2nd Time Re-entry Permits

[axrx]

I am sure this question may have been addressed elsewhere.

I moved out of US in Jan 2007, me & my wife are GC holders& my kids are US citizens. Before leaving US we did apply for Re-entry permit & received it in April 2007, which is valid till April 2009.

I still own a house in US & have filed my US tax return on global income for 2007, which ended up paying more tax in US also & will do so for 2008 also.

I intend to visit US in April 2009, before Re entry permit lapses, however I may not be able to re apply for re entry permit again as I am traveling for only two weeks & biometric requirements will not be complete in that much time frame.

Q - What will be my options to retain my GC in future, does owning a house & filing/paying US taxes & making annual visits support non-abandonment of residency status?

Q - Has anayone applied for Re-entry permit for 2nd time? Is there any problem in getting it again.

Thanks in advance for your views.

 

[Jackolantern]

Q - What will be my options to retain my GC in future, does owning a house & filing/paying US taxes & making annual visits support non-abandonment of residency status?

Having the reentry permit and continuing to own your house and file US taxes will preserve your green card. But given the length of your time outside the US, it won't preserve your residence for naturalization, for which the requirements are more strict.

You don't have to stay in the US the entire time from applying for the reentry permit until biometrics. You can leave the US after applying and then go back for the biometrics.

Q - Has anayone applied for Re-entry permit for 2nd time? Is there any problem in getting it again.

It shouldn't be a problem to get it again, but they might give you less than 2 years.

 

[axrx]

If I do not get/ apply for 2nd Re-entry Permit, what will be my chances to maintain GC, simply based on owning the house & continue to pay taxes & considering both my minor kids are US citizens

 

[mmed]

If I do not get/ apply for 2nd Re-entry Permit, what will be my chances to maintain GC, simply based on owning the house & continue to pay taxes & considering both my minor kids are US citizens

Chance is zero. Paying tax, have house are normal things most GC holders do/ have and not bonus. Having USC children has nothing to do and an irrelevant piece of information in maintaining GC status. Nothing can compensate for not to follow the residence requirement while you are holding GC.

 

[Jackolantern]

If I do not get/ apply for 2nd Re-entry Permit, what will be my chances to maintain GC, simply based on owning the house & continue to pay taxes & considering both my minor kids are US citizens

How long do you plan to be away without the reentry permit? If it's less than a year, you should be OK. If you plan to spend the next 2 years outside the US, staying in the US for one week every 5.5 months, you might be OK if they don't notice the pattern of repeated lengthy travel at the port of entry, but doing that is still risky.