Green Card Retain Information

[hinam]

Hi All,

I went to US on H4 with my husband and had to come back to India due to some Family problems. We had already applied for green card. I left US in Auguts 2009. I got my green card in November 2009. Now things are fine in the family and I wish to go back.

The condition to retain the green card is that the person should be back in the country within a period of 1 year. Now my question is that, one year is counted from the date I left the country? or from the date I got the green card? As I did not have green card when I left the country.

Please clarify. Its urgent. If the date of leaving the country is to be counted, then one year completes in August 2010 else it completes in November 2010.

So please let me know.

Thanks.

[Xkuger]

I preseume that your GC was mailed to your home address in the US and you did not have to attend an Interview for AOS.

I am certain that you have to apply for a Re-entry Permit / returning Resident.

Please see following link : http://www.immihelp.com/greencard/reentry-permit.html

It becomes applicable only from the day that your GC was granted, not from when you left... Do consult an Attorney to clarify that there are no issues pertaining to recieving your GC in Absentia and now entering the US with it.

[moonmosaic]

My daughter - minor - got approved april 24th and got her green card the following month may 2009. She left the country with my mum - her grandma - july 15th 2009 and returned jun 20th 2010. Immigration officer asked when she had left the country and if she had stayed beyond one year. Since the answer was no, they just let her in. I don't know if this helps.