Roberta Aguirre
Green card holders travelling abroad for extended periods may need a re-entry permit to maintain their U.S. residence. This travel document is valid for up to two years and can be used in place of a passport. While some countries accept this, it is important to check with your destination country. Re-entry permits must be applied for before leaving the U.S., and Form I-131 must be filed at least 60 days before travel. Notably, the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand offers re-entry permits at their counter for a fee of 1,200 baht.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is a re-entry permit? | A travel document that allows green card holders to maintain their U.S. residence when travelling abroad for up to 2 years. |
| Who should apply for a re-entry permit? | Green card holders who plan to stay outside of the United States for more than one year but less than two years. |
| When to apply for a re-entry permit | It is recommended to file Form I-131 at least 60 days before travelling abroad. |
| Where to apply for a re-entry permit | Re-entry permits can be obtained at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand. In the U.S., re-entry permits can be applied for at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or at your local immigration office. |
| How much does it cost? | At Suvarnabhumi Airport, a re-entry permit costs 1,200 baht. |
| What are the requirements? | No photos or additional documentation are required at Suvarnabhumi Airport. In the U.S., Form I-131 must be filed, which collects details about your planned trip, your foreign travel history, and whether you've been filing U.S. tax returns. |
| What are the benefits of a re-entry permit? | It reduces the risk of a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer determining that you have abandoned your Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status by making a non-temporary trip abroad. It can also be used as a travel document if you are unable to obtain a passport from your home country. |
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What You'll Learn
Re-entry permits at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand
Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, has a re-entry permit counter located at International Departure Gate 2, after security screening. The re-entry permit counter is open 24/7 and travellers can obtain a re-entry permit on the spot for a fee of 1,200 baht without needing a photo or additional documentation. However, it is advisable to allow for about 20 minutes to complete the process before heading to passport control.
If you are travelling from Suvarnabhumi Airport, it is recommended that you arrive at least three hours before your flight, as the process could take up to 45 minutes due to queues. The re-entry permit counter is located to the left in the immigration departure halls. After security, you will head down the escalator towards passport control. Once you are downstairs, turn right, then left, and walk towards the end, where you will find the counter.
The re-entry permit counter will charge a fee of 200 baht to assist with document preparation and take your photo. For a single re-entry permit, the fee is THB 1,000, and for a multiple re-entry permit, it is THB 3,800.
It is important to note that if you hold a NON-B, NON-O, or any other type of Non-Immigrant Visa, you must obtain a re-entry permit if you intend to return to Thailand on the same visa. If you exit the country without a re-entry permit, your visa will no longer be valid, and you will not be able to use it again.
While it is possible to obtain a re-entry permit at Suvarnabhumi Airport, some travellers prefer to obtain their re-entry permit in advance at a Bangkok immigration office to avoid potential delays and ensure they do not miss their flight. The immigration office is located at Moo 3, ChaengWattana Road Soi 7, Tung Song Hong Subdistrict, about 12 km north of Mo Chit BTS station. The office is open during regular business hours, and you can obtain the necessary forms and samples for filling in on the second floor at the Immigration Information Counter.
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Re-entry permits for US green card holders
US green card holders are generally free to travel abroad. However, trips outside the United States of more than six months can lead to a presumption that the green card holder has abandoned their permanent resident status. To avoid this, green card holders can request a re-entry permit before taking a lengthy trip outside the country.
The re-entry permit is a travel document that allows green card holders to maintain their US residence when travelling abroad for up to two years. It is typically valid for two years from the date of issuance and can be used as a travel document if you can't obtain a passport from your home country. Many countries will accept and stamp the re-entry permit as a valid travel document.
To apply for a re-entry permit, green card holders must file Form I-131 ("Application for Travel Document") with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before leaving the country. The form collects details about your planned trip, your foreign travel history since becoming a green card holder, and whether you've been filing US tax returns. It is recommended to file at least 60 days before travelling abroad as you will be required to attend a biometrics appointment at your local USCIS office. Your application is likely to be denied if you have already left the country and can't attend the appointment.
You can check the status of your application using the USCIS online case status checker. If you will be picking up your re-entry permit from a US embassy or consulate, you can contact them directly or use their online tools to check if your paperwork is ready for collection.
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Re-entry permits as travel documents
A re-entry permit is a travel document that allows green card holders to maintain their U.S. residence when travelling abroad for up to two years. Green card holders are free to travel abroad, but spending more than a year outside the United States could result in the loss of green card status. To avoid this, a re-entry permit can be requested before taking an extended trip. The re-entry permit is a valid entry document for the duration of its validity, which is typically up to two years from the date of issuance.
To apply for a re-entry permit, individuals must complete Form I-131 ("Application for Travel Document"). This form requires details about the planned trip, foreign travel history since obtaining a green card, and compliance with U.S. tax return filing. It is important to note that Form I-131 must be submitted from within the United States, and it is recommended to file at least 60 days before travelling. A biometrics appointment will be scheduled after submitting the form, and applicants are free to travel abroad once this appointment has been attended.
Re-entry permits can also be used as travel documents for individuals who are unable to obtain a passport from their home country. Many countries accept re-entry permits in lieu of passports and will stamp them with visas and entry and exit stamps. However, it is essential to verify with the destination countries whether they accept re-entry permits for visa issuance, entry, and exit purposes.
In specific cases, such as at the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand, travellers can obtain a re-entry permit on the spot at the airport's re-entry permit counter. This process usually takes about 20 minutes, and travellers can obtain the permit without providing photos or additional documentation for a fee.
It is important to note that re-entry permits are different from Returning Resident visas (SB-1 visas). Returning Resident visas are required for individuals who have been outside the United States for more than two years or who did not obtain a re-entry permit before leaving. These visas must be obtained from a U.S. consulate or embassy before returning to the country.
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Applying for a re-entry permit
A re-entry permit is a travel document that allows green card holders to maintain their U.S. residence when travelling abroad for up to two years. This permit is necessary for trips of more than one year, and recommended for trips between six months and one year. For trips of less than six months, a green card will remain valid without a re-entry permit, but it is important to maintain clear ties to the U.S. while travelling.
To apply for a re-entry permit, you must complete Form I-131 ("Application for a Travel Document") while in the United States. This form collects details about your planned trip, your foreign travel history since becoming a green card holder, and whether you have been filing U.S. tax returns. The form must be filed at least 60 days before travelling, as you will be called for a biometrics appointment at your local U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office. Your application is likely to be denied if you have already left the country and cannot attend the appointment. The fee for filing Form I-131 is $575.
You do not have to remain in the U.S. until your re-entry permit is approved. Once you have filed Form I-131 and attended your biometrics appointment, you are free to travel abroad. You can indicate on the form if you would like USCIS to send your re-entry permit for collection at a U.S. consulate or embassy in the country to which you are travelling.
It is important to note that you cannot renew or extend a re-entry permit. If your current permit expires, you will need to return to the U.S. and apply for a new one. There is no official limit on how many times you can apply for a re-entry permit, but if you have spent more than four of the previous five years outside the U.S. since gaining a green card, your new permit will only be valid for one year.
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Re-entry permits and abandonment of LPR status
Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) are free to travel outside the United States, and temporary or brief travel usually does not affect their permanent resident status. However, if an LPR has been outside the United States for longer than one year, they may be considered to have abandoned their residency and will no longer be eligible to return.
To avoid this, LPRs can apply for a Re-entry Permit (Form I-131) before departing the United States. This permit establishes that the LPR did not intend to abandon their status, and it allows them to apply for admission to the United States upon returning from abroad during the permit's validity without having to obtain a returning resident visa. Re-entry permits are typically valid for up to two years from the date of issuance and cannot be renewed. The application process involves filing Form I-131 with the USCIS before leaving, along with a filing fee of $360 and an $85 biometrics fee.
If an LPR has been outside the United States for over a year and did not obtain a re-entry permit before leaving, they may lose their LPR status and will need to start the immigrant visa process over. In such cases, they may be eligible for a Returning Resident (SB-1) visa if they remained outside the country due to circumstances beyond their control.
To formally renounce LPR status, individuals can file Form I-407, "Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Resident Status," with DHS at a port of entry or any U.S. consulate. There is no filing fee for this form.
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on the airport and the country. For example, at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand, travelers can obtain a re-entry permit at the airport itself. However, in the United States, you can only apply for a re-entry permit from within the country.
A re-entry permit is a travel document that allows green card holders to maintain their residence in a country when traveling abroad for periods of up to 2 years. It is helpful if there is a chance you will be abroad for one year or more.
To apply for a re-entry permit, you must file Form I-131 ("Application for Travel Document"). This form collects details about your planned trip, your foreign travel history, and whether you've been filing tax returns. It is recommended to file this form at least 60 days before traveling abroad.
A re-entry permit helps to reduce the risk of being deemed to have abandoned your residence status due to a non-temporary trip abroad. It also serves as a travel document for those who are stateless or unable to obtain a passport from their country of nationality.
