your right to live in America.
Ready to Protect Your Future? Apply for U.S. Citizenship
Becoming a U.S. citizen is the best way to secure your future in America.
No more worrying about long trips.
No more fear of losing your Green Card.
Full rights. Full protection. Full freedom.
Apply for U.S. citizenship today and protect your status.
