First time POE after re-entry permit

[TeamMcGregor 21]

Thought I'd share my POE experience yesterday after I applied for a re-entry permit (which was denied at first then approved). It had been 5 months and a few days since my last time in the US (I was in Guam for a week over Christmas).

I did the LPR line (this is POE Seattle) and this was the dialogue:

CBP: Where are you coming from?

Me: Shanghai via Seoul

CBP: How long were you there for?

Me: About 5 months since last time I was in the US

CBP: What were you doing there?

Me: My husband works in Shanghai

CBP: How long are you staying here before you go back again?

Me: About two months

So the CBP officer said I needed to apply for a re-entry permit (I replied: I have one!) He asked to see it and said I had to present that (made it sound like I have to show my permit every time I enter the US now, regardless of the time I've been out). He then stamped my permit, not my passport. Is that normal? I was prepared to be questioned, because you never know, and it's been a while since I'd been back (during which I traveled quite a bit), but I was kind of expecting to get stamps in both my passport and my permit.

My takeaway from this experience: if you know you're going to be out of the country for a while and you're a LPR, fork the money out and apply for a re-entry permit. And if things get messed up, follow through until you get it. Better safe than sorry.

[Maya&Matt 2]

Thought I'd share my POE experience yesterday after I applied for a re-entry permit (which was denied at first then approved). It had been 5 months and a few days since my last time in the US (I was in Guam for a week over Christmas).

I did the LPR line (this is POE Seattle) and this was the dialogue:

CBP: Where are you coming from?

Me: Shanghai via Seoul

CBP: How long were you there for?

Me: About 5 months since last time I was in the US

CBP: What were you doing there?

Me: My husband works in Shanghai

CBP: How long are you staying here before you go back again?

Me: About two months

So the CBP officer said I needed to apply for a re-entry permit (I replied: I have one!) He asked to see it and said I had to present that (made it sound like I have to show my permit every time I enter the US now, regardless of the time I've been out). He then stamped my permit, not my passport. Is that normal? I was prepared to be questioned, because you never know, and it's been a while since I'd been back (during which I traveled quite a bit), but I was kind of expecting to get stamps in both my passport and my permit.

My takeaway from this experience: if you know you're going to be out of the country for a while and you're a LPR, fork the money out and apply for a re-entry permit. And if things get messed up, follow through until you get it. Better safe than sorry.

Thanks for sharing your story!

Can I ask why was your reentry permit denied at first?

[TeamMcGregor 21]

They said I had missed my biometrics appointment. USCIS sent 3 notices that I never received. They had the correct address all along. I did a walk in at the ASC in Spokane two weeks before my supposed appointment date without even knowing what my appointment date was. My fingerprints were sitting in Spokane for about 6 months before my case was denied. They were never sent to Nebraska for processing.

Since that trip I traveled outside the US once more and stayed out for 3 weeks. Did POE at the Toronto Airport, no issues, stamp on my passport, my permit wasn't even asked for. I'm currently in the US.

[Maya&Matt 2]

Thanks for your quick response. I'm glad it all worked out in the end!