After finally becoming a United States green card holder, you may experience a newfound sense of freedom and opportunity. However, you must remember that you do not have the same full rights as U.S. citizens. Namely, you may be ineligible to travel extensively outside the country. This is unless you make arrangements for a reentry permit beforehand. Without further ado, please follow along to find out whether you should apply for a reentry permit before exiting the U.S. and how a proficient Baltimore County, Maryland green cards lawyer at Sheri Hoidra Law Office, LLC, can help you plan accordingly.
When should I apply for a reentry permit?
As a green card holder, you are generally allowed to travel outside the United States for up to a year without risking the loss of your lawful permanent resident status. However, if you anticipate an extended absence from the country for more than six months, it is in your best interest to still apply for a reentry permit. This is because any timeframe more prolonged than this may raise concerns about your abandonment of your residency.
Also, you may be unable to predict the future and experience extenuating circumstances that force you to remain abroad for a year or more. If this happens, you cannot apply for a reentry permit abroad. Instead, you may have to apply for an SB-1 visa, a Returning Resident visa, which may be more challenging to obtain.
It is worth suggesting that even if your planned travel is for less than six months, you should make a purposeful effort to maintain clear ties in the U.S. This is whether you keep your employment status the same, keep your owned real estate property, remain in touch with your close relatives currently residing in the country, and more.
Can I apply to extend my reentry permit?
Typically, reentry permits are valid for two years from the date of issuance. This should, hopefully, be more than enough time to cover your planned travel abroad. But once its expiration date is rapidly approaching, you must make arrangements to return to the United States. This is because you may be unable to renew or extend your reentry permit and instead must apply for a new one. With that, you cannot apply for a new one while in a foreign country.
As you may remember from your initial application, you are expected to attend a mandatory biometrics appointment at a local United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office. Specifically, you must appear in person so your fingerprints and photograph may be taken. Without submitting to a biometrics examination, the USCIS may undoubtedly reject your petition.
To give yourself enough time to develop a solid application and travel plan, please be sure to get in touch with a talented Baltimore County, Maryland immigration lawyer from Sheri Hoidra Law Office, LLC as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you.