Another Reentry Permit Question :)

[pratham]

Greetings!

Hope everyone who got their GC is enjoying life.
For me after getting my GC , I have got this hunch to stay in my home country for less than 2 years, so thinking of REP.

Any feedback is highly appreciated, specially if you have used one...

1) When does the clock starts, from the date you apply or the date is it is approved?

2) Whats the processing time?

3) I read somewhere that you can apply before 30 days of your departure. Is ithat true? Do you get any FP for REP?

Thanks all !

[wc_2007]

1) When does the clock starts, from the date you apply or the date is it is approved?

--- This is our timeline for REP

Applied -- Oct 10, 2006 (I think)
Receipt Date -- Oct 13, 2006
Left US -- Nov 12, 2006
Notice Date -- Jan 16 2007 (I guess this is approved date)
Valid till -- Jan 16 2009

So seems like the 2-year clock starts from the Notice Date.

2) Whats the processing time?

Check above

3) I read somewhere that you can apply before 30 days of your departure. Is ithat true? Do you get any FP for REP?

We applied about 30 days before our departure. The important thing that is you have to apply before leaving US and you can specify that you will pick it up from the US consulate in the country you are moving to.

There is no FP for REP.

[pratham]

wc_2007,

Thank you so much for your reply.

To your point: "specify that you will pick it up from the US consulate in the country you are moving to"

Did you pick up from consulate? Does the consulate notifies when it is available to pick up or you have to call them and check time to time?

Can I give my close relative's address here in USA? He can send me the doc by FedEx later when it is approved.

Thanks again...!

[wc_2007]

I got the approved letter to my address in USA (which was forwarded to my Indian address by USPS) which mentioned that I can pick it up at the consulate (in Chennai, India, in my case) in a few weeks.

I later sent an email to ChennaiIV@state.gov and they responded prompty saying that they had our REPs, but didn't have the mailing address to forward them to us. After sending my address in email, I received them in a couple of days.

hope this helps

[pratham]

Thanks a lot wc_2007

[I140helppls]

when applying for a rep, what reason did u put for it? also what ties do we need to maintain so that we can easily come back after 2 years?