First Employment After GC but in Canada

[RomeoAC 0]

Hi Everybody,

I'm in the final stage of being hired (my 1st employment) by an American construction company for a 2-year assignment in Canada. I'm a new immigrant who was just admitted to the US on 15 Oct 2011.

While I know I have to file an I131 for a reentry permit, I am worried about the processing time since I need to be deployed to Canada soon (maybe March or April 2012) and I may not be able to complete the processing of I131 especially its biometric requirement. While in Canada, I plan to travel to USA as often as I can, whenever work schedule permits. Thus I’m afraid to be stopped at the border or be questioned by immigration for not maintaining my residence in USA. I had waited for 23 years for my green card (F42/Philippines) and I do not want to risk my green card.

I do have a California driver’s license and I opened a minimum savings account in a California bank. My wife, (F41), is residing with her sister in California. I plan to file my income tax return in 2012 in California.

Kindly advise me of the course of action to take to insure that I will not have any problem at the border. I am afraid that my short stay in USA would not allow 2 years validity of re-entry permit (REP) and worse REP maybe denied if I will just submit an I131 Form and not wait for FP before leaving for Canada. Although I think I can travel to USA for biometric requirement of I131. Without work, I also cannot stay in USA.

Help anyone. Thank you and God bless.

RomeoAC