Child's Stay Over 90 Days A Problem for Permanent US Green Card?

[Voyageur]

A question for people who are knowledgeable about US immigration (and there are allot of them here):

We plan to take our 7 year old daughter back for an extended visit with Babushka in Russia this summer, from June to early September. 

Is there any long-term problems that may arise for such and extended time our of the US, when we apply for the 10 year green card in a year or  so?  My wife and step-daughter both have their two year Green Cards.  We think that we may have read somewhere that the Dept. of Homeland Security may not look favorably on such an extended stay outside the US.  We already went for a two week stay this year over Christmas and New Years.

I was not able to find anything about this issue, at my first try. Any help would be appreciated.

P.S. Does anyone know how hard it would be to buy a pet in Russia and bring it back to the US?  Thanks again!

[catzenmouse]

P.S. Does anyone know how hard it would be to buy a pet in Russia and bring it back to the US?  Thanks again!

No problem at all here. Just go to USCIS.gov and read the requirements for a K-1 visa... 

Sorry, couldn't resist that one.

I'll be interested in the responses to this one as well as Elena and Sergei are going from June to August. I really don't see how this would (or should) affect their status but with the way USCIS does things it would also not be a big surprise.

Ken

[I/O]

No problem at all here. Just go to USCIS.gov and read the requirements for a K-1 visa... 

Sorry, couldn't resist that one.

ROFL ... Must be those Omsk women that do it to us.  I've been thinking exactly the same thing for the last hour or so and was just itching to throw something like that in.  Maybe for the pet purchase you could go to www.1000sofmobs.com.

I/O

[BC]

No problem at all here. Just go to USCIS.gov and read the requirements for a K-1 visa... 

Surely you meant a K-9 visa?

[Jet]

Sorry for the late response...
A summer visit is no problem. Long term complications arise one the GC holder stays abroad more than 180 days in any given year (counts against the citizenship clock), and more immediate problems when they stay abroad for more than 1 full year at a time (re-entry permit needed).

[jb]

Jet,

What you say is true, however there is an added glitch WRT the permenent GC, the time spent in the US is cumlative towards US citinzenship.  They will deduct time spent in Russia or Ukraine.  For exammple, the months my wife spent in Russia on vacation and the extended stay to be with her mother during her illness, is counted against the required 2 years and 9 months. 

So,,, if the little person goes and spends summers in the FSU a couple of times, it will delay filing by that amount of time spent outside the US.

[viking]

I bought a dog, a puppy, in Moscow and brought her home to the states. The dog was purchased from a breeder (she was a Black Russian Terrier) and they did all the paperwork for me.You MUST have papers. In my case the papers were signed by a doctor showing all necessary inoculations. I was able to book a Delta flight that allowed animals in the main cabin as long as the pup was in a carrier and fit under the seat. Mine was in a flexible fabric one that fit tightly but comfortable. Lucky for me the dog did not bark even once in a 10 hour flight. Most passengers wanted to play with it, but it really is aganist the rules to take the dog out of the carrier. You need to give yourself about 1 hour, at the least, to go through the vet station who will review your papers and issue you a stamp good for only 24 hours. Miss your flight and you have to do it all over again. When I got back to JFK, I went to the animal control station who looked at my papers, all in Russian of course, told me to make sure I get the dog checked out when I get home and sent me on my way. I was there maybe 10 minutes. Anything else you want to know, PM me. PS, if you go this route, make sure the animal is wearing baby 'bumpers' (diapers).

[catzenmouse]

jb,

 Would you know how nit picky they are on this? It sound like we'll have to wait an extra 80 days or so before we file for Elena's permanent GC due to their being in Russia for the Summer this year but will we need to add the two weeks we were in Russia last year to that as well?

Spassiba!
 Ken

Jet,

What you say is true, however there is an added glitch WRT the permenent GC, the time spent in the US is cumlative towards US citinzenship.  They will deduct time spent in Russia or Ukraine.  For exammple, the months my wife spent in Russia on vacation and the extended stay to be with her mother during her illness, is counted against the required 2 years and 9 months. 

So,,, if the little person goes and spends summers in the FSU a couple of times, it will delay filing by that amount of time spent outside the US.

[jb]

Ken,

I don't know how picky they are, but them's da rules. 

[CaptB]

Certain rules for (specific species) pets entering the US have lightened up in the last half-dozen years. Most animals used to be required 120 days in US quarantine facilities......amoung other regulations. Their are three species of pets that are relatively easy to bring intro the US: Dogs, Cats........and Tortoises (???). Dogs and cats need a vet certifificate of health from the country of origin. Dogs and cats need various innoculations to be updated. In addition....dogs need to have a rabies shot.....if it has been more than 12 months.


Capt B