Abandonment (Of Residence) Definition

An immigration law term referring to situations where a permanent resident (green card holder) leaves the United States with the intention of making a permanent home in another country. Permanent residents who spend longer than six months outside the United States will, upon their return, face serious questions about whether they intended to abandon their residence. After one year away, an immigrant will be presumed to have abandoned residence, and will need to prove otherwise in order to reenter the United States.