LEAVING THE COUNTRY AS A GREENCARD

HOLDER: THE RE-ENTRY PERMIT (I-131)

Lee and Garasia, LLC

190 Route 27

Edison, NJ 08820

(732) 516-1717

Lee & Garasia, LLC

Agenda

1. Travelling abroad as a lawful permanent resident

2. What is a re-entry permit?

3. Using a re-entry permit in lieu of a passport

4. How to obtain a re-entry permit

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Travelling Abroad As A Lawful Permanent Resident

• Generally speaking, Lawful permanent residents (LPR) can travel outside of the United States for less than 12 months without necessarily applying for a reentry permit.

• LPRs traveling outside of the United States for less than 12 months can use their Permanent Resident Cards (Form I-551) to reenter.

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Travelling Abroad As A Lawful Permanent Resident

• If a LPR stays outside of the country for 12 months or over, a re-entry permit is normally required to return to the United States.

• LPRs who frequently travel in and out of the United States can face questions as to their intent on maintaining LPR status• Obtaining a Re-Entry Permit can help demonstrate an

intent to maintain lawful permanent residency

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What Is A Re-Entry Permit?• Re-Entry Permits do the following:

1. Allows LPRs to maintain his/her lawful permanent residency while traveling abroad

2. Allows LPRs to return to the United States without having to obtain a returning resident visa (SB1)

3. Allows LPRs without a passport to travel to countries that accept Re-Entry Permits in lieu of a passport

• Re-Entry Permits are good for 2 years from the date of issuance

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Using A Re-Entry Permit In Lieu Of A Passport

• The following countries currently accept a Re-Entry Permit when providing visas. This is an not an exhaustive list:

Belgium Netherlands Luxembourg Czech Republic

Denmark Germany Estonia Greece

Spain France Italy Latvia

Lithuania Hungary Austria Portugal

Slovenia Slovakia Finland Sweden

Iceland Norway Switzerland Liechtenstein

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How To Obtain A Re-Entry Permit• File Form I-131 (Application for a Travel Document) the

United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS)

• The form must be filed while the LPR is physically present in the United States

• The form should be filed at least 60 days prior to the intended dates of travel

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How To Obtain A Re-Entry Permit• After filing Form I-131, USCIS will schedule a time when

biometrics must be taken at an Application Support Center (ASC)

• An applicant must be within the United States to provide biometrics

• An applicant only needs to be in the United States when filing. A Re-Entry Permit can be sent to a U.S. Embassy, consulate or an overseas DHS office.

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How To Obtain A Re-Entry Permit

Applicant Age Form Fee Biometrics Fee Total Fee

13 or younger $360 $0 $360

Ages 14 - 79 $360 $85 $445

Ages 80 + $360 $0 $360

Pay The Application Fee

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Takeaways• Lawful permanent residents can generally travel outside of the United

States for up to 12 months.

• After 12 months, a lawful permanent resident will need a Re-Entry Permit to return to the United States

• A Re-Entry permit can be helpful in proving an intent to retain lawful permanent residency

• A Re-Entry Permit can, in some cases, be used in lieu of a passport

• This is all subject to a lawful permanent resident’s travel history. If the individual has a history of traveling abroad for extended periods of time, it is advisable to speak with an immigration attorney!

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For More Information• Anything covered in this presentation is general

information only and not intended to serve as legal advice.• No attorney-client relationship is intended to be created.• Every person’s situation is different. To receive specific

legal advice tailored to your particular circumstances, please consult an attorney.

Lee & Garasia, LLC

190 Route 27

Edison, NJ 08820

732-516-1717

www.njimmigrationattorney.com