Do I need Re-entry permit? HELPPP!!

[aa0921 0]

Hi guys. I'm a LPR, and I'm planning to continue my study in the Philippines for less than a year but more than 6 months. Let's say I'll be out of the country for 11 months. Do I need re-entry permit? Anyone with experience with the same situation? Thank you!! 

[Sagot 1,548]

15 minutes ago, aa0921 said:

Hi guys. I'm a LPR, and I'm planning to continue my study in the Philippines for less than a year but more than 6 months. Let's say I'll be out of the country for 11 months. Do I need re-entry permit? Anyone with experience with the same situation? Thank you!! 

Here ya go!  Half way down the page.      

 

https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-green-card-granted/international-travel-permanent-resident

[geowrian 22,336]

It's not explicitly required, but I would absolutely recommend it. Any travel over 6 months is going to raise suspicion of abandonment of your LPR status. A re-entry permit lets you leave for up to 2 years under the presumption that you are not intending to abandon it.

[Greenbaum 12,258]

Under 12 months no problem.  Over 12 get a waiver. Follow the link that sagot gave you as that is the official word. 

[aa0921 0]

Thank you for all your response. God bless!

[BBCC 16]

On 2/13/2017 at 5:58 PM, geowrian said:

It's not explicitly required, but I would absolutely recommend it. Any travel over 6 months is going to raise suspicion of abandonment of your LPR status. A re-entry permit lets you leave for up to 2 years under the presumption that you are not intending to abandon it.

Yes officially you don't need one for absences less than 12 months, however, we have had more than one border guard recommend getting one for any absence more than six months.

[aa0921 0]

4 hours ago, BBCC said:

Yes officially you don't need one for absences less than 12 months, however, we have had more than one border guard recommend getting one for any absence more than six months.

I am actually still thinking on whether to apply for one or not. I will be leaving last week of April. And one more reason why I can't decide is the money, cause I know the re-entry permit would cost around $600. 

[Sagot 1,548]

If you are not outside the country ONE year (minus a day) by all rights you should be and not need the I-131 ... CBP may question your extended absence and with valid answers you shouldn't have issues.   But gone a year or more, MAX two years (minus a day) is a whole new ball game.

 

SB-1 process isn't free either

[BBCC 16]

22 hours ago, aa0921 said:

I am actually still thinking on whether to apply for one or not. I will be leaving last week of April. And one more reason why I can't decide is the money, cause I know the re-entry permit would cost around $600. 

 

Yes, anything involving USCIS costs money.

 

We debated the same before we left because we expected to be gone just under a year.  But then we thought about what would happen if we were asked to stay longer or in any other way delayed.  So we decided to get the permit.  We ended up extending an additional year.  In fact, we came home a few weeks after the re-entry permit expired.  When we extended the additional year, our plan was to arrive home a few weeks before the expired.  By the time we realized we were going to run over, it was too late to return home to get a new permit.  So we just came home on the expired permit.  The border officer at airport arrivals hall looked at the expired permit on our return home and didn't say anything about the expiration.  "Welcome home" is all he said.  I would presume that one cannot necessarily expect this will happen in general but that is what happened to us.

Edited February 21, 2017 by BBCC

[Sagot 1,548]

Entry is always at the discretion of the CBP agent.