Length of Time Outside of US

[John A]

Originally Posted by AllezCat

As others have stated citizens don't have to return - don't lose citizenship.
But permanent residents do.
Maybe that is what you heard?
I was a perment resident and stayed out for years and had to start again.

In every country of the world there is a difference between being a resident and being a citizen.

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by AllezCat

As others have stated citizens don't have to return - don't lose citizenship.
But permanent residents do.
Maybe that is what you heard?
I was a perment resident and stayed out for years and had to start again.

Yes, my Russian wife is now a legal permanent resident (LPR) of the USA, otherwise known as a "green card" holder. The basic idea of the "green card" is that you want to live and work inside the USA as a non-citizen. It follows that if you are not living inside the USA then you do not need a "green card."
- - So the rules are, basically, you can spend up to one year outside the USA without jeopardizing your "green card." If you need or want to be "outside" longer (up to 2 years), then you need to file a form to get "permission" to be able to return and retain your LPR status. If you stay outside more than two years then the "green card" is revoked and you have to start from the beginning to get a new one. There are a few exceptions for military service and other unusual circumstances, but those are the basic rules for a "resident legal alien."
- - After three years, if married to a US citizen, or 5 years otherwise, as a legal permanent resident, you can apply for "naturalization" and become a US citizen. Then you can live anywhere in or outside just the same as a person born in the USA.

[AllezCat]

I'm an American Citizen now.
Poor Cuban girls can't see me anymore...

[AllezCat]

Does your Russian wife have any friends in brighten beach?

[osirissail]

There are 2 Brighton Beaches, one in England and one in Florida. She has friends in London and the greater Orlando area is lousy with them.
- - We meet cruisers all over the Caribbean and USA with Russian(s) onboard. And I suspect you could say the same for other nationalities of what were formerly considered non-cruising sources. Everybody is out there these days, it is really a great "international" society of folks with common interests regardless of national origin. One more big plus for getting out there cruising.

[Sailcat]

I do alot of land/air travel and have seen the many nationalities who also travel extensively. I've had many a good time with Irish, Cheks, Latvians, and Norwegians, to name a few.

Meeting these people and having such a good time with them is just one more reason to continue my travels (more affordably), but this time for longer and more exotic places.

I'm in with both feet in the boat.

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by osirissail

It is, of course, a great advantage to have your banking inside the USA and have the SS check automatically deposited in your bank account each month.

Not totally true! Read>>>>> Your Payments While You Are Outside The United States

[osirissail]

I agree - delmarrey -- but for a cruiser living on a boat and visiting other countries you need a bank somewhere into which your payments will be deposited - it is easiest to have a USA bank both for speed and to avoid possible currency changing complications. Keeping it simple, especially when dealing with giant bureaucracies goes a long way to avoiding potential grief.