feeling antsy...

[viajerajulie]

Hello All!

Just gathering info - once Mr. V has adjusted status, do we absolutely HAVE to live in the US? If so, for how long? I am about to complete a master's degree to teach ESOL and I think that while I'm young and childless, I would like to use my degree to see the world and teach. Can I take him with me or do we have to stay here to get his GC finalized? How long do we have to stay? Thanks, as always!

J

[kenaly]

http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/B4.pdf

Has good info about living outside the USA as a LPR.

[jsierra1982]

hi julie!!

i don't have any answers for you, just wanted to say hi...been CRAZY busy like you wouldn't believe for the past 2 weeks...but i'll talk to ya soon.

want to go to the towson town fest saturday?

[Laura]

You don't have to live in the U.S. but you have to be careful to not lose his residency. It's probably inconvenient but the best thing is probably for him to get his citizenship (three years from when he gets his PR status) before you plan to actually live abroad.

At one time I was helping a family friend who had become a permanent resident and I found out a little about leaving the U.S. with a travel document (the I-131) mentioned on that site Kenaly linked. I believe there are ways for a PR to keep their status but not accumulate the time needed to apply for citizenship. So he could get the travel document and live abroad for a year and then return to the U.S., but then he would not be one year closer to getting his citizenship. Maybe he's not concerned about his citizenship though, so that might not be an issue.

The attorney who explained a lot of this to me is a friend of Laurel Scott's, her name is Norma Ayoub (http://www.ayoublaw.com). I realize that is a long way off but she would be someone to consult with down the road if you wanted to understand the options better.

[viajerajulie]

Hey guys! Thanks so much for your replies...does anyone know why my post got moved to I-601? Also, Jenn, I am totally up for the Towson Town Festival! But only in the morning...my little sister's b-day party starts at 4 and she's turning the big 1-3!

[Laura]

I moved it from Marriage-based AOS. You are not pursuing AOS, that is the process when the immigrant can adjust their status inside the U.S. without leaving the country, like if the person entered with a valid visa and married. Questions about the waiver process and filing in foreign consulates belongs in the I-601 areas.

On second thought though, this post would have been more appropriate for general discussions, but I'm not moving it again. :)