Re-Entry Permit

[donandjacky 0]

Sorry if this question is a repeat. When is a re-entry permit needed? Every time I travel abroad or only when spending a long time (how long?) abroad. I am only going for a week and it's work related (not to my home country). I am a conditional resident and will be filing I-751 at the end of May '08.

Thanks!

[payxibka 10,044]

re-entry typically needed when you are outside the country for an extended period of time (1 year?)

[YuAndDan 153]

Green card holders need it only if trip abroad will be longer than 1 year but less than 2 years.

[donandjacky 0]

Thanks!

[lucyrich 19]

It can be useful for trips of between six months and a year, because it creates a presumption that you didn't abandon status. Without the reentry permit, you'd have a presumption that you DID abandon status, and you'd have to rebut this presumption with evidence that you maintained status. It's not required for trips of less than a year, though.

In addition, a re-entry permit is needed even for short trips if you don't have a passport. It can sometimes serve as a "substitute passport" for those who can't or don't wish to get a passport from their home country. See the I-131 instructions. Not all foreign countries will accept a reentry permit as a travel document.

But if you have a passport and your trip is less than six months, I can't think of any reason to get a reentry permit.