Valid Re-Entry Permit, Lost green card, Returning to US

[manu_90025]

Me and My wife have been out of US for close to 2.5 yrs, and are planning to re-enter US on valid Re-Entry Permits (valid till July 10th, 2005). We never received our plastic green cards and temporary I-551 stamp has expired long back.
1) Can we enter only on valid Re-Entry Permit?
2) Any issues expected at POE? We have been filing Resident Tax Returns regularly and maintain US bank accounts.
3) Can we file I-90 once we are in US?
4) Can we file for second Re-Entry Permit when we are in US?

Thanks very much.

 

[pralay]

1) Can we enter only on valid Re-Entry Permit?

Technically, yes. But I never saw people entering with only REP.

2) Any issues expected at POE? We have been filing Resident Tax Returns regularly and maintain US bank accounts.

Probably yes. First of all, you don't have green card. Secondly you are out of USA for more than 2 years. But as your REP is valid, I guess, staying more than 2 years won't be an issue.

3) Can we file I-90 once we are in US?

Yes.

4) Can we file for second Re-Entry Permit when we are in US?

You can file. But 2nd REP is very difficult to obtain - unless you have good convincing reason. Employment abroad (by US company) is normally not a good reason.

 

[usnycus]

You can also contact US consulate serving your area/city/country.

They can issue temporary travel permit or special immigrant Returning Resident (SB-1) visa in cases like yours.

Me and My wife have been out of US for close to 2.5 yrs, and are planning to re-enter US on valid Re-Entry Permits (valid till July 10th, 2005). We never received our plastic green cards and temporary I-551 stamp has expired long back.
1) Can we enter only on valid Re-Entry Permit?
2) Any issues expected at POE? We have been filing Resident Tax Returns regularly and maintain US bank accounts.
3) Can we file I-90 once we are in US?
4) Can we file for second Re-Entry Permit when we are in US?

Thanks very much.

 

[C R S]

According to the following sites, one may enter the country with just a valid, unexpired Form I-327 (reentry permit):

http://uscis.gov/lpBin/lpext.dll/in...mplates&fn=document-frame.htm#slb-8cfrsec2111
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/documentary_req.xml

 

[Participant]

If the GC or I551 stamp is still valid but lost, SB-1 visa may not be the case .

'Boarding authorization' letter from consulate may be the right one if somebody looses valid GC/551 and don't have any other travel docs..Also.he may be required to apply I90 (replacement) at consulate in some cases.
(Not sure of REP only entry,but links posted by CRS is giving some good info').
On SB-1,
http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_1333.html:' Permanent resident aliens who are unable to return to the United States within the *travel validity period* of the Alien Registration Receipt Card, or the Reentry Permit, may apply to the nearest U.S. consular office for a special immigrant Returning Resident (SB-1) visa.'

 

[pralay]

It may still be impossible to just use a reentry permit if the airline refuses to let the person on board, just like it is pretty much impossible to board an international flight without a passport.

I don't think so. Airlines mainly wants to make sure if the passenger has a valid document to enter destination country successfully. With having REP, passenger clearly has one.
But again, I never noticed anyone entering with only REP.

 

[Participant]

Employment abroad (by US company) is normally not a good reason.

Employment abroad under intra(or inter)transfers and some other cases are
acceptible for CIS and under only some circumustances .Even preservance of presence/continuity of duration for citizenship is considered/allowed during REP period.other cases may be difficult if not impossible to get an REP.
Pl. see application N-470 details for the stipulations for preservance.

 

[pralay]

Well, then I suggest you try on your next flight to just use your GC. After all, that's all you need to enter the US...
I doubt that it will work.

The original poster does have passport. In addition he has REP. His problem is that he does not have green card (I-551). Your comparing two different things that are not similar anyway.

 

[pralay]

Well, yes, but I doubt that airline personnel knows that a Reentry permit is enough to enter the US, just like they don't know that a GC is enough to enter the US. That's all I pointed out.

This problem is always there and will be there in future, as it needs some level of education and experience for airlines personnnels to know all possible types of entry documents for destination country - not only for REP but other types of documents too. For example, when I first time travelled with temporary I-551 stamp on passport, airlines personnel did not understand that almost-unreadable stamp.