Applying for a Reentry Permit

Reentry permits are special documents that are issued to permanent residents who expect to be abroad for over one year. When a permanent resident is taking a temporary trip abroad, he or she can typically use a green card to reenter the country. For trips of one year or more, however, the green card is not considered to be valid for reentry. Instead, a U.S. permanent resident should consider applying for a reentry permit before leaving the country. Having a permit can help to simplify the reentry process once you decide to return to the United States.

Reentry Permit Eligibility and Conditions

To apply for a reentry permit, you must be a permanent resident with a valid and current green card. A reentry permit is valid for up to two years from the date of issue. If you plan to be outside of the U.S. for more than two years, you will need to apply for a special immigrant visa outside of the U.S. before your return. You will need to include the following information on your reentry permit application:

• Personal information
• Record of time spent outside of the U.S. as a permanent resident
• Location and purpose of your trip abroad
• Any record of deportation or other immigration proceedings
• Copies of passport, green card, and any prior reentry permits

Having a reentry permit on hand when you return to the U.S. can increase the likelihood that you are allowed back into the country. While the permit itself does not automatically guarantee that you can reenter the U.S., it shows that the trip was deemed to be temporary by the U.S. government and that the permanent resident has not given up his or her U.S. legal status by taking an extended trip abroad.

Contact Us

To learn more about applying for a reentry permit as a U.S. permanent resident, contact the Austin reentry visa lawyers of the Law Office of William Jang, PLLC, at 512-323-2333.