Green card holders who plan extended travel outside the United States should apply for a Reentry Permit (Form I-131) before departure to preserve permanent resident status and avoid abandonment challenges at the border.
What is a Reentry Permit? A Reentry Permit is a travel document issued by USCIS that demonstrates a green card holder's intent to maintain permanent residence despite extended absence from the United States. It helps avoid having to repeatedly justify continued residency to CBP officers upon each reentry.
Submit Form I-131 (Application for Travel Document) to USCIS.
Within approximately 2–4 weeks after filing, USCIS will schedule a biometrics (fingerprinting and photograph) appointment at a designated Application Support Center (ASC) within the United States.
⚠️ Biometrics must be completed inside the U.S.— they cannot be done at a U.S. consulate abroad. Plan your travel accordingly.
Rescheduling biometrics →USCIS processing time for Reentry Permits is currently approximately 18 months or longer. The validity period of the Reentry Permit begins only after the application is approved— not from the filing date.
Check case processing times →A Reentry Permit is typically valid for two years.
However, if you are a conditional green card holder (for example, with a pending I-751 or I-829 petition), or have previously filed multiple Reentry Permit applications, USCIS will issue a Reentry Permit valid for only one year.
While a small number of green card holders have been able to reenter the U.S. by presenting the I-131 receipt notice, we strongly recommend not relying on this approach.
Until the permit is approved, continue to follow normal reentry rules and return to the U.S. promptly to avoid complications at the border.
⚠️ Important: The Six-Month Absence Risk
Under U.S. immigration law, if a green card holder remains outside the United
States for more than six months, Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) may question whether you have abandoned your permanent resident
status upon your return. CBP officers will evaluate the reasons for
your travel abroad and whether you maintain sufficient ties to the United States.
If they determine that you may have abandoned your status, you could be referred
to immigration court, where a judge will decide whether your green card should be revoked.