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AlexG365248
Contributor ⭐
Nov 2, 2026 2:26 AM UTC
Question

Long trip abroad with a green card - any first-hand experience?

Our son has a green card and we're planning a long visit with his kids in Greece next spring, probably around five months. I've read that absences over six months can lead to extra questions at the airport when coming back. Has anyone here dealt with that? Curious what paperwork people kept to show their life is still in the States - lease, job letter, tax returns. Any first-hand experience would help. Thanks!

1 reply

AlexG365248Author
Contributor ⭐
Nov 2, 2026 2:48 AM UTC

Small update while we wait: our son got his green card a few years ago through the adjustment of status process stateside. Digging through his old papers last night, I came across this plain-English walkthrough of the I-485 steps https://www.o1eb1.com/en/eb1/aos-i-485 - good background, but it says nothing about coming back after a long trip. For anyone who adjusted status and later traveled five months or more: did CBP ask you extra questions? Did a re-entry permit help?

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