Rentry permit?

M

monkeyspank

New Member
Hi all- I have been reading lots of threads about this since speaking to an immigration officer at my last entry. Story is- I have greencard - decide to leave US temporarily (for less than one year) to spend time with aging parents - then return back. During this year away returned to the US for conferences and school exams- on my last entry (about 6 months ago) I was advised by border guy to get a re-entry permit otherwise I might lose my greencard.
Did not get a job so could not return within the year (academic jobs, so only offered once a year-generally). So now it will be closer to two years before return. I maintain us bank account, 401k and credit cards, and paid taxes, but no property. Address is listed with my sister in the US.

Question- should I return to the US for several weeks to apply for a re-entry permit from there? Several people have said they applied for re-entry then left and returned for biometrics- this would be doable for me. Is this OK? I could come back and stay with my sister over Christmas break and do it then.

Would I be better off not applying and getting a retuning resident visa when I get a job to come back?

Any advise would be greatly received- I am totally lost by this and frustrated as I had originally thought I would get a job and be back within the year with no problems :-(
 
You are about to get a spanking and lose your green card. You needed to have applied for your re-entry permit before going on your latest closer to 2 years trip. You need to come back as soon as possible, it is possible you will lose your green card upon return. If the CBP guy advised to get a re-entry permit and you never followed, so it is possible they have your record noted. A green card is NOT a visa to the US, it is privilege to reside permanently in the US. You don't maintain residency here.

You can return and apply for the re-entry and wait for biometrics.
 
monkeyspank said:
Question- should I return to the US for several weeks to apply for a re-entry permit from there? Several people have said they applied for re-entry then left and returned for biometrics- this would be doable for me. Is this OK?
Click to expand...

You must be in the US when you file the application (including the day USCIS receives it), and for biometrics, but you can leave the US between those points in time.
 
Thank you for the answers- just to clarify, the border guy suggested I get a re-entry permit on my next entry to the US (which will be my upcoming visit) IF I was to be outside of the country for longer than a year- at the time I was not intending that, but since then this has changed. The conversation was very casual (I know that does not mean it isn't logged) and when I said I would be back within a few months he said - "oh you're fine then" - hence why I wasn't too concerned until my job situation didn't materialize.

So Jackolantern just to clarify because I see conflicting information in threads and on the USCIS application instructions- I enter the country to apply for REP- including the date it is received by USCIS. I then leave the country and return to do biometrics. Won't this be considered an abandoned application? (the instructions for the REP says you should not leave until it is approved- but then says they can send it to an overseas consulate- so as usual they leave me confused!)

thanks again for any input.
 
oops= seemed t0 post it twice- edited to remove as I could not find the delete.
 
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