Re-Entry Permit

#What this actually means

A re-entry permit is a travel document for green card holders who need to be outside the U.S. for an extended period — up to two years. It looks like a passport, and it lets you return to the U.S. without your green card being considered abandoned due to a long absence.

You apply for it using Form I-131 (Application for Travel Document). Here's the catch: you must file the application and provide biometrics while you're physically in the United States. You can leave after the biometrics appointment and pick up the permit abroad, but the filing has to happen while you're here.

#Why it matters

If you're a green card holder and you leave the U.S. for more than 6 months, USCIS may start questioning whether you've abandoned your permanent residence. Stays over a year without a re-entry permit are especially risky — you could be treated as having given up your green card.

A re-entry permit doesn't guarantee you'll be let back in, but it's strong evidence that you intended to maintain your U.S. residence. Without one, a long trip abroad can turn into an immigration nightmare.

#Key things to know

• Valid for up to 2 years from the date of issue
• You must apply (I-131) and complete biometrics while physically in the U.S.
• A re-entry permit does not protect your continuous residence for naturalization purposes — that's a separate requirement
• If you're planning to be abroad for more than a year, you'll likely also need to file taxes as a resident and maintain U.S. ties
• Different from advance parole — re-entry permits are for green card holders, advance parole is for people with pending applications