Us Green Card Reentry Permit Form I-131

[farang000999]

My wife recieved her green card in April 2011 after having applied through the American Embassy in Bangkok... Now we would like to go back to Thailand and would like to get a reentry permit so that she may return to the USA when we are finished. We expect to stay in Thailand about a 8-12 months. This instruction page:

http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Resources/B5en.pdf

That one needs to have biometrics done... so the question is, I believe my wife has already had her finger printing and eye scanning (but not certain about the eye scan) so does she need to do that again? thanks

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Hmmmm, wonder why she needs a U.S. re-entry permit when she already has a Green Card.

The re-entry permit allows, I think, an overseas stay of up to two years. The Green Card allows just one year. Since you're planning a stay of less than 12 months (by a few days, I hope), looks to me like the re-entry permit might not be required.

Suggest you do some more searching through the www.uscis.gov site for an answer. Or call a local CIS office.

I'd be interested in the answer as I don't really know it.

Mac

[temo1051]

My wife has a green card and we spend more time in Thailand than in the US. We make 2 trips back to the US each year, once in June and another in December. The rule that I read is you do not need the 131 unless you will be out of the country for more than 12 months.

[bobbyphon]

We have been traveling for over 30 years , back and forth between Thailand and the U.S. Resident Alien card good for under 1 years absence.. The Form 1-131, you will find.. is for anything over 1 year but less than 2 years.. Expect to pay... Member

[flewis25200]

I worked as an immigration lawyer in the U.S. The replies to your questions are based on personal experiences and are not the law. Basically if a person returns to the U.S. within 6 months of their departure from the U.S., the law presumes they did not intend to abandon their residency. Anything more than that and you may have to prove to the satisfaction of the CBP officer that you intended to retain U.S. residency. If you what to be safe then you will need to file a application fro a Reentry Permit before your wife leaves the U.S. She will be called in for a biometrics appointment and she can leave after that. Please note that you need to give the address where you want the USCIS to forward her reentry permit.

[swisstouristpattaya]

the best is to have a us driver license. theses morons at dhs think you are a us patriot if you can drive a car in usa.