Reentry permit

K

ketanco

Banned
Hello,

1-Can I get a reentry permit while I am abroad?
If no, can I at least apply to it when I am in the states, but then leave the states right after applying and when I get it, they mail it to my mailing address in the US, and someone forwards that to me?

Note: I read somewhere that they need to get your fingerprints after applying so you also need to be in for fingerprinting OR there is no fingerprinting? If there is, how long does this whole process take? If I get my assignment from a company to work abroad, I will only have a couple weeks of stay in the us and then will have to leave. Please reply asap.

2- Does getting a reentry permit hurt your naturalization in any way, provided that you satisfy all the criteria for naturalization? I am asking because getting it is as if it implies that you intend to stay long periods out of the states? or as long as you satisfy the naturalizatin criteria for continuity of residency , physical presence and other things, getting a reentry permit really doesnt matter much?

3-When you have a reentry permit, and you are working for a foreign firm in a foreign country, when you come back to US, do they still let you in if you tell this to the officer? So you keep your green card?

4-If you enter like this to the US and still meet the basic criteria for naturalization, such as max 180 day absences and min 30 months in 5 years would you still be eligible for citizenship? (i know it decreases your chances if you do this) I am planning to do this for a year. (Two absences of just below 6 months)
 
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You have to apply for the permit when inside the US. There is also fingerprinting. It will be about 2-4 weeks after you apply for the reentry permit. But once you get the fingerprint notice, you can do a walk-in before the scheduled date and see if they will take you. You can leave the US in between submitting the application and fingerprinting, provided you return for the fingerprinting.

You have the option to have them mail it to your US address, or to send it overseas to a US consulate of your choice where you will pick it up.

If you expect to be sent overseas but don't know for sure yet, apply for the permit now anyway so you'll be more likely to have time to do the fingerprinting before leaving. The permit will be valid for 2 years after the approval date (it takes about 3-6 months to get approved).

The permit itself doesn't hurt your naturalization. It's the fact that you take long trips that can damage your chances for naturalization. The purpose of the permit is to preserve your green card during extensive travel abroad, not to help or hurt naturalization. Once you take a trip of 6+ months, permit or not, it is presumed that you have broken continuous residence for naturalization purposes, and the burden is on you to provide sufficient evidence of your ties to the US (and hope the interviewer will interpret the evidence favorably).

If you leave the US for a year or more, with or without a reentry permit, it is automatic that you have broken continuous residence, unless you have an approved N-470 or meet one of the exceptions such as being deployed in the US military. You can also have problems with naturalization if you take a very long series of consecutive trips (e.g. 5 trips of 4 months each with two weeks in between), even if each individual trip is under 6 months.

To preserve your continuous residence for naturalization purposes while working abroad for a US company, apply for an N-470 if you think you and your employer meet the requirements.
 
OKay thanks, can you or someone answer question #3 asap please - (I edited the question after your reply)? Because I may take the offer of a foreign firm as well instead of a US firm. I need to know if I can work for a foreign firm abroad and still be okay to keep my green card. I don't want to lie to the officer at port of entry about the nature of my absence, I will tell him that I worked abroad for a foreign firm. If I have a reentry permit, and work for a foreign firm abroad, can they still not let me in? How about question #4 in this case (workign for foreign firm)? Please reply asap.
 
Yes, they should still let you in regardless of what type of firm it is. Once you show the reentry permit they usually just let you in without further hassle. If they ask why you were away for so long, just say it is for work reasons and don't get more specific unless they ask for specific additional details.
 
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