Concerns about using Re-entry Permit

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sunks

Registered Users (C)
Hello friends, I along with with my family got GC approved in Dec 04. My daughter plans to go for 2 years studies in France. I can get Visa for France but question is how to handle re-entry permit. The concerns I have are:
1. Do we need to apply for re-entry permit for her. During her studies, she would be staying for 4-5 months in France and then coming back to US for 1-2 months vacation. Is it a problem to have 3-4 trips like this only on GC.
2. If we have to apply for re-entry permit, can we use one set at the time of every visit (I am assuming on approval we would get 3 sets of permits as we got at the time of AP approval).
3. If you apply for re-entry permit and it is not approved yet, can u leave US after completeing biometrics. Can we send re-entry permit by mail and that can be used on return or you have to be physically present in US at the time of approval of re-entry permit.

Thanks.
Sunks
 
Since all of you got GC in Dec 04, I would strongly advise you to apply for citizenship in Sept this yr - which is only 2 months from now.
Forget this reentry permit and all the immigration crap. Even once you have earned GC, the buck doesnt stop there. You have to keep satisfying them on who you are, why were you outside etc.

Once she applies for N400, let her get fingerprinting and then go to France - she has to come back for interview and oath - and then there would be no more issues EVER.

A better suggestion is for her to go abroad AFTER one semester - after all the formalities are complete.

Of course , if you dont want to apply for citizenship, its a different case altogether..
 
Thanks for advise new_lpr.
The main problem with that option is that she may have to start next year and loose one year. I was looking for an option where we do not loose that much time and is also safe and hassle free. Since this year session has to start at end of Aug, applying for Citizenship by that time may not be feasible.
 
The time spent in France could delay her citizenship eligibility for years. If US citizenship is important to her, she would be well advised to wait out the year in the US doing something else like working while she goes through the citizenship process. Otherwise if she starts studying this year she may have to wait until 2014 or later to become a US citizen, as well as possibly having her studies interrupted by having to return to comply with the reentry permit.

Another advantage of obtaining US citizenship before leaving to study is that she would able to visit most other European countries without a visa (of course, if she already has a passport that would allow visa-free travel throughout Europe, having US citizenship wouldn't really be an advantage for European travel).

But to answer your question ... for the reentry permit, she can leave the US after biometrics. You can send it to her when you get it, or there is an option to have USCIS send it to a consulate abroad for her to pick up. But don't send it by mail, send it by private courier like Fedex or DHL. Documents like that have a high risk of getting lost in international mail, even if you choose priority mail or registered mail.

The reentry permit is a multiple-use document and can be used over and over until it expires.
 
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Thanks for reply Jackolantern.
I know that time spent there would be a deaying factor in getting citizenship. We definitely have to weigh pros and cons of loosing one year or wait for may be 2 years or more for applying citizenship.
What I could make out is re-netry permit can be used again and again until it expires (which I think is 2 years). That means we would not have to apply for re-entry permit for every trip. Also how many copies of re-entry permits you get to use. I have never used but know people getting 3 copies of AP. Do we get 3 copies of re-entry permit also or it is different. Any info on that. Thanks
 
sunks said:
That means we would not have to apply for re-entry permit for every trip.
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Yes, that's correct, she should get the permit valid for 2 years.

Also how many copies of re-entry permits you get to use. I have never used but know people getting 3 copies of AP. Do we get 3 copies of re-entry permit also or it is different. Any info on that. Thanks
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No no, the re-entry permit is a booklet. It looks like a passport.
 
sunks said:
Thanks for reply Jackolantern.
I know that time spent there would be a deaying factor in getting citizenship. We definitely have to weigh pros and cons of loosing one year or wait for may be 2 years or more for applying citizenship.
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It's possibly a lot worse than a 2 year delay. If at the citizenship interview USCIS decides that the long time spent in France breaks continuous residence, she would have to wait at least 4 years, possibly 5 years after ending her overseas studies and returning to the US to become eligible for citizenship again. So if she finally returns in 2011 that would be 2015 or 2016 to restore eligibility for citizenship (meanwhile there would be the time and hassle of renewing the green card in 2014, and being hassled at the port of entry in 2010-2011 for taking the long trips).

But ultimately it is up to her ... she is the one who will suffer the consequences or enjoy the benefits of her decision, not us.
 
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Thanks Sotiredofwaiting & Jackolantern for your replies. I know it is not easy to take a decision about going one way or another. We are waiting for some more info/clarifications from France, which is expected in about a weeks time and based on that decide to go which way.

Please help in clarifying one point - Once you apply to USCIS, you get reentry permit for two years. I believe you can use same permit for 3-4 visits over a period of 2 years (till it expires). Is it correct or after every use, you have to apply for new permit to USCIS even though it has not expired yet.

Thanks.
 
As it was stated earlier in this thread, the reentry permit is a multi-use document that can be used repeatedly until it expires.
 
Your daughter should avoid doing this until she obtains United States citizenship. Opening a can of worms with USCIS is not worth it.
 
thankful said:
Your daughter should avoid doing this until she obtains United States citizenship. Opening a can of worms with USCIS is not worth it.
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Yea, think about it: during her sudies she meets a guy in France. Things get serious, they decide to get married. Not being a citizen, she cannot really sponsor him for green card in the States (well, she can, but it's pointless), so they have to settle in Europe and that means she eventually loses her greencard for good.
 
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