After I become a permanent resident, how much time must I spend in the United States?

In order to qualify for naturalization, one must have spent 2 ½ years out of 5 in the US. To maintain the status of permanent resident, one must have the current intent to reside in the US. As a legal matter, if a person is physically outside the United States for more than one year, he or she has lost his status, and visiting the US once a year is not enough time to maintain status. One should live as an “American” – pay taxes as a resident on worldwide income; rent/own an apartment or house; have bank accounts, credit cards, drivers license; be employed by an American company; belong to religious or social organizations; and possess other indicia of “Americanness”.

For more information about the requirements of American residency and the EB-5 visa application process, contact the knowledgeable EB-5 application lawyers of White & Associates at 818-730-3540.