Applying for a Second Re-entry Permit

[cameraboy]

I am a green card holder and currently living in Japan due to family circumstances, after having obtained a re-entry permit. Since the re-entry permit will expire in December 2025, I am planning to visit the U.S. to submit Form I-131 and apply for a second one.

Form I-131 requires you to fill in your “Current Physical Address”. Since I currently live in Japan, should I enter my Japanese address? Or is it required to provide a U.S. address? I should note that I do not currently have a U.S. residence.

Also, if I enter my Japanese address as my “Current Physical Address,” which USCIS Lockbox should I send the application to? The USCIS website provides mailing instructions for re-entry permits, but it seems that the correct Lockbox is determined based on the state you currently live in. However, I couldn't find any instruction on where to send the application if your “Current Physical Address” is outside the U.S.

For someone like me who has already obtained one re-entry permit and is currently living abroad, how should I handle this situation? I am also concerned about how the location for the biometrics appointment will be determined.

Thank you very much for your advice.

 

[newacct]

When you file the I-131 for a Re-entry Permit, you must be physically in the US, so your "current physical address" then should be a US address.

 

[cameraboy]

When you file the I-131 for a Re-entry Permit, you must be physically in the US, so your "current physical address" then should be a US address.

Thank you for your advice. I completely understand the reasoning behind the idea that the "current physical address" on Form I-131 for the Re-entry Permit should be a U.S. address. I plan to temporarily travel to the U.S. to apply for the Re-entry Permit. In that case, do you think it would be acceptable to use a temporary address—such as a hotel or a friend’s residence—for the application?

Also, since I am currently working in Japan, I intend to return there once the application is accepted by the USCIS Lockbox, before the biometrics appointment. I then plan to travel back to the U.S. again to attend the biometrics appointment. Do you think this plan involves any risks?

Additionally, I understand the instructions for applying for a second Re-entry Permit state that the currently valid permit must be submitted with the application I-131. However, I am concerned that if I do not carry the existing Re-entry permit with me when I re-enter the U.S. for the biometrics appointment, it might negatively affect my green card status.

Thank you for your your advice.

 

[SusieQQQ]

Also, since I am currently working in Japan, I intend to return there once the application is accepted by the USCIS Lockbox, before the biometrics appointment. I then plan to travel back to the U.S. again to attend the biometrics appointment. Do you think this plan involves any risks?

A number of people do this (for initial permit too), but technically it may be an issue. USCIS says if you leave the US before you provide your biometrics, they “may” deny your application. (See top of page 2 https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/guides/B5en.pdf )

Additionally, I understand the instructions for applying for a second Re-entry Permit state that the currently valid permit must be submitted with the application I-131. However, I am concerned that if I do not carry the existing Re-entry permit with me when I re-enter the U.S. for the biometrics appointment, it might negatively affect my green card status.

I’d say this is definitely a drawback of your proposed plan. If your REP is still valid, you are required to submit it with your application. They say they will not issue a new permit to someone who already has one in their possession. And yes especially now, I’d be wary. That said, if you have entered to apply for the REP then your next entry would be well under 6 months after that so you may be ok, but safest would definitely be to wait in the US for biometrics. Can you maybe arrange to work remotely during that time?

 

[cameraboy]

A number of people do this (for initial permit too), but technically it may be an issue. USCIS says if you leave the US before you provide your biometrics, they “may” deny your application.

I’d say this is definitely a drawback of your proposed plan. If your REP is still valid, you are required to submit it with your application. They say they will not issue a new permit to someone who already has one in their possession. And yes especially now, I’d be wary. That said, if you have entered to apply for the REP then your next entry would be well under 6 months after that so you may be ok, but safest would definitely be to wait in the US for biometrics. Can you maybe arrange to work remotely during that time?

Thank you for the advice. Unfortunately, my company does not allow remote work, so my only options are to take an extended leave of absence for biometrics or return to Japan temporarily and travel back to the U.S. again for it.

I am exploring the least risky way forward on the premise that I will return to Japan once after submitting the application and travel back to the U.S. again for biometrics.

To re-enter the U.S. for biometrics, do you think that I should refrain from submitting the original valid Reentry Permit with the application and submit a cover letter explaining the reason why I am unable to return the valid Reentry Permit, along with a copy of the valid Reentry Permit instead? Or is submitting the original valid Reentry Permit at the time of application mandatory, making that option unfeasible?

 

[SusieQQQ]

To re-enter the U.S. for biometrics, do you think that I should refrain from submitting the original valid Reentry Permit with the application and submit a cover letter explaining the reason why I am unable to return the valid Reentry Permit, along with a copy of the valid Reentry Permit instead? Or is submitting the original valid Reentry Permit at the time of application mandatory, making that option unfeasible?

They are very clear that you need to submit any existing valid permit with the application. I can’t say for certain, but I’d be concerned that they would reject the application as incomplete if you don’t.

 

[cameraboy]

They are very clear that you need to submit any existing valid permit with the application. I can’t say for certain, but I’d be concerned that they would reject the application as incomplete if you don’t.

Thank you for the advice.
I’ve decided to travel to the U.S. in August to apply for a Reentry Permit. As I mentioned, I am going to attach my currently valid Reentry Permit to the I-131 application and then leave the U.S. again before the biometrics appointment due to work commitments. I hope everything goes smoothly...

I have one more question. I plan to submit Form G-1450 to pay the $630 reentry permit application fee by credit card. If the Credit Card Holder's Billing Address on Form G-1450 is different from the Current Mailing Address or Current Physical Address on Form I-131, could this cause any issues during the process? Is it acceptable for the addresses to be different?

 

[cafeconleche]

Since your permit is expiring in December, you can just indicate in the form that it is 'set to expire in Dec 2025' and keep it if you want. It's basically a guarantee the new one will be issued after this date given you'll be applying in August. This is what I used to do.