Eligibility
You can apply for a re-entry permit if you are in the U.S. as a:
- Lawful Permanent Resident
- Conditional Resident
You cannot apply for a re-entry permit:
- If you currently have a valid re-entry permit, unless the past document has been returned to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), or you can prove that it was lost.
- If a notice was published in the Federal Register that prohibits the issuance of such a document for travel to the area where you plan to travel.
Validity
- Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) use re-entry permits to re-enter the U.S. after travel of one year or more. For LPRs returning to the U.S., re-entry permits are generally valid for two years from their date of issuance. If, after becoming a LPR, you have been outside the U.S. for more than four of the last five years, the permit will be restricted to one year. However, a validity of two years will be granted for the following cases:
- If a permanent resident is traveling under the orders of the U.S. government, other than exclusion, deportation, removal, or rescission order.
- If a permanent resident is employed by a public international organization which the U.S. is a member of by treaty or statute.
- If a permanent resident is a professional athlete and regularly competes in the U.S. and internationally.
- If a permanent resident is traveling under the orders of the U.S. government, other than exclusion, deportation, removal, or rescission order.
- Conditional residents use re-entry permits to re-enter the U.S. after a period of travel of one year or more. For conditional residents returning to the U.S., re-entry permits are generally valid for two years from their date of issuance or until the date that the conditional resident must apply for the removal of conditions, whichever comes first.
- Re-entry permits may not be extended.
