[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 22, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 22CFR42.22]

[Page 221-222]
 
                       TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS
 
                     CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF STATE
 
PART 42--VISAS: DOCUMENTATION OF IMMIGRANTS UNDER THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT, AS AMENDED--Table of Contents
 
 Subpart C--Immigrants Not Subject to Numerical Limitations of INA 201 
                                 and 202
 
Sec. 42.22  Returning resident aliens.

    (a) Requirements for returning resident status. An alien shall be 
classifiable as a special immigrant under INA 101(a)(27)(A) if the 
consular officer is satisfied from the evidence presented that:
    (1) The alien had the status of an alien lawfully admitted for 
permanent residence at the time of departure from the United States;
    (2) The alien departed from the United States with the intention of 
returning and has not abandoned this intention; and
    (3) The alien is returning to the United States from a temporary 
visit abroad and, if the stay abroad was protracted, this was caused by 
reasons beyond the alien's control and for which the alien was not 
responsible.
    (b) Documentation needed. Unless the consular officer has reason to 
question the legality of the alien's previous admission for permanent 
residence or the alien's eligibility to receive an immigrant visa, only 
those records and documents required under INA 222(b) which relate to 
the period of residence

[[Page 222]]

in the United States and the period of the temporary visit abroad shall 
be required. If any required record or document is unobtainable, the 
provisions of Sec. 42.65(d) shall apply.
    (c) Returning resident alien originally admitted under the Act of 
December 28, 1945. An alien admitted into the United States under 
Section 1 of the Act of December 28, 1945 (``GI Brides Act'') shall not 
be refused an immigrant visa after a temporary absence abroad solely 
because of a mental or physical defect or defects that existed at the 
time of the original admission.

[56 FR 49676, Oct. 1, 1991, as amended at 63 FR 48578, Sept. 11, 1998]