How long outside without re-entry permit?

[josic]

Hi everyone, can you help me with this:

How long can I stay outside USA without re-entry permit? On USCIS help line told me less than a year, but on some forums I've read no more than 6 months. I just wanted to double check.

Is it enough just to enter for a couple of days in order to maintain permanent residency status?

If I'm working on more than one year contract in Europe, could I lose my permanent residency status?

Any info is welcome!

G

[mehta_agm1979]

hi i Had the same issue..I got my Green card in May this year..Stayed in US for a month and then came back to uk where i work. I again made a trip this year in nov after 5.5 months but before completion of 6 months. I was questioned by immigration officer asking why I stayed outside US for long time..although 5 months is not that long. I told him I work in Uk..and I am doing a slow transition to US. He asked me my Social security number..etc..I have social sec numb..but i dont remember i said..than he asked if I had driving id..I said i am goin to apply this time..when he heard my story..he suggested I apply for a re entry permit asap..otherwise I might loose greencard if i keep on doing this.

So to be on safer side I applied for re entry permit and requested expedited biometrics as i was there in US for only 2 weeks.
All this took 1 week ( from application of re entry to biometrics). If your biometrics comes after you leave US..than you might have to come back for biometrics apointment date.

As a Greencard holder you can stay close to 11 months outside US. But make sure you enter US every 5 months ..If you think you will stay in Europe for work than better apply for re entry permit to retain perm residence ASAP. It can be only done in US.

If you dont make the trips every 5 months(or before 6 month) to US even after the Re entry is issued to you..your clock for US naturalisation will be reset.

Good luck

agm

[josic]

Many thanks!

[josic]

mehta_agm1979, how did you get your fingerprints appointment so soon? They told me that expedite process needs to be approved, and that if it's only a matter of financial loss or national security....
Even so, the one week sounds super fast. Is it possible?

[josic]

And what did you state as reasons to expedite ?

[mehta_agm1979]

And what did you state as reasons to expedite ?

There are 2 thing..you can request in expedite cases !
a) Expediting the Re entry permit
b) Expediting the biometrics

I requested (b) and (a) both. I gave them my employer letter HR stating I work in Uk. etc
Co-incidently my company is a reputed US Investment Bank. I told them that atleast if they can expedite my (b) biometrics part then I dont have to spend money coming back from Uk. I just did a walk-in at the Application centre and told the officer that I work for xyz and I have to travel to london...He was very polite and listened to whatever my concern was and approved the biometrics as a walkin

So I am not sure if you really need (a) if you have already spent less than a year outside...let it come in normal time

[mehta_agm1979]

There are 2 thing..you can request in expedite cases !
a) Expediting the Re entry permit
b) Expediting the biometrics

I requested (b) and (a) both. I gave them my employer letter HR stating I work in Uk. etc
Co-incidently my company is a reputed US Investment Bank. I told them that atleast if they can expedite my (b) biometrics part then I dont have to spend money coming back from Uk. I just did a walk-in at the Application centre and told the officer that I work for xyz and I have to travel to london...He was very polite and listened to whatever my concern was and approved the biometrics as a walkin

So I am not sure if you really need (a) if you have already spent less than a year outside...let it come in normal time

Just wanted to share my re entry permit time line
Applied i-131 on 23rd Nov 2011
NOA 2nd Dec 2011
Biometrics 2nd Dec 2011 walkin ( actual appointment date 7th dec)
Approved Rentry permit 19th Dec
Dispatched 22nd Dec by USCIS
Received at my address on 4th Jan 2012

[simpsons]

Hi mehta_agm1979

Thanks for sharing the details. It was very informative. I had a question too. I plan to live in Turkey for a couple of years and will be applying for the re-entry permit this month.

I understand that I will have to be physically present in the US for the biometrics appointment, I am willing to make that trip to the US, but I want to avoid spending so much time waiting for the appointment etc.

Do you know if I have to be physically present in the US to mail my re-entry application to USCIS?
I was wondering if it's okay to mail my application to USCIS from Turkey or I could mail my application to my family who lives in the US and they could in-turn mail it to USCIS.

Thanks in advance!