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By Marc Topoleski, partner in SSHD’s Michigan office. Marc can be reached at mtopoleski@visalaw.com I am a permanent resident and need to return to my home country for a few months to take care of my mother who is ill. Do I need any type of a travel document?
Permanent residents who are seeking to leave the U.S. to travel overseas for a period of over 12 months need to obtain a reentry permit by filing form I-131 to be readmitted into the U.S. The form I-131 must be filed while you are in the U.S. If your trip will be for less than a year, you do not require a reentry permit.
Does a musician without high school degree, but a lot of training and experience qualify to enter the Green Card Lottery?
The lottery rules require that the principal applicant must have at least two years of experience in an occupation that requires at least two years of training. Depending on what kind of musician the person is and what type of work they do as a musician they may or may not meet this requirement. For example, if the person is an orchestra musician or manages a music-related business, the might qualify, however, someone who is an amateur musician or street musician probably would not. The final determination would be made by referring to the Department of Labor’s O*Net job classification system. Note that this evidence would not need to be provided until the time of his green card interview if his lottery application is selected. For more Green Card Lottery information, please visit our Visalaw Green Card Lottery Center at http://www.visalawlottery.com.
I am a Green Card holder residing in Shelby, N.C. If I need to return to my home country permanently, can I transfer my Green Card to another member of my family?
No. Permanent residency status is specifically granted only to the person named in the immigrant petition. As a permanent resident, you can sponsor certain other relatives for permanent residency, but you cannot transfer your Green Card to them.
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