Hi, I am a Japanese citizen and have green card living in U.S. My husband got a contract job on Navy base in Japan under SOFA status. Can I get sofa stamps on my passport or do I need to notify that I am leaving States more than 6 months so that I don't loose my greencard?I do not want to loose my greencard by moving back to Japan. His job is SOFA status, so I think I don't have to worry about it? Please give me an advice.
You don't have to worry as long as his orders/job allow for him to have his family with him. Not only can you keep your green card, but your absence from the USA does not break your period of continuous residence for naturalization purposes. You cannot get a SOFA Stamp in a Japanese passport because you are Japanese. His orders will suffice as long as they are accompanied.
Did the army circulate you over there, ar you residing with him on the backside or with command sponsorship, in case you're then quite this may well be classed as american soil and does not count quantity against you for being out the country
A Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) is an agreement between a country and a foreign nation stationing military forces in that country. Having a contract job on a Naval base is not the same as being a military or civilian employee. If your husband is not employed by the U.S. government, you are going to need more than just a green card if you plan to be outside the U.S. for an extended period. For SOFA purposes, contractor employees find themselves treated in a different way from military soldiers or civilian employees. A green card can be presented by a United States Government civilian or military employee's spouse or child if such employee was outside the United States pursuant to official orders and the spouse or child resided abroad while the government employee or service-person was on overseas duty. As long as the government employee or service-person was outside the U.S. on official orders, the spouse and children do not need anymore more than the green card to return to the U.S. You are not the spouse of a government employee or service-person. You will need to apply for a Reentry Permit which will permit you to be gone for more than a year. If your husband is gone for several years and files his income tax return as a resident, you could qualify for a second Reentry Permit (you'd have to apply inside the U.S.). You might be better off surrendering the green card and applying for a new one in Japan when you plan to move back to the U.S. if your spouse is going to be in Japan for several years. EDIT: IF YOUR HUSBAND IS NOT EMPLOYED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, and is an employee of a government contractor, you will not be treated in the same way that the spouse of a civilian or military employee on U.S. government travel orders is treated. IF YOUR HUSBAND DOES NOT RECEIVE GOVERNMENT TRAVEL ORDERS, you will need a reentry permit to be gone more than a year.
