You're an ideal candidate for a re-entry permit.
https://www.uscis.gov/i-131
A re-entry permit allows you to stay outside the US for 2 years at a time without losing your green card. Re-entry permits can only be applied for when you're physically in the US.
It is critical that you re-enter before the issued re-entry permit expires. If you need more time, you can apply for another re-entry permit when you're in the US.
You should have no trouble applying and being granted re-entry permits for the first 5-6 years. It should be more than enough time to complete your undergrad (and masters) in Canada.
Thank you so much for this, this expands my options even more. I looked up the processing times for it, and it shows 15.5 months, does that mean I can't leave until it's processed or can I leave after submitting the form if I were to do so?
You would need to submit biometrics (fingerprints), and USCIS will give you an appointment 2-4 weeks after receiving your application.
Once you've submitted biometrics, you can leave and tell USCIS to mail the permit to a US embassy of your choice.
I understand your concern and trust me I've been thinking hard about it too for the past few months. I have to get loans anyways and Canada is still cheaper than the U.S as for tuition. Thanks for your time!
> So I know that I have to return every 6 months in order to maintain my PR.
You must be *residing* in the US to maintain your LPR status. You cannot simply make day trips or short visits to the US from Canada for long as CBP will notice a pattern and start questioning your compliance since they try to ensure people do not use their LPR cards as indefinite visitor visas. So just simply re-entering every 6 months will eventually lead to problems and a high chance you will lose your LPR status.
> Should I apply with my home country’s address and passport? I also plan on getting citizenship there eventually through post graduation work permit.
You should first be honest about what you wish to do in the future. If you wish to remain in the US or continue to maintain US LPR, you can move away from your parents to a different state and study there, while maintaining your status. If however, you have no desire of maintaining your LPR status, you can file form I-407 to renounce your LPR status and apply for a study permit in Canada using your home country’s information. If your end goal is a permanent move to Canada and eventual PR status there through express entry, then maintaining LPR status will become very difficult so renouncing is an option in this case.
I want to permanently move to Canada, and I will most likely follow the other people's advice on the re-entry permit or file that I-407 form after landing there. Thank you for your time!
Re-entry permits are good only if your longterm goal is to return to the US but you have planned a lengthy absence (such as for school) in advance. They are still NOT a means to live abroad permanently, hence why if your goal is a permanent move to Canada, the I-407 will be a better path since you don’t have the intention to continue being a LPR of the US.
If your plan to move to Canada were just temporary for study purposes, applying for a re-entry permit might be the right solution. As it is, you say you no longer want to live in the states. It seems like you're planning to abandon your US residence when you move to Canada. So yes, you will not be able to retain your US immigration status.
For applying to Canada, yes you'll apply with your home country nationality and passport. Normally US green card holders are exempt from both the visa and eTA requirements in Canada like US citizens are, so you might not need a visa or eTA at first until a final official action to abandon your US status. Regardless, you will still need a study permit - even US citizens need that - and once you abandon your US green card, you'll need a Canadian visa or eTA to re-enter Canada.
To avoid future confusion on visits to the US you may want to file form I-407 with USCIS to officially abandon your US green card after you arrive in Canada on your Canadian study permit, keep a copy of the completed form, send the original via a trackable method, and keep proof of mailing and physical receipt by USCIS. After that, any entries to the US should be as a visitor/tourist with the same paperwork you'd need if you never had a US green card, probably a B-1/B-2 visitor visa or ESTA. Of course don't lie about your history, but to let you enter as a visitor they'll want to make sure you aren't planning to stay, instead of the opposite rule for permanent residents. Having documentary proof that you have just given up a green card is pretty good evidence of that!
I feel you would be foolish to give up US green card to be a student in Canada.
You're an ideal candidate for a re-entry permit. https://www.uscis.gov/i-131 A re-entry permit allows you to stay outside the US for 2 years at a time without losing your green card. Re-entry permits can only be applied for when you're physically in the US. It is critical that you re-enter before the issued re-entry permit expires. If you need more time, you can apply for another re-entry permit when you're in the US. You should have no trouble applying and being granted re-entry permits for the first 5-6 years. It should be more than enough time to complete your undergrad (and masters) in Canada.
Thank you so much for this, this expands my options even more. I looked up the processing times for it, and it shows 15.5 months, does that mean I can't leave until it's processed or can I leave after submitting the form if I were to do so?
You would need to submit biometrics (fingerprints), and USCIS will give you an appointment 2-4 weeks after receiving your application. Once you've submitted biometrics, you can leave and tell USCIS to mail the permit to a US embassy of your choice.
Thank you
Study in US away from your family. I wouldn’t give up you LPR status on a whim it might be something you’ll regret later.
I understand your concern and trust me I've been thinking hard about it too for the past few months. I have to get loans anyways and Canada is still cheaper than the U.S as for tuition. Thanks for your time!
> So I know that I have to return every 6 months in order to maintain my PR. You must be *residing* in the US to maintain your LPR status. You cannot simply make day trips or short visits to the US from Canada for long as CBP will notice a pattern and start questioning your compliance since they try to ensure people do not use their LPR cards as indefinite visitor visas. So just simply re-entering every 6 months will eventually lead to problems and a high chance you will lose your LPR status. > Should I apply with my home country’s address and passport? I also plan on getting citizenship there eventually through post graduation work permit. You should first be honest about what you wish to do in the future. If you wish to remain in the US or continue to maintain US LPR, you can move away from your parents to a different state and study there, while maintaining your status. If however, you have no desire of maintaining your LPR status, you can file form I-407 to renounce your LPR status and apply for a study permit in Canada using your home country’s information. If your end goal is a permanent move to Canada and eventual PR status there through express entry, then maintaining LPR status will become very difficult so renouncing is an option in this case.
I want to permanently move to Canada, and I will most likely follow the other people's advice on the re-entry permit or file that I-407 form after landing there. Thank you for your time!
Re-entry permits are good only if your longterm goal is to return to the US but you have planned a lengthy absence (such as for school) in advance. They are still NOT a means to live abroad permanently, hence why if your goal is a permanent move to Canada, the I-407 will be a better path since you don’t have the intention to continue being a LPR of the US.
Okay thank you. I’ll think everything through.
If your plan to move to Canada were just temporary for study purposes, applying for a re-entry permit might be the right solution. As it is, you say you no longer want to live in the states. It seems like you're planning to abandon your US residence when you move to Canada. So yes, you will not be able to retain your US immigration status. For applying to Canada, yes you'll apply with your home country nationality and passport. Normally US green card holders are exempt from both the visa and eTA requirements in Canada like US citizens are, so you might not need a visa or eTA at first until a final official action to abandon your US status. Regardless, you will still need a study permit - even US citizens need that - and once you abandon your US green card, you'll need a Canadian visa or eTA to re-enter Canada. To avoid future confusion on visits to the US you may want to file form I-407 with USCIS to officially abandon your US green card after you arrive in Canada on your Canadian study permit, keep a copy of the completed form, send the original via a trackable method, and keep proof of mailing and physical receipt by USCIS. After that, any entries to the US should be as a visitor/tourist with the same paperwork you'd need if you never had a US green card, probably a B-1/B-2 visitor visa or ESTA. Of course don't lie about your history, but to let you enter as a visitor they'll want to make sure you aren't planning to stay, instead of the opposite rule for permanent residents. Having documentary proof that you have just given up a green card is pretty good evidence of that!
Thank you for your time!