Expats living abroad will, at one time or another, have to go back to their mother countries either for the holidays, just to visit or due to indispensable reasons. No matter what happens and wherever in the world expats might live in, they will have to look back where they came from at some point in their lives. Sometimes, an expatriate might find himself or herself having to go back home because of something as serious as a death in the family. At times like these, it is always best if you have nothing else to worry about and your request to go back to your country for a period of time will not be hindered by legal reasons which you could have fixed at any one time. Do not wait until a serious reason impels you to go back home before you arrange your papers or else you would have to go through unnecessary hoops. 

The First Hurdle - Advance Paroles

When you apply for permission to travel back to your own country, an immigration officer will inform you of your eligibility. The arbitration of your plea to travel, also called "advance paroles" is the first hurdle you will have to pass. The officer will review all your information and make background checks on you to ascertain that you are eligible to travel and come back again. In case of the usage of aliases, the name(s) you use will be checked for any involvement in illegal activities. All in all, if you are legally staying in a country and have all your papers updated, you will not have any problems with advance paroles.

How Long Can One Stay as an Alien in a Country?

One major hindrance to aliens applying to travel back to their own country is their lack of legal residency status. Many stay as illegal aliens in a particular country for a long time either by intent or because of their own personal reasons. If you do not intend to hide and become an illegal alien, you have to know the country's laws on non-residents before you get too complacent. It is always better safe than sorry afterwards.

There are countries which allow you to visit their grounds for up to ninety days, sometimes even without a Visa, depending on which country it is and which country you came from. Residents of the European Union or the ASEAN, for example, could travel to each other's nations without the need for a Visa. You will be subject to fines, however, in case you exceed the allotted stay of 90 days.

Visas are granted for longer stays of more than 90 days and for visits to countries that require you to obtain a Visa even for a visit less than 90 days. The Visa type you will obtain depends on what kind of business you have in the country you are heading. You can apply for either a tourist or a work Visa if you have an employer to sponsor you in that particular country.

Types of Permits

If you are staying in a country for quite some time, you will be required to get residency permits. In some countries, visitors which exceed 90 days in the country are required to get temporary residency permits. This is usually only approved if the applicant can prove that he/she has a very important reason to stay inside the country. In most cases, visitors exceeding 180 days in a country are eligible for a permanent residence permit though there are some requirements to be met. Other permits include student Visas and one-year residency permits. It all depends on the country where you are staying. For details on the subject, it is best to consult your embassy or consulate.

Applying For Permanent Residency

Different countries have different methods for permanent resident application. In the United States, for example, permanent residence permit is what the rest of the world knows as the "Green card". Green cards are granted to all residents recognized to be legally residing in the country but who are not American citizens. Usually, a permanent resident status means an individual could also legally work inside a country.

To be eligible for permanent residence status application, there are some requirements to be met. One way is to be sponsored by family. Basically, you must be an immediate relative of a citizen of that country. The length of time it takes for your sponsorship to take shape depends on the proximity of your relationship with your sponsor. Another way to gain permanent residency is via the sponsorship of a company. You must be proven skilled in your field or holding advanced educational degrees such as a doctorate. In the United States, investors and traders are welcome as long as they came from one of the nations in their treaty trade list.

Avoid the Hassle

Wherever you are in the world, always make sure that your papers are in order so as to avoid the hassle. If you are caught living in a country as an illegal alien, you might get deported and denied re-entrance into the country for years.