Q: Concerns for re-entry to U.S. for conditional green card holder after trip to Italy?

A: Your conditional green card will allow you to exit and enter the United States for vacation trips. You should not stay out of the country for more than six months at a time, and you should bring your conditional green card with you at all times as well as your passport. As long as the conditional green card is not expired when you return, then you will have no problem re-entering the United States.

A: Your conditional green card (Form I-551) serves as both your valid proof of residency and authorization to re-enter the United States after your short trip to Italy. As a lawful permanent resident, you have the right to travel abroad for temporary periods while maintaining your status, and a 10-day trip falls well within reasonable parameters for temporary travel. The fact that your green card was recently issued should not itself present a problem for re-entry, though officers occasionally exercise additional scrutiny with newer residents.

We advise carrying supporting documentation despite not being strictly required. This should include your unexpired passport, conditional green card, copies of your approved petition (I-130), adjustment of status application (I-485), and evidence of your bona fide marriage. Photos together, joint financial records, shared lease/mortgage, insurance documents naming each other as beneficiaries, and recent mail addressed to both of you at the same residence can be helpful if secondary inspection occurs. The resolved RFE for Form I-693 does not present ongoing concerns, as USCIS has already approved your residency application.

Upon return, answer all CBP officer questions truthfully but concisely. While most green card holders experience routine processing, maintaining a professional demeanor during the inspection process facilitates a smooth re-entry. Remember that as a conditional resident, you will need to file Form I-751 to remove conditions approximately 90 days before your two-year anniversary of receiving permanent residence, so maintain organized records of your ongoing marital relationship for that future filing. You should experience no extraordinary difficulties with your brief trip to Italy given your lawful status and absence of any immigration violations or criminal history.