Re-Entry Expired in April 2019 and out of US for 9 Months?

[Kudla]

I am out of US from Oct 18 and would be returning next week into US. My re-entry permit expired in April 2019.

Do they consider me out for 9 months OR would they count the time after the expiry of my re-entry permit.

Please advise!

[Kudla]

Could someone help me with this query? Would they count the time after the expiry of my RP?
What could they ask me at POE?

Please advise!

I am out of US from Oct 18 and would be returning next week into US. My re-entry permit expired in April 2019.

Do they consider me out for 9 months OR would they count the time after the expiry of my re-entry permit.

Please advise!

[Enub4]

From what I read, the time is only counted from the day you left to the day you return, it has nothing to do with re-entry permit.
They will want to know:
- why are you staying outside the USA for so long
- if you will be doing that frequently
- maybe they will ask if you are going to get another re-entry permit
- how long are you going to stay in the USA this time
it all depends on the officer at POE.

I don't think you should worry much, you were less than 1 year abroad.

[Kudla]

From what I read, the time is only counted from the day you left to the day you return, it has nothing to do with re-entry permit.
They will want to know:
- why are you staying outside the USA for so long
- if you will be doing that frequently
- maybe they will ask if you are going to get another re-entry permit
- how long are you going to stay in the USA this time
it all depends on the officer at POE.

I don't think you should worry much, you were less than 1 year abroad.

You are so right about this depending on the officer at POE.
For me the officer had questions similar to what you have mentioned and finally he put a remark on the 'admission stamp' in passport that I was out of US for 6 months and more.

Would this hamper my next travels outside US? How soon can I travel now, after this note on the admission stamp.
Please advise!

[Enub4]

I think they put that mark because when people apply for citizenship they need to have certain number of years after the GC and more than half the time in the USA.
If I remember correctly, people that travel for more than 6 months outside the USA can't count that year for citizenship requirements.
My guess is, if you need to keep traveling for more than 6 months your time at POE will increase. Try to travel for less than 6 months at a time or get another re-entry permit just to be safe.

[Kudla]

I think they put that mark because when people apply for citizenship they need to have certain number of years after the GC and more than half the time in the USA.
If I remember correctly, people that travel for more than 6 months outside the USA can't count that year for citizenship requirements.
My guess is, if you need to keep traveling for more than 6 months your time at POE will increase. Try to travel for less than 6 months at a time or get another re-entry permit just to be safe.

I would NOT travel for more than 6 months, henceforth.

My concern is because of that mark, would there be queries on even shorter travels(say <5 Months)?

[Enub4]

I don't think so, but I don't have personal experience with that. It is just a record of what happened (your travel for more than 6 months). I don't believe you should worry if your travel is going to be less than 5 months from now on.

I guess there is a risk if you travel for 5 months and you only stay a few days in the USA and do that over and over. The officer will see all that travel and will question if you really are a permanent resident. Every case is different, maybe you have a good reason for all the travel.