Can I Travel with My Conditional Green Card?

If you have a conditional green card, you may be wondering if you can travel outside of the United States. The answer is yes, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Read on for more information.

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Applying for a conditional green card

If you have a conditional green card, you may travel outside of the United States. However, you will need to take some additional steps before you leave and when you return.

Before you travel, you should obtain a travel document from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This document is called a Reentry Permit. A Reentry Permit allows you to return to the United States after traveling abroad for up to two years.

You should apply for a Reentry Permit before you leave the United States. To apply, you will need to submit Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. You may submit your application online or by mail.

Once you have obtained your Reentry Permit, you may travel freely outside of the United States for up to two years. When you return, you will need to present your Reentry Permit and your conditional green card at the port of entry.

If you plan to be outside of the United States for more than two years, or if you do not have a valid Reentry Permit, you will need to apply for a new Green card before returning to the United States.

Meeting the requirements for a conditional green card

Conditional green cards are only valid for a limited time, typically two years. In order to keep your status and avoid deportation, you will need to meet certain requirements during that time.

First and foremost, you must not have abandoned your U.S. residence. This means that you must physically live in the United States for at least half of the two-year period. You can travel outside of the country during this time, but you cannot be gone for more than six months total. If you do need to leave the country for an extended period of time, you can apply for a reentry permit before you go.

You also must not have violated any terms of your visa. This includes working without authorization, committing a crime, or failing to meet the income requirements set forth when you received your conditional green card.

If you meet all of these requirements and the two years are up, you can then apply to remove the conditions on your green card and receive a 10-year permanent card.

Renewing your conditional green card

If you have a conditional green card, you may travel outside the United States and return, as long as you have a valid passport, your conditional green card, and a reentry permit (if you will be gone for more than one year). If your reentry permit is lost or stolen, you can get a replacement from USCIS.

It is important to note that even if your conditional green card has not expired, if your reentry permit is expired or was issued for less than two years, you will need to get a new reentry permit before returning to the United States.

If you do not have a valid passport or green card, or if your green card is expired, you will need to apply for a new one at a U.S. consulate abroad.

Traveling with a conditional green card

If you have a conditional green card, you may travel outside the United States and return as long as you:
-Have a valid, unexpired Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (also called a “green card”); and
-Have not been gone for more than one year at a time; and
-Can show that you intended to make the United States your primary place of residence when you left.

Applying for a travel document

If you have a conditional green card, you may be able to travel outside the United States if you obtain a travel document called an Advanced Parole. An Advanced Parole allows you to re-enter the United States after traveling abroad without having to obtain a new visa.

To apply for an Advanced Parole, you must submit Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, to USCIS. You should submit your application for an Advanced Parole as soon as you know you need to travel overseas. USCIS may take several months to process your application, so it’s important to plan ahead.

If your application for an Advanced Parole is approved, you will receive a parole document that is valid for one year. You can use this document to make multiple trips outside the United States during the validity period. However, you should always keep in mind that an Advanced Parole does not guarantee that you will be allowed to re-enter the United States. Immigration officers at the port of entry have the final say on whether or not you will be allowed to enter the country.

Generally speaking, USCIS will only approve an application for an Advanced Parole if:
-You have a compelling reason to travel outside the United States, such as for medical treatment, business purposes, or humanitarian reasons;
-You will be able to return to the United States within the validity period of your parole document; and
-You do not have any criminal history or other factors that would make you inadmissible to the United States.

Entering the United States with a conditional green card

If you have a conditional green card, you are allowed to enter and live in the United States until your conditional status expires. If you want to travel outside the United States and return before your conditional status expires, you must have what is called an “advance parole” document.

If you leave the United States without an advance parole document, your reentry will be considered illegal and you will be subject to removal (deportation) proceedings. In addition, if your green card expires while you are outside the United States, you will not be allowed to return to the United States.

You can apply for an advance parole document by filing Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, with USCIS. You must file Form I-131 before you leave the United States. There is no guarantee that USCIS will approve your application for an advance parole document. If USCIS approves your application, you will be issued an advance parole document that is valid for one year from the date it is issued.

Returning to the United States with a conditional green card

If you have a conditional green card, you can travel outside of the United States and return, as long as you have your passport and a valid green card. If your green card expires while you are outside of the United States, you will need to get a new one before you can return. You can apply for a new green card at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

Changing your status from a conditional green card holder to a permanent resident

If you are a conditional permanent resident, you received your green card valid for 2 years. 90 days before your card expires, you should apply to remove the conditions on your residence. Unless your status is extended, you will not be able to travel outside the United States after your card expires.

If you need to travel outside the United States before you receive your new 10-year green card, you must apply for a temporary (or “advance parole”) document. If you leave the United States without advance parole, or if you travel on advance parole to a country other than your home country or last country of residence, USCIS will automatically terminate (cancel) your advance parole document and you will not be allowed to re-enter the United States.

You may apply for a reentry permit if:
-You will be traveling for more than one year but less than two years;
-You have filed Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, and are waiting for USCIS to approve it; or
-You have been granted a waiver of the joint filing requirement and are waiting for USCIS to approve it.

If approved, a reentry permit allows you to remain outside the United States for up to two years without losing your permanent resident status.

Losing your conditional green card

If you have a conditional green card, it is important to know that you can lose your permanent resident status if you fail to meet the requirements of the conditions.

Specifically, you may lose your status if you fail to file a joint petition with your U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse within the 90 days before your second anniversary as a permanent resident. If you do not file the petition, you will automatically lose your status and will be subject to removal (deportation) from the United States.

You may also lose your conditional status if USCIS finds that you obtained your green card through fraud or misrepresentation. If USCIS finds that you committed marriage fraud, for example, you will be placed in removal proceedings and will have to appear before an immigration judge.

If you have a conditional green card, it is important to understand the requirements and conditions of maintaining your status. Failure to meet the conditions of your green card can result in loss of status and removal from the United States.

FAQs about traveling with a conditional green card

If you have a conditional green card, you may travel outside the United States, but there are some things you need to keep in mind. Here are some frequently asked questions about traveling with a conditional green card:

Can I travel outside the United States with a conditional green card?
Yes, you can travel outside the United States with a conditional green card. However, you will need to have a valid passport from your country of citizenship, as well as your conditional green card. You should also make sure that your green card will not expire while you are away from the United States.

Do I need to get a new visa before I travel if I have a conditional green card?
No, you will not need to get a new visa if you have a conditional green card. However, if your green card expires while you are outside the United States, you will need to apply for a new one before you can return.

What if my passport expires while I am outside the United States?
If your passport expires while you are outside the United States, you will need to renew it at a U.S. embassy or consulate before you can return.