Abandonment (of residence)
Abandonment is a determination by the USCIS that a permanent resident has surrendered his/her status as a lawful permanent resident (LPR). The intent of a LPR is a key factor in the USCIS's determination of whether the LPR has abandoned his/her permanent residence in the U.S.
Definition from Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary
An immigration law term referring to situations where a permanent resident (green card holder) leaves the United States with the intention of making a permanent home in another country. Permanent residents who spend longer than six months outside the United States will, upon their return, face serious questions about whether they intended to abandon their residence. After one year away, an immigrant will be presumed to have abandoned residence, and will need to prove otherwise in order to reenter the United States.
Definition provided by Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary.
August 19, 2010, 5:10 pm
