As a green card holder, you generally need a passport from your home country to be able to travel internationally. Different countries have different rules, but a good rule of thumb is that you should return to the U.S. more than six months before your passport expires. For example, if it’s October 2022 and your passport expires on June 30, 2023, you should plan to return to the U.S. before December 30.

For most people, this is a straightforward process – pay the passport renewal fee and receive a new passport. Most passports are valid for 10 years, while others, like those of the Dominican Republic for example, are valid for five years.

Bureaucratic roadblocks

Unfortunately, citizens of some countries face more difficulty in renewing their passports, mostly due to politics, corruption, or government malaise. For example, currently Venezuelans in the U.S. face tremendous difficulty in renewing their Venezuelan passports. This is mostly because the Venezuelan government struggles to perform basic services for its citizens abroad. Citizens of Cuba may face similar issues.

I also recently assisted a Turkish citizen apply for his green card based on marriage. After becoming a permanent resident, he was unable to renew his passport because he had fallen out of favor with the Turkish government – an ugly political act. They refused to renew his passport.

Applying for a re-entry permit

So what is someone in this situation to do if they want to travel abroad? One solution is to simply apply for U.S. citizenship as soon as possible. Generally, green card holders can apply for naturalization after five years of permanent residence in the U.S., or after three years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen. Once you become an American citizen, you can apply for an American passport and travel abroad.

But if you need to travel now, waiting for an American passport is not an option. Fortunately, U.S. immigration law allows for green card holders to apply for what’s called a “re-entry permit,” which they can use to travel internationally. The re-entry permit replaces a passport from your home country, and countries around the world accept it. My Turkish client, for example, was able to visit Italy and Germany with his re-entry permit, after receiving a visa to these countries.

Filing requirements

To apply for a re-entry permit, you will need to file form I-131. For most people, USCIS charges $660 for the I-131 application. You will need to include a copy of the front and back of your green card, and two passport photos. You will need to be in the U.S. when you file the I-131 re-entry permit application, and if USCIS schedules your biometrics (fingerprints) appointment, you will need to be in the U.S. for that appointment.

After your biometrics appointment, you can then leave the U.S. while you wait for USCIS to approve your application. You can even ask USCIS to send your re-entry permit to a U.S. embassy abroad, but keep in mind that it can take six months or longer for USCIS to process your application.

Extensive travel with a re-entry permit

Besides being able to use a re-entry permit in lieu of a passport, a re-entry permit has other uses. A re-entry permit can be helpful if you plan to be abroad for more than six months. Generally, green card holders should not travel abroad for more than six months at a time. Traveling abroad for more than six months in a single trip can lead immigration officials to determine that you’ve abandoned your permanent residence. But, having a re-entry permit will generally prevent that.

Ask for help

If you need to apply for a re-entry permit or have questions about your immigration process, please contact us today: +1 845-288-2435 / beaconimmigrationlawyer@gmail.com.

Beacon Immigration PLLC is a law firm located in the Hudson Valley of New York at 6 Eliza Street, Suite 5, Beacon, NY 12508 (Dutchess County).