Does travel outside the United States affect my permanent resident status?
Permanent residents are free to travel outside the United States, and temporary or brief travel usually does not affect your permanent resident status. If it is determined, however, that you did not intend to make the United States your permanent home, you will be found to have abandoned your permanent resident status. A general guide used is whether you have been absent from the United States for more than a year. Abandonment may be found to occur in trips of less than a year where it is believed you did not intend to make the United States your permanent residence. While brief trips abroad generally are not problematic, the officer may consider criteria such as whether your intention was to visit abroad only temporarily, whether you maintained U.S. family and community ties, maintained U.S employment, filed U.S. income taxes as a resident, or otherwise established your intention to return to the United States as your permanent home. Other factors that may be considered include whether you maintained a U.S. mailing address, kept U.S. bank accounts and a valid U.S. driver’s license, own property or run a business in the United States, or any other evidence that supports the temporary nature of your absence.
For more details on International Travel as a Permanent Resident visit the USCIS website.
Determination of Returning Resident Status
The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan accepts documents from those applying for Returning Resident (SB) visas by appointment only. Be prepared to provide your passport information when you contact the Consular Section to schedule your interview appointment.
Required Documents for Interview
- Form DS-117 (PDF 25 KB) completed in English
- Passport (original and one photocopy)
- Documents mentioned in the Form DS-117 (originals and copies)
- Pay the fee. See fee schedule.
After reviewing the submitted documents and the interview the Consular Officer makes a determination on your eligibility to apply for an SB visa. In most instances, you will learn of the decision immediately.
Apply for an SB Visa
If you are determined to be qualified for a SB visa, you will be scheduled for an SB visa interview in Tashkent. Please visit our page on Appearing for Immigrant Visa Interview and follow those instructions.
You can find comprehensive information about returning resident visas on Bureau of Consular Affairs website.
