1. What is a travel document and who needs one?
If you are not a U.S. citizen, you may need permission to return to the U.S. after traveling abroad. This permission is granted through a travel document. Travel documents are also given to foreign nationals who want to travel, but cannot get a passport from their country of nationality.
2. What is Reentry Permit?
Re-entry Permit is a travel document issued to lawful permanent residents and conditional residents to re-enter the U.S. after traveling abroad.
3. Who needs Reentry Permit?
Lawful permanent residents and conditional residents require Reentry Permits to re-enter the U.S. after travel of one year or more.
4. How do I file for Re-entry Permit?
You must file Form I-131, Application for a Travel Document, complete with supporting documentation, photos and applicable fees with the USCIS.
5. What are the documents required to file for Re-entry Permit?
If you are a permanent resident or conditional resident, you must attach any one of the following documents along with Form I-131, Application for a Travel Document:
- A copy of the alien registration receipt card, or
- If you have not yet received your alien registration receipt card, a copy of the biographic page of your passport and the page of your passport indicating initial admission as a permanent resident, or other evidence that you are a permanent resident, or
- A copy of the approval notice of a separate application for replacement of the alien registration receipt card or temporary evidence of permanent resident status
6. What is the purpose of Re-entry Permit?
A Re-entry Permit allows a permanent resident to apply for admission to the U.S. upon return from abroad during the period of the permit’s validity without the necessity of obtaining a returning resident visa.
7. What is the processing time for a Re-entry Permit?
The Reentry Permit processing time is generally between 8 to 16 months.
8. What is the validity period of Re-entry Permit?
- For lawful permanent residents returning to the US, a Reentry Permit is valid for two years from the date of issuance of the re-entry permit
- For conditional residents returning to the U.S., the re-entry permit is valid for two years from the date of issuance of the re-entry permit or until the date the conditional resident must apply for the removal of conditions, whichever comes first
9. Can I apply for an extension of Re-entry Permit?
No, a Re-entry Permit may not be extended.
10. When should I apply for Re-entry Permit?
You must apply for Re-entry Permit before leaving the U.S. Failure to do so may cause you to lose permission to re-enter the U.S. and lead to the denial of any other applications.
11. Does Re-entry Permit guarantee me admission into the U.S.?
No, Re-entry Permit does not guarantee you admission into the U.S. Foreign nationals with Re-entry Permit are still subject to the immigration inspections process at the port of entry.
Note: Travel outside of the U.S for more than one year will under most circumstances break the continuous residence requirement for later Naturalization purposes.
12. How can I check the status of my Re-entry Permit application?
You may check status by using VisaPro’s free visa status service.
13. Can I be denied issuance of a Re-entry Permit?
Yes, a Re-entry Permit may not be issued if:
- You have already been issued such a document and it is still valid, unless the prior document has been returned to the USCIS, or you can demonstrate that it was lost
- A notice was published in the Federal Register that precludes the issuance of such a document for travel to the area where you intend to go
14. How can I appeal a denial of Re-entry Permit?
If your Reentry Permit application is denied, the denial letter will tell you how to appeal.
- Generally, you may appeal within 33 days of receiving the denial
- Your appeal must be filed on Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal to the Administrative Appeals Unit
- The appeal must be filed with the office that made the original decision
Note: After your appeal form and a required fee are processed, the appeal will be referred to the Administrative Appeals Unit (AAU) in Washington, DC.
15. What is the difference between an Advance Parole and a Re-entry Permit?
The differences between Advance Parole and Re-entry Permit are:
- Advance Parole is issued to a foreign national who does not have permanent resident status. A Re-entry Permit is issued to a permanent resident of the U.S.
- On the appearance, an Advance Parole document is a piece of paper with the foreign national’s photograph whereas a Re-entry Permit looks like a passport
- Advance Parole is valid for one year whereas a Re-entry Permit is valid for two years