Abandonment (of Residence) is a determination by the U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) that a permanent resident has surrendered their status as a lawful permanent resident (LPR). According to the USCIS, applicants are not eligible for naturalization if they have abandoned their Legal Permanent Resident Status (LPR). The reason abandonment affects the naturalization process is because naturalization requires continuous residence in the U.S. The intent of a LPR is a key factor in the USCIS's determination of whether the LPR has abandoned their permanent residence in the U.S. The final determination about whether an LPR has abandoned their LPR status is made by an immigration judge.
[Last updated in December of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]