Green Card renewal and 2-year re-entry permit EMERGENCY !

[dimple35]

Hi,

I have a green card that expires in Sept 2002. I had to come to India on an emergency and will not be able to go back to the US for more than 6 months.

I need to get my green card renewed real soon !! And in the meantime, also get a 2year re-entry permit. All this, I need to do from India. The immihelp site says that the American consulate should be able to help me with this. I called the Madras US Consulate and they flatly told me that this can only be done from the US.

Any ideas ? PLEASE HELP !!

thanks.

[dimple35]

Re: Green Card renewal and 2-year re-entry permit

Thanks for your response Joe. If I went back to the US just for the purpose of renewing my green card and getting a 2-year re-entry permit, how long will I have to stay in the US for the procedure to be completed ? Any idea ?

Also, for the SB-1 visa you suggested, what is the kind of physical evidence they need to indicate that :

1. When I departed, I intended to return to the United States and I have maintained this intent;

2. My stay was protracted while abroad, and it was caused by reasons beyond my control and for which you were not responsible;

3. I am eligible for the immigrant visa in all other respects.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Dimple.

[JoeF]

Re: Green Card renewal and 2-year re-entry permit

You have to *apply* for a reentry permit while in the US, but you don't need to wait for the permit in the US. The permit can be delivered to a US consulate abroad. See the form I-131 for details.
So,at least in principle, there is nothing that prevents you from comng to the US for one day, file a reentry permit and leave again. In practice, doing this might be problematic, since some INS officer could see such a short trip as evidence that you don't reside in the US anymore. I have no practical experience either way, so maybe you should ask a lawyer about it.

As for the SB-1 Returning Resident visa, the intent to return to the US is all about keeping ties to the US, e.g., having family here, having a job, etc. The reasons beyond your control thing would be something like being hospitalized, etc., and finally, being eligible for the visa means not falling in one of the grounds of exclusion that are mentioned in the I-485 (and of course in the law), e.g., communicable disease, etc.