Received Reentry Permit

[nkm-oct23]

I received the reentry permit today. I had applied in Feb 2003.

[rg585]

Hello NKM,
Did you apply for this on your own? I presume this is the same Re-entry Permit that you apply for after you get your LPR and want to be out of the US for upto 2 years. I am planning to apply for one myself, but not sure which address to give since I plan to leave the US by the end of the year. I heard you can get it either delivered to an address in the US or to the nearest US Embassy/Consulate in your home country. Is this correct?
Thanks in advance.

[nkm-oct23]

Originally Posted by rg585

Hello NKM,
Did you apply for this on your own? I presume this is the same Re-entry Permit that you apply for after you get your LPR and want to be out of the US for upto 2 years. I am planning to apply for one myself, but not sure which address to give since I plan to leave the US by the end of the year. I heard you can get it either delivered to an address in the US or to the nearest US Embassy/Consulate in your home country. Is this correct?
Thanks in advance.

yes, I applied on my own. And yes, it is for those who are LPRs and plan to stay out of US for more than 1 year.
These permits can be delivered to you in the US OR to a US consulate in your country. (Not to your home in a foreign country). Expect around 1 year to get it.

[rg585]

Thanks. Appreciate your response. I shall apply about a month before I leave the US.

[nkm-oct23]

Originally Posted by rg585

Thanks. Appreciate your response. I shall apply about a month before I leave the US.

you might as well apply right away, why wait?

[rg585]

Good point !!! Anyway, it takes a year or so. Will do that.

[Avalon]

nkm,

Thanks for sharing the information. You applied REP in Feb 2003. It really takes a long time to approve. Many have shared the same delay. May be USCIS knows that is is useless unless you are really coming after more than a year's stay abroad.

In this respect, I have some questions for you,

1. Are you going to use REP?
2. Are you in US?
3. Will the use of REP come in your way of eligibility of Citizenship?

[nkm-oct23]

Originally Posted by Avalon

nkm,

Thanks for sharing the information. You applied REP in Feb 2003. It really takes a long time to approve. Many have shared the same delay. May be USCIS knows that is is useless unless you are really coming after more than a year's stay abroad.

In this respect, I have some questions for you,

1. Are you going to use REP?
2. Are you in US?
3. Will the use of REP come in your way of eligibility of Citizenship?

1. Most likely not.
2. Yes, I am.
3. Stay abroad of 6 months or more breaks the continuous residency requirement for citizenship.

[Avalon]

Thanks nkm.

So staying out of US for more than 6 months breaks the continuous residenecy requirement of eligibility for cisitzenship. But does it break even if REP is applied?

[rg585]

Originally Posted by Avalon

Thanks nkm.

So staying out of US for more than 6 months breaks the continuous residenecy requirement of eligibility for cisitzenship. But does it break even if REP is applied?

Avalon,
It does break the continous residency requirement even if you use the REP. It just allows you to retain your LPR.

[asrivang]

Hi NKM or any one,
I have a question regarding this permit. I plan to go out of US in July 2005 for 2 years.So Can I apply in advance for this permit? Will they issue the permit whose validity starts from the month and year I requested? In this case it is from July 2005 for 2 years from there. Can I specifically mention this month and year in the application form ( I-131?)?
Thansk in advance.

I-485 ND: Nov 2002
Passport stamped in May 2004

[nkm-oct23]

Originally Posted by asrivang

Hi NKM or any one,
I have a question regarding this permit. I plan to go out of US in July 2005 for 2 years.So Can I apply in advance for this permit? Will they issue the permit whose validity starts from the month and year I requested? In this case it is from July 2005 for 2 years from there. Can I specifically mention this month and year in the application form ( I-131?)?
Thansk in advance.

I-485 ND: Nov 2002
Passport stamped in May 2004

You can apply any time. The 2 year validity starts from the day it is approved.
I don't think you can request a specific date.

[asrivang]

Thank you NKM. Since we can't give a specific start date, it is better to plan to leave USA as soon as we get the permit in hand. In that way, I can make use of the 2-year validity period to stay that much time in my country. Of course, I will have to file US taxes.

[GC mama]

nkm-oct23, any suggestions to fill the Part 4:Information about your proposed travel in I-131 form?

Thanks in advance.

[Avalon]

asrivang,
You do not need to wait until ReP is apporved to leave the country. Also, if you apply for ReP and not use it then also it is OK. But, you need to apply for ReP while you are in US. You can even mail it the day of departure from airport and board the plane (I would send through certified mail).

The confusion comes because ReP form is I-131 which also used for Advanced Parole. But AP needs to be applied and approved before departure while ReP is not. AP is applied by adjustees while ReP can be applied only by PRs.

[ravidhya]

If we apply for REP and leave the country, assuming it will be approved. What if it is denied?

[Avalon]

unitedNations

Thanks for clarification. Yes, I would send the ReP app at least 2 weeks in advance and that too with registered letter with acknowledgement. Better yet, file it electronically and get a confiirmation letter. I-131 can now be filed electronically.

[rg585]

Avalon, I have read threads where the Electronic filing receipt was not received for a long time, neither was the Credit Card charged. I applied for my Re-entry permit last week of June by regular postal mail and I got the receipt on July 3rd and my check also cleared the same day. You maybe better off sending by regular mail.

[rg585]

Avalon, another thing, the Nebraska address is a PO Box, so not sure you can send a registered letter with Ack.

[Avalon]

rg585

Thanks for info. But if you do electronically ( I mean through internet) then you get the confirmation number immediately. You can print the same as a proof. While check and credit card can be charged later on, the date you receive confirmation number is important.

ReP process takes about a year to approve. (They know they have two years to process so they are not in a hurry!). If Nebraska is PO Box then that is one more reason to e-file. In future all RePs will be e-filed any way.

Please note that these are my opinion and I am not filing ReP. People should take their own judgement. We are just debating here to find the best options and know pros and cons.