Lawful Permanent Residence Status in the U.S

A lawful permanent resident may apply for admission to the U.S. using his/her Permanent Resident Card, provided he/she has remained outside the United States less than one year and has maintained an unrelinquished domicile in the United States.

A permanent resident that has sufficient cause to remain outside the United States for more than one year may apply for a Re-Entry Permit. The application for issuance of a Re-Entry Permit, Form I-131, must be submitted prior to departure from the United States.

Re-Entry Permits are valid for two years from issuance and cannot be extended or revalidated. Permanent Resident Cards cannot be extended or reissued outside the United States. Failure to return to the United States within the validity of either of these residency documents may jeopardize permanent residence status.

Individuals, who have remained outside the United States for more than one year without a valid Re-Entry Permit, or beyond the validity of a Re-Entry Permit, may be eligible to apply for returning resident status with the Department of State Consular Offices.

For more information on Permanent Residence in the United States, see http://www.uscis.gov/greencard.