wantmygcnow
Volunteer Moderator
If you are an asylee and DO NOT HAVE A GC:
-You can request a RTD from USCIS and be out of the country as long as the RTD is valid for. You can even stay away for more than 6 months as long you have a valid document to enter the U.S. Since you are not a PR and your GC is in process, your residency status has not started so staying out of the country for more than 6 months don't matter. The validity of document matters.
-Other class immigrants like H1 with GC In process other can be out of the country but with an ADVANCED PAROLE DOCUMENT. Asylees can also request that but since being an asylee means you can't use your National Passport, Advance Parole can't be used.
If you were an ASYLEE and are a GC holder, you can request the follwing from USCIS:
1)RTD
2)Rentry Permit
Since you are a Permanent Resident now, residency requirements kick in, so if you want to be out of the country for more than 6 months, YOU DO NEED a Rentry Permit to renter or the officer at port of entry will give you trouble.
This also resets your Naturalization requirements which require that you are not out of the country for more than 6 months.
So the question is WHY would you request a RTD which is valid for only 1 year rather than a Rentry Permit which is valid for 2 years?
It can depend. Some people want RTD because some countries still do not accept Rentry Permits, like Switzerland and even Germany requires a visa on a Rentry Permit rather than a RTD.
Lot of people who are from a "profile" country like myself, do not want to travel with our NP. First, its a hassle to get a visa on it, even though you have a GC, officers look at you weirdly and airline personnel treat you different with a NP from a "profile" country.
For instance, I want to go to switzerland this summer which requires NO VISA if you have a valid NP and a GC. However a VISA is required on a RTD and if you hold a GC or not...I am applying for a Visa. #1, I do not want the hassle of renewing my passport, #2, that would mean I would need 2 visas, 1 for germany and 1 for Switzerland if I travel with my Np. Its a hassle.
So in summary, as a GC holder who was an asylee, you can travel using
1) Rentry Permit + GC
2) RTD + GC
3) NP + GC
In theory USCIS doesn't care if you have a RTD or RP or NP when you enter, they care that you have a GC which proves your status. Lots of officers will run the GC,verify your status and put a stamp on your passport as "Admitted on: Date, Until: ARC"for GC holders, "USC" for US Citizens and issue a I-94 with "Indefinte" in Admitted Until Entry for Refugees or Asylees.
HOpe this helps.
-You can request a RTD from USCIS and be out of the country as long as the RTD is valid for. You can even stay away for more than 6 months as long you have a valid document to enter the U.S. Since you are not a PR and your GC is in process, your residency status has not started so staying out of the country for more than 6 months don't matter. The validity of document matters.
-Other class immigrants like H1 with GC In process other can be out of the country but with an ADVANCED PAROLE DOCUMENT. Asylees can also request that but since being an asylee means you can't use your National Passport, Advance Parole can't be used.
If you were an ASYLEE and are a GC holder, you can request the follwing from USCIS:
1)RTD
2)Rentry Permit
Since you are a Permanent Resident now, residency requirements kick in, so if you want to be out of the country for more than 6 months, YOU DO NEED a Rentry Permit to renter or the officer at port of entry will give you trouble.
This also resets your Naturalization requirements which require that you are not out of the country for more than 6 months.
So the question is WHY would you request a RTD which is valid for only 1 year rather than a Rentry Permit which is valid for 2 years?
It can depend. Some people want RTD because some countries still do not accept Rentry Permits, like Switzerland and even Germany requires a visa on a Rentry Permit rather than a RTD.
Lot of people who are from a "profile" country like myself, do not want to travel with our NP. First, its a hassle to get a visa on it, even though you have a GC, officers look at you weirdly and airline personnel treat you different with a NP from a "profile" country.
For instance, I want to go to switzerland this summer which requires NO VISA if you have a valid NP and a GC. However a VISA is required on a RTD and if you hold a GC or not...I am applying for a Visa. #1, I do not want the hassle of renewing my passport, #2, that would mean I would need 2 visas, 1 for germany and 1 for Switzerland if I travel with my Np. Its a hassle.
So in summary, as a GC holder who was an asylee, you can travel using
1) Rentry Permit + GC
2) RTD + GC
3) NP + GC
In theory USCIS doesn't care if you have a RTD or RP or NP when you enter, they care that you have a GC which proves your status. Lots of officers will run the GC,verify your status and put a stamp on your passport as "Admitted on: Date, Until: ARC"for GC holders, "USC" for US Citizens and issue a I-94 with "Indefinte" in Admitted Until Entry for Refugees or Asylees.
HOpe this helps.
assport,returning visa to US,Proof of your status in US...