Permanent green card holder stuck in Vietnam for more than 1 year?!

[kianblame]

Hi guys,

My Dad is a permanent green card holder and he traveled to Vietnam in October 2019 planning to stay there for maximum 6 months but due to COVID19 he could not make it back to the U.S on time and he already stayed past his 6 month period, he also doesn’t want to take the risk of traveling right now because he is old. What can we do so that his green card won’t be abandoned???? I read that he can’t apply fot reentry permit because he is not physically in the U.S. right now...can someone please help if you have any idea on what my Dad should do so that he can stay there till October 2020? Thank you

[R78]

If he enters within one year (Oct 2020), he can still explain the situation to the officer upon entry. Most likely, he won't have issues
If it is over 1 yr, then he should apply for a SB1 (returning resident) visa. The criteria is tough (stay outside the US was beyond his control...his passport was confiscated by the government, was forced to stay back legally, medically impossible to travel, etc)
I suggest he try to return buy July / August