How Do I Obtain a Reentry Permit?

You may feel confident and secure in your rights after getting lawful permanent resident status in the United States. However, you must be made well aware of the potential restrictions still imposed on your green card. For one, importantly, you may be ineligible to exit the country for longer than one year. This is unless you apply for and receive a reentry permit. With that being said, please read on to discover how to obtain a reentry permit and how one of the seasoned green card lawyers at Lupton Law LLC can ensure that you handle this application process correctly.

How do I obtain a reentry permit from the USCIS?

To start, you must fill out and file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Within this application, you must be accurate and truthful about your upcoming travel plans, your previous travel since obtaining your green card, and even your tax return filings since obtaining your green card. Of note, this application must be supplemented with the mandatory $575 filing fee.

Then, you must schedule a biometrics appointment at your local USCIS Application Support Center or field office. This step is necessary to collect your fingerprints, a photograph, and overall to conduct background check procedures that confirm your identity and eligibility. So, you must appear at your appointment with a valid photo ID (i.e., your green card, passport, driver’s license, etc).

From here, you may use the USCIS online case status checker to know if and when you get approved for a reentry permit. You may then receive this permit by mail or coordinate a designated representative to receive it on your behalf.

Can I leave the U.S. before obtaining a reentry permit?

A general suggestion is to submit Form I-131 at least 60 days before your scheduled travel abroad. With this, though, it may be okay to go along with your travel plans before getting approved for and receiving your reentry permit. That is, you may coordinate to pick up this permit at the United States consulate or embassy in the foreign country you traveled to.

However, this is not to say that you can work on your initial application once you have already left. Plus, you cannot leave before attending your scheduled biometrics appointment. This is because, to reiterate, confirming your identity and having a successful background check is essential for the USCIS to approve you for a reentry permit. Otherwise, your application will be denied, and there is no longer a guarantee that you will be granted entry back into the country after an extensive time away.

To give yourself enough time to develop a solid application and travel plan, please be sure to get in touch with one of the competent green card lawyers from Lupton Law LLC as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you.