Third Re-entry permit?

[Gethin Lynes]

Hi guys,

So, my wife is a US citizen, and I am currently a little over halfway through my second RP (due back in US before Sept 14th). I was planning on moving back by that time, with my wife following shortly after, but now we're expecting a child in Oct. Moving prior to then and having the baby in the US is untenable, due to lack of health care, and a few other reasons.

I am considering applying for another RP to give us time to adjust, and move when the baby is at an age when travel is possible (probably before the middle of next year).

Two questions:

1 - Does anyone know if there is a problem with applying for a RP three times? Am I going to waste a bunch of time and money and get denied?

2 - If I return briefly to the US in Sept, but do not apply (or apply and it gets refused), and then come back to Australia for 6-12 moths, am I likely to have a problem getting back in. In this case I would return in time so that it was less than 12 months from my last visit - but if my last visit was only a few weeks long, and I have already spent several years outside (even with RP) will this count against me?

Any knowledgeable advice much appreciates.

 

[cafeconleche]

Three things can happen: denied, approved for 1 year, and approved for 2 years. It seems that even a 1 year approval would work for you if your current RP expires in September and you will be back in the middle of next year. The 1 year RP, in my opinion, is the most likely.

After you apply for it, I suggest you visit the US as often as is affordable (just you - your wife need not do so as she's a citizen). This could be within 6 months of your departure from the US, but it could be 3 months. This way, even if the RP is refused, you will not have spent too much time outside without one.

Also, when you apply for the new RP, explain that you need it because your USC wife is pregnant and wants to be with family in Oz. If you have some proof of this, send that too. It could work in your favor. Mention too that you might not need it as you could return within the year.