There is a big difference of having a tourist/business visa in the passport for a couple years, and having a green card.
A green card holder in the US, is not allowed to abandon permanent residency. If a green card plans to leave the US for more then a year,
one has to obtain a "Re-Entry permit" prior to leaving the US, which is basically a white re-entry travel document. (Also used as a stateless
passport, for US permanent immigrants with no citizenship).
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| I heard of an individual whom had a green card, stayed out of the US more than a year, and then returned. This person was apprehended at customs, had a choice, stand trial for visa violation or get deported, the decision this person made was be deported back to the EU, in hand cuffs, accompanied by a police escort, yes, totally unnecessary, but it happened. | |
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