Re-Entry Permit - frequent travel back to US

P

pattagreen

Registered Users (C)
I got my GC July 2003. I am planning to go to India for 2 years, so will be applying for Re-entry permit.

Since I have a house in the US, I will be visiting US every 6 mths to take care of some personal stuff.

Once I get my re-entry permit, can I still keep visiting US every 6 months during the validity of the re-entry permit? Will visiting US every 6 mths make my re-entry permit invalid? Do I need to apply for re-entry permit every time I visit the US during its validity period?

Any inputs on the above will be highly appreciated.
 
That is true, but I will be staying only for a week or two every 6 months, so did not want to put my GC at risk for that, so wanted to apply for the re-entry permit. Also my visit may be every 6 mths or even 8 mths.

Could you please reply on the re-entry permit question
 
O.K.
1. You can visit US every 6 months (or whatever) during the validity of re-entry permit.
2. I don't think visiting US every 6 months make re-entry permit invalid.
3. You dont need to apply for reentry permit again during its validiuty period. It looks like a passport. So they may note the entries in that book.

Ideally speaking, with proper planning and coming back to US within 6 months every time (if you can) avoids wasting of your re-entry permit as it is given only twice ( getting second one may be a little difficult). So I personally feel that one should use the re-entry permit only if he or she doesn't or can't come to US even once, in two years. Other wise the very purpose of it is DEFEATED.
 
asrivang said:
O.K.
So I personally feel that one should use the re-entry permit only if he or she doesn't or can't come to US even once, in two years. Other wise the very purpose of it is DEFEATED.
Click to expand...

Once in every 2 years?? Say after 14 months? You cannot use your GC to apply for entry into US after staying out for more than 12 months w/o RP. (excluding military and other special cases). Either have RP or apply for SB after 2 years.
 
I said 'using the re-entry permit' NOT 'applying for it when you are outside US.
This is what I meant. Any way I am rephrasing it as given below.

"So I personally feel that one should use (or avail its benefit) the re-entry permit (after applying while in USA) only if he or she doesn't or can't come to US even once, in two years. Other wise the very purpose of it is DEFEATED.
 
Thanks everyone for your response. You guys are the best.

One more related question. As asrivang says that it better to visit every 6 mths rather than taking an RP, is it OK to visit only for 1/2 weeks. Will they not question me at the POE if I keep doing it every 6 mths, which will be four times during the two year period I am planning to be away.

Why I am asking this is because I experienced this at the POE last year when I stayed in India for 6 mths. Here is the brief conversation I had.

Officer - 'How long have you been out of the country?
Me - 'Around 6 mths'
Officer - ' Do you now you cannot be out of the country for so long. You may loose your GC'
Me - ' I went on a business trip' (this was true since I was working for a US company in India)
Officer - ' If that is the case you do not have a choice, but be careful in future or you may have issues with your GC'
Me - Thanks
 
asrivang said:
Technically, If you plan to visit US every 6 months, you don't need to appy for Re-entry permit.
Click to expand...


Just "visiting" in every 6 months is not enough to keep PR status alive. For any abroad-stay more than 11 months, it's better to obtain re-entry permit.
 
pattagreen said:
I got my GC July 2003. I am planning to go to India for 2 years, so will be applying for Re-entry permit.

Since I have a house in the US, I will be visiting US every 6 mths to take care of some personal stuff.

Once I get my re-entry permit, can I still keep visiting US every 6 months during the validity of the re-entry permit? Will visiting US every 6 mths make my re-entry permit invalid? Do I need to apply for re-entry permit every time I visit the US during its validity period?

Any inputs on the above will be highly appreciated.
Click to expand...

Re-entry permit is good for 2 years. You can visit USA as many time you want within than 2 year period. Using re-entry permit does not make it invalid.
 
Ideally speaking, with proper planning and coming back to US within 6 months every time (if you can) avoids wasting of your re-entry permit as it is given only twice ( getting second one may be a little difficult).

Could you, please, indicate source about RP can be issued only twice( for life of GC?). I dont remember reading about it. Thank you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top