Re-entry permit

[NyashaT]

Hi folks

Im in a bit of pickle at the moment. My partner and I won the DV2025 green card lottery. Our first activation trip was in November 2025 where we stayed for less than a month before we returned to our home countries in the Oceania region.

We eventually got the physical green cards mailed to us by a friend in December 2025.

We have been looking for US roles while overseas, no luck so far and are planning to return to the US to apply for a re-entry permit.

Is it possible to do the following:

1. Visit the US and immediately apply for re-entry permit
2. Wait until NOA, we can only wait about 2 weeks
3. Leave US
4. Return for biometrics when scheduled and leave soon afterwards

Thanks

 

[SusieQQQ]

Hi folks

Im in a bit of pickle at the moment. My partner and I won the DV2025 green card lottery. Our first activation trip was in November 2025 where we stayed for less than a month before we returned to our home countries in the Oceania region.

We eventually got the physical green cards mailed to us by a friend in December 2025.

We have been looking for US roles while overseas, no luck so far and are planning to return to the US to apply for a re-entry permit.

Unless you are in a niche sector, you’re unlikely to get jobs applying from overseas. If that’s your continued plan you may need to rethink it.

Be prepared to return at short notice for biometrics. Technically you’re supposed to wait in the US till biometrics though others have done it the way you’re proposing.

 

[NyashaT]

Unless you are in a niche sector, you’re unlikely to get jobs applying from overseas. If that’s your continued plan you may need to rethink it.

Be prepared to return at short notice for biometrics. Technically you’re supposed to wait in the US till biometrics though others have done it the way you’re proposing.

Hi Susie

Thanks I'm a sector that has a lot of remote opportunities. I'm currently speaking with recruiters and have mentioned to them I only need 6 weeks notice and no relocation costs.

The move will be on my own. Do you reckon it's easier if I'm on the ground to get a job?

 

[SusieQQQ]

Do you reckon it's easier if I'm on the ground to get a job?

This has been the most common experience. Companies don’t trust what you say about being able to relocate even if you put it in big bold letters that you have a green card…but if you have a US address and phone number on your resume, that makes the difference. Also, if you haven’t yet, you may want to check that your resume is appropriate for the US (generally shorter than many other countries) and that your cover letters are appropriately worded so that they don’t get weeded out by AI filters.

 

[NyashaT]

This has been the most common experience. Companies don’t trust what you say about being able to relocate even if you put it in big bold letters that you have a green card…but if you have a US address and phone number on your resume, that makes the difference. Also, if you haven’t yet, you may want to check that your resume is appropriate for the US (generally shorter than many other countries) and that your cover letters are appropriately worded so that they don’t get weeded out by AI filters.

Thanks, that makes sense. I think I need to wait a little bit longer to move given I lack the full credentials in my role. Is finding an appropriate job easy in the US. Even in a different role. Starting over is a new country is not easy. I remember the struggle of taking 15 months just to find a role in the oceania region and my worry is the same thing could happen in the US

 

[SusieQQQ]

Is finding an appropriate job easy in the US. Even in a different role.

That’s an impossible question to answer without knowing industry, region, qualifications, experience level etc. I will say a lot of immigrants find they have to take a step back when they start out again, but if you’re good at what you do you’ll be fine and see some great opportunities open up with a bit of actual US experience. At some point you need to decide if you want to take a leap of faith or stay in your comfort zone/what the pull vs push factors are in your move.