Reentry Permit

A lawful Permanent Resident may use their Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) to reenter the United States when traveling abroad, provided they have remained outside the United States less than one year and have maintained an unreliquished domicile in the United States.

A permanent resident that has sufficient cause to remain outside the United States for more than one year may apply for a Reentry Permit. The application for issuance of a Reentry Permit, Form I-131, must be submitted to the USCIS prior to departure from the United States.

Reentry Permits are valid for two years from issuance and cannot be extended or revalidated. Permanent Resident Cards cannot be extended or reissued outside the United States. Failure to return to the United States within the validity of either of these residency documents may jeopardize permanent residence status.