Immigration Site

Hi,

My name is Aarthi and I am a (Female) Legal Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder). I was given the green card in 2004 after my uncle filed petition for my family under Category-4 of family based immigration.

By the time of award of permanent residence, I was a student of 4-year
program in Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering) in India and
I preferred to complete my degree by obtaining Re-Entry Permit.
Later I got married to an Indian Citizen in 2006 and I applied for
I-130 for him in January 2007. After filing for my husband, I had to obtain
Re-entry permit second time to complete my Bachelor of Engineering.

During my last entry in USA (in May, 2009), (Port of Entry (PoE) was San Francisco) I had to face strict questioning from POE Inspectors who recorded my information in their computers. This information involved my degree completion date, Marriage dates etc.

I told them about my USA bank A/C, (pre-paid)Credit Card and the petition that I had filed for my husband to show my strong ties with USA. They advised me to visit my husband for shorter durations.

I stayed in USA for over two months but due to the high recession, I was unable to find a suitable job and before my savings were exhausted, I came back to India.

Currently, I work as a Junior Engineer at one of the fetilizer plants in India.

The I-130 that I filed for my husband was approved in May, 2009 and the priority date was given as 29- January, 2007. Considering the current visa bulletin and its progress, it seems that my husband may get immigrant visa within next two years.

I need your guidance on the following:

1- I want to preserve my permanent residence status (Green Card). I fear that I am at the risk of losing my permanent residence if I visit USA every year till my husband gets immigration; and since I could not find any job in USA I find it difficult to survive without the earning hands of my husband. Please suggest me what should I do to preserve my permanent residence and avoid questioning at the Port of Entry(POE).

Should I visit every six months to USA; but I would prefer
a solution with minimal expenditure in terms of Air Tickets ?

Regards,
Aarthi

In case it is not obvious, a permanent resident is supposed to permanently reside in the US. That is the sole purpose for which that immigration benefit is granted. If you would like "brief visits" to the US, there is something else better suited for that - a B visa.

Frankly, you are asking for advice on how best to abuse the system and make things more difficult for those who do not wish to game the system.

Every 6 months is better than once a year. Also, are you doing your taxes????
Physicist , you cant judge her. Her husband is coming in 2 years, in the meantime she can visit.
youve been a LPR for not even a year. shes been a resident since 2004.....if you understand what i am trying to show......
Each case or situation is different.

Every 6 months is better than once a year. Also, are you doing your taxes????
Physicist , you cant judge her. Her husband is coming in 2 years, in the meantime she can visit.
youve been a LPR for not even a year. shes been a resident since 2004.....if you understand what i am trying to show......
Each case or situation is different. Physicist is right actually, which has nothing to do with being a resident for year or 25 years. Shes abusing a system and asking for advice how to do it better. To the OP, you CAN be asked at the port of entry. You can apply for Reentry Permit though, which will allow you to stay outside US for long period of time (I believe up to a year).