f you are a lawful permanent resident or conditional permanent resident and wish to remain outside the United States for more than one year, but less than two, you require a reentry permit. A reentry permit is not required for a trip that is shorter than one year. (You should note that an absence of more than one year will break the period of continuous residence required to become a citizen, even if a reentry permit is issued -- see Application for Preservation of Residence). A Reentry Permit is also issued to lawful permanent residents who want to travel outside the United States, but cannot get a national passport from their country of nationality. A reentry permit is valid for two years and may not be extended.
An application (Form I-131, Application for Travel Document), along with the supporting documentation and fees, should be submitted while in the United States, at least 30 days prior to your proposed date of departure, to: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Northern Service Center, 100 Centennial Mall North, Room B-26, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508. If you think you may have to leave the United States before the reentry permit is received, you may have it sent to a U.S. Consulate or USCIS office overseas for pick up. There is a place on Form I-131 to furnish the information necessary to receive the reentry permit outside of the United States. However, even though you may receive the reentry permit overseas, the application must be submitted while you are still in the United States
