Reentry Permit Soon after Green Card appoved?

[Lambstat]

Dilemma with father : Reentry permit required

My father was recently admitted to the US just last month as IR5. His actual green card has not arrived yet. But he needs to go back to his original country in July and is sure he may have to stay 1 yr or longer. His wife (not my mother) still lives there and his taking care of her sick mother which he helps her with.

1-Can he apply for a reentry permit so soon before july?
2-how likely is it to be approved? What's the timeline?
3-What kind of proof should be provide?

He applied for a regular B1 visa after his 10 yrs bar but was denied twice. So, we went to such trouble to get an IR5 approved because he once lived in the US but now it seems the green card wasn't appropriate for him. It's so ironic that when he lived illegally in the us for over 20 yrs he was dreaming of having it.
I am anticipating he might one day lose it, what if he voluntarily renounces it and try a visa again? Most likely it would be denied. ohh gosh!

what are our options

[abumiqdad]

there is no requirement for a LPR/GC holder to wait for a certain period before applying for re-entry permit I-131 .

Since he is already admitted using IR5 visa, that is his Green Card (I-551 stamp on the passport). He can file immediately for I-131 re-entry permit as he is already a GC holder.

However, HE MUST BE ON US SOIL when making the application. Then he has to wait for the biometric.

Timeline: from sending the application form, to Biometric - 4-6 weeks the best case scenario.

Then he can travel out of the country while it is in process (after the biometric).


Actually he can already travel out after submitting the I-131 form (touch down on any Port of Entry, send the form via USPS etc, take the earliest flight out of the country), but it can be costly as he will then have to travel into the country again for the biometrics.