Filed Travel Document, Waiting (and Worrying)

[spam315 0]

hi. im a permanent resident of conditional status and im in the philippines since february 2008 and i filed a travel document I-131 last December 7, 2007. and im afraid im gonna have some trouble going back to the US next year since im outside the country for almost six months now. do you guys think ill get hold of the re-entry permit before ill have problems getting in? (well the current processing date is July 20 2007)

thanks. im gonna appreciate some help on this.

Edited May 25, 2008 by spam315

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I believe you are supposed to have your travel document before you leave the US if you plan to be outside of the US for more than 6 months. Is it possible for you to return to the US before 6months in the Philippines instead? I know it is expensive and you would like to visit your family longer, but if you wish to live in the US you need to satisfy US immigration that your home is in the States, not the Philippines. By returning in under 6 months you shouldn't have difficulty in re-entering the US. If you wait longer, you may definitely have problems if you don't have the appropriate document. Hopefully, someone with more specific information will be able to advise you if you can use a travel document received after you have left the country. In the meantime, please give serious consideration to returning to the US before you are out of the country for 6 months.

[spam315 0]

I believe you are supposed to have your travel document before you leave the US if you plan to be outside of the US for more than 6 months. Is it possible for you to return to the US before 6months in the Philippines instead? I know it is expensive and you would like to visit your family longer, but if you wish to live in the US you need to satisfy US immigration that your home is in the States, not the Philippines. By returning in under 6 months you shouldn't have difficulty in re-entering the US. If you wait longer, you may definitely have problems if you don't have the appropriate document. Hopefully, someone with more specific information will be able to advise you if you can use a travel document received after you have left the country. In the meantime, please give serious consideration to returning to the US before you are out of the country for 6 months.

hi. in the form 131, there was an option to send the travel document/re-entry permit in my US address or the US Embassy in Manila. and i chose the second option since i know that i wont be able to wait for it for that long. and obviously there have been no updates on the case. still it is pending. btw, im here for my college degree but ill be back before November of next year to remove conditions... (urgh to the delays caused by the overflow of apps!) thanks for the advise. i hope someone in the same situation or was in the same before answers this.

[*JG* 2]

Good luck. I tend to agree with the person who answered you post.