A green card grants the holder the right to settle in the United States. Green cards can be conditional, which means they are valid for two years, or unconditional, which means they are valid for ten years. Traveling with a green card is allowed as long as the green card holder maintains their US residency. Time spent outside of the US may harm the naturalization process.
Before your air travel, check with your airline to see what information they need. Most airlines will require the green card number and expiration date, and offer the option to enter this data online. Green card holders do not need to participate in programs such as the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) system and generally do not need prior authorization to travel to and from the US. If your green card will expire before you have returned to the US and you have filed for a renewal, then you can make an Infopass appointment (see resources) and receive a temporary I-551 stamp which will grant you the same privileges.
Upon returning to the US, you may be asked to present your green card to your airline for inspection before boarding the plane. When entering the US on your green card, you will need to present both your unexpired green card and your passport. You may be asked questions about your travel and your residency in the United States. Once the immigration officer is satisfied that you have maintained your residency, you will be able to re-enter the US.
In order to keep a green card while traveling abroad, holders must meet the residency requirement. This requirement states that the green card holder must be maintaining a residence in the US. If over one year is spent abroad without a re-entry permit, the green card may be considered abandoned. Time spent outside of the US may not be counted towards naturalization.
For trips of over one year and less than two years, a re-entry permit is necessary to keep the green card and permanent resident status. If you do not file for and receive this permit before leaving the US, your status in the US may be considered abandoned and you may have trouble reentering the US. If no permit was obtained, you may have to file for a Returning Resident visa and re-apply for your green card.
There are plenty of advantages to traveling on a green card. A green card is multiple entry, meaning the holder may enter and leave the US as often as they wish, which is a benefit to those who need to travel by air for work often. They also take the place of a visa, so that re-entry into the US does not require additional paperwork.
