Using the USCIS Form I-131
If you are a green card holder and you are considering an extended trip outside of the United States then you may want to consider the risks you might run when trying to reenter the country. You can eliminate those concerns by using USCIS Form I-131 to request a reentry permit. Permanent residents who leave the country and who are gone less than 6 months shouldn't have any problem using their green card as a reentry document. However if you are gone for a longer period of time, the officials at the border may question you about abandoning your permanent resident status

Avoid problems reentering with a Form I-131
The purpose of the green card is to allow immigrants to work and travel freely within the US much the same as any citizen. It is meant to benefit immigrants who have decided to permanently live in the country, not as a convenience for immigrants who may occasionally require the ability to work or travel in the US. To insure that these cards are given to people who sincerely want to be permanent residents, officials are actively investigating anyone who reenters with a green card after an extend period of time. One way to eliminate that confrontation at the border is to request a reentry permit which is good for up to 2 years. This permit can be requested using USCIS Form i-131 which can be downloaded from the USCIS website. The reentry permit will be the only document that you will need to present at the border to regain entry to the country.

Applying for a reentry permit using a Form I-131
You have to submit the Form I-131 while you are physically in the United States. Allow at least 60 days from the time you submit the form to the time you get your permit. The Form I-131 will need to be accompanied with the application and biometric fee of $385 (check must be drawn on a US bank) photographs and supporting documents. When you mail it in, be sure to send it via certified mail with return receipt requested. Within 30 days you'll receive notification that the package was received and is being processed. The next notification that you receive from the USCIS will be and appointment notification requesting that you appear at your local USCIS Application Support Center to have your fingerprints taken.

Reasons for rejecting a document
There are basically only two reasons that your request for a rentry permit will be denied.

• You have an existing reentry permit that has not yet expired. This can really throw a monkey wrench in your travel plans if you have a permit that is still good for another four or five months. You'll have to wait for that permit to expire before you can receive a new one.
• You'll be returning from a country that is listed on the federal register where Americans can not free travel to i.e. Cuba.

When your family, friends and business relationships are in a country other than the United States it isn't uncommon to have a need to take an extended trip out of the country. Using the Form I-131 can be the safest way to make that trip while insuring easy access back into the States.