Reentry permit recent information

[mikumi 0]

Re: Reentry permit recent information.

Hello, I am a Japanese national and green card holder through my American husband.

My situation is - we left US to Japan last Nov, planned 9months staying in Japan.

I saw USCIS website that there no need reentry permit for less than 1 year.

Now, my husband's contract will get extended until next April, which could make me out of US almost 1.5year.

To avoid being outside of the US for more than a year, I am planning to go US to apply for reentry permit in this Sep.

1) How long does it take to get USCIS contact once I apply ? and how long does it take to get Biometrics ?

I will apply on the website , they should contact me faster than mail ? I am planning to go back to Japan after Biometrics and getting the permit in Japan.

2) Biometrics, what they do ?

3) Well I heard that somebody who were away for even only several months, got removed the green card.

Any chance, Immigration may take my green card away even less than a year? I am traveling with my 3years old son.

I would be very upset if they send me back to Japan(13hours trip...) right away at the Immigration.....!!! Could that really happen? My son is a US citizen.

Could I travel to Canada where we have family or only back to Japan?

4) Does anyone have experience in staying out of the US for more than a year and then applying for a second green card? from abroad (home country) (after more than 1 year has passed since leaving US?) Any difference to get green card compared to first one ?

Anyone can help us ? Thank you very much...

[NANDA 0]

nobody?

[gnasa 3]

I don't have answers to all of your questions but when you return to US you could try to EXPEDITE the re-entry permit process which should limit your time in the US to ~2-3 weeks versus >1 month for normal processing. One caveat though is they may not feel your reason for expediting is valid and they wont tell you.

You can only EXPEDITE the re-entry permit from within the US and via mail/express mail ($54 in 3 overnight prepaid express mailers), not online. You must be in the US for Biometrics (fingerprinting).

See: www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/268674-how-to-expedite-re-entry-permit-processing/

I started that thread and will update it to let everyone know how it goes.

Make absolutely sure you return to the US before 1year, otherwise your green card is automatically canceled (without a re-entry permit). You may even have difficulty entering US if the border guard thinks you've abandoned residency in the >6 month ABROAD <12 months category, be prepared with documentation to prove you haven't 'abandoned residency'. Best of luck!

[mikumi 0]

Thank you very much for your reply !

It was good to know that I can apply for Expedite process. 　

Everything about visa is always difficult and complicated ... but hopefully i can get the reentry permit smoothly.

Thank you so much for your help , gnasa !!

[tokyo.lovers 6]

i am not sure, but i don't know if you can stay outside the USA that long when you are only on a visa.....

i know during the first 2 years you must spend most of the year in the USA.

[mikumi 0]

Hello, this is just update

I came back to US on Sep 12th from Japan (10months away). At the airport immigration, They took my fingerprints and my eye picture....(I even wrote it on my cover letter when I apply)

1) I applied Re entry Permit on Sep 13th.

2) I got letter from USCIS on Sep 24th.... But it only said that they received my application and fee.

No information about Biometrics appointment.

The letter about biometrics appointment supposed to come, right?

I am waiting for the letter right now. Hoping to get it by early next week.....

Mikumi

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

Mikumi,

I am not sure, but it appears to me that we are talking about 2 different things here:

1) a reentry permit, which is needed for absences from the USA between 1 year and maximal 2 years

2) removing conditions on your 2 year Green Card.

Please tell us, do you have a 2 year or a 10 year Green Card, and what is the expiration date of it?

[mikumi 0]

Bob,

Thank you for your concern.

I have 10years green card and applying for reentry permit to live in japan for a while.

Sep 30th, I got biometrics appointment letter ( almost 3weeks after my application)

The appointment dated on Oct 22nd, but I am leaving japan before, so will just go to get biometrics next week.

Hope they don't question about scheduled date,,,

I guess reentry permit can be done within a month, but still takes 3-4weeks...

Thank you all for your help.

mikumi

[SPSguy 18]

mikumi,

I don't know if my post will offer any help to you but I have many expat freinds that work oveseas. I have not heard of single incidence where any has received trouble at POE for being out over 6 months. I know people that stayed 363 days outside using only a greencard and entered without a problem. Those staying over 6 months are subject to additional inspection but I think this applies to "high risk" and "high fraud" countries only.

On your re entry permit, you should be able to get your biometrics completed in about a month's time. You can always walk in sooner than the appt time and explain your situation.

However, do expect to wait more than 4 months to receive your re entry permit. My wife applied on June 1 and it's now October 6. Still hasn't arrived. USCIS estimates processing time to be about 3 months. This is not the case.

I expect to receive it any day after seeing many touches in the case status check website.

Good luck

[tobias 0]

I'm in the same situation like mikumi. I have applied for reentry permit on May 18, 2010. Gone to biometric appointment on July 12. Until now, my case is still in Acceptance stage. My case did not get any touch or update whatsoever. Should I call the USCIS and ask about my case? Thanks

mikumi,

I don't know if my post will offer any help to you but I have many expat freinds that work oveseas. I have not heard of single incidence where any has received trouble at POE for being out over 6 months. I know people that stayed 363 days outside using only a greencard and entered without a problem. Those staying over 6 months are subject to additional inspection but I think this applies to "high risk" and "high fraud" countries only.

On your re entry permit, you should be able to get your biometrics completed in about a month's time. You can always walk in sooner than the appt time and explain your situation.

However, do expect to wait more than 4 months to receive your re entry permit. My wife applied on June 1 and it's now October 6. Still hasn't arrived. USCIS estimates processing time to be about 3 months. This is not the case.

I expect to receive it any day after seeing many touches in the case status check website.

Good luck

[SPSguy 18]

I'm in the same situation like mikumi. I have applied for reentry permit on May 18, 2010. Gone to biometric appointment on July 12. Until now, my case is still in Acceptance stage. My case did not get any touch or update whatsoever. Should I call the USCIS and ask about my case? Thanks

There's nothing to worry about. The same happened to my wife's. YOU WILL NOT SEE A CASE UPDATE OR EVEN A SINGLE TOUCH UNTIL ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE A DECISION IS MADE. Ours took exactly 90 days before a first touch was made. Afterward, you will not see any touches until about the four month.

Follow my timeline below and you will see the details. No need to call USCIS yet. Wait til month 4.

[mikumi 0]

Thank you all for sharing the information. I didn't expect that it takes 4months...but will be patient... I guess mine will take until February 2011.

I had Biometrics on Oct 4th, earlier than appointment and already left US and am in Japan now.

I am suppose to get the Reentry permit in US Embassy Tokyo. Will they send it to Embassy ? or to my Address in Tokyo?

Thank you,

mikumi

[SPSguy 18]

Thank you all for sharing the information. I didn't expect that it takes 4months...but will be patient... I guess mine will take until February 2011.

I had Biometrics on Oct 4th, earlier than appointment and already left US and am in Japan now.

I am suppose to get the Reentry permit in US Embassy Tokyo. Will they send it to Embassy ? or to my Address in Tokyo?

Thank you,

mikumi

This depends on the address you specified in the i 131 petition. Usually the consultate or embassy.

My wife did her biometrics about two weeks ahead of appointment as well. You will see that your case gets touched a day or two after your biometrics get completed. Then you will see nothing until about the 90 day mark. In the 4th month you will see 2-3 touches and only then you will see a status update that the card/document is in production. Basically your case will move from petition accepted to document production.

No worries.

[leannetromp 0]

I don't have answers to all of your questions but when you return to US you could try to EXPEDITE the re-entry permit process which should limit your time in the US to ~2-3 weeks versus >1 month for normal processing. One caveat though is they may not feel your reason for expediting is valid and they wont tell you.

You can only EXPEDITE the re-entry permit from within the US and via mail/express mail ($54 in 3 overnight prepaid express mailers), not online. You must be in the US for Biometrics (fingerprinting).

See: www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/268674-how-to-expedite-re-entry-permit-processing/

I started that thread and will update it to let everyone know how it goes.

Make absolutely sure you return to the US before 1year, otherwise your green card is automatically canceled (without a re-entry permit). You may even have difficulty entering US if the border guard thinks you've abandoned residency in the >6 month ABROAD <12 months category, be prepared with documentation to prove you haven't 'abandoned residency'. Best of luck!

I left the US in Oct 2009, then returned in June 2010 and left the same month. I'm going back to the US in Nov.2010. Do you think I will get trouble enterying?

[mikumi 0]

hi, leannetromp

I am not exactly sure though, you may have possibility to not get into US.

It could depends on the immigration officer you will see at the airport.

You may want to ask / search story from many people like your situation.

I don't have exact information, sorry.

mikumi