Who Needs A Re-entry Permit During Travel Outside Us?

By Author: Nancy Mervin
Total Articles: 56
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When the citizens or lawful permanent resident leave the country for an extended period of time in some countries they require a re-entry permit. A resident foreigner in the US, while maintaining his/her permanent residency, if he/she plans to travel abroad for a period up to two years they are issued a re-entry permit. A lawful permanent resident who wants to travel outside the US is issued a reentry permit also in case they cannot get from their country of nationality a national passport.

The Form I-131 is used for filling the application for reentry permit (REP), 60 days before you travel, while in the US. Even before a decision is taken you can leave US but the permit can be requested to be sent at a US embassy or consulate or Department of Homeland Security office abroad. This is possible provided in the form where information necessary to receive it outside the US is furnished by you.

Eligibility to Apply using Form I-131

A conditional resident or a lawful permanent resident can apply for reentry permit using the Application for Travel document. You cannot apply for a permit in case you already ...
... have a valid one unless the document is returned to the USCIS or until you prove that you have lost it. Also if issuance of travel document like this is prohibited to the area where you plan to travel in the Federal register then you are not permitted to apply for reentry permit.

In case you do not apply for permit before leaving US and don’t return within one year it is considered that the permanent resident status is abandoned by you. A returning resident visa from the US consulate can be used in this situation.

In order to preserve residence to be able to apply for US citizenship later, Form N-470 can be used by green card holder to stay abroad for more than a year but would require a reentry permit in order to enter US again.

Validity of reentry permit

Generally a reentry permit can be used by lawful permanent resident to reenter US after a year or more of travel. The permit is valid for two years from the date of its issue. But in case you intend to stay longer the permit is valid for a year only. Only for following special cases the validity is for two years:

• If travel is on the command of the US government but not in case of deportation, removal or exclusion.
• If US is a member by treaty of the public international organization you are employed with.
• As a professional athlete regularly competing in US and abroad a lawful permanent resident is eligible.
For travel outside US for one year and more period conditional residents can make use of reentry permit. It is valid for two years from the date of issuance of the permit or date of application for removal of conditions. No extension option is available for both the cases.

Documents for submission

• Along with the application for travel document, Form I-131, the current fee of $360 and an additional charge of $85 for biometrics needs to be paid.
• Photocopy of an identity document like the permanent resident card
• Two identical photographs need to be submitted.
• Front and back photocopy of the Form I-551, the permanent resident card if not
1. Copy of proof of permanent residence or copy of biographic page of passport and visa page showing permanent residence.
2. Temporary evidence of permanent resident status or copy of Form I-797 which is receipt notice to the applicant from USCIS.