Re-entry permit only 6 months?

[watdog 8]

So after 5 months of waiting, the re-entry permit finally shipped and I had a relative send me pictures of the document.

We are in the middle of removal of condition but needed to travel overseas for work or continue collecting unemployment. My wife has the paper increasing her GC for 1 year. Anyway, after all this they issued the re-entry permit for the same date her 1 year GC extension expires. How do we get 2 years now? We will be out of the country from January 14th 2017 to unknown date. The reason I applied for the re-entry permit in the first place was we needed it over the 1 year limit. Any idea's? I know this has to be done stateside as well.

[EM_Vandaveer 2,408]

You cannot change the re-entry permit. It expires when the GC (or in this case, its extension) expires. That's how it works.

If your ROC gets approved and your wife gets her 10-year GC, she can go back to the US and apply for a new re-entry permit, do biometrics and leave again. The new re-entry permit will be good for 2 years.

Edited December 15, 2016 by EM_Vandaveer

[Hypnos 6,576]

As stated, this is by design.

A green card is for living in the US. If the holder isn't living in the US then they aren't entitled to a green card.

[watdog 8]

Yes, we plan to return to the US. The re-entry permit is for those that will return just stay outside the US for more than 1 year, which the current green card is valid for. We just need the 2 year card not the 6 month, as her current letter is valid for that. So in other words we never needed to apply until she gets her new green card and then apply?

If your ROC gets approved and your wife gets her 10-year GC, she can go back to the US and apply for a new re-entry permit, do biometrics and leave again. The new re-entry permit will be good for 2 years.

Lets say it gets approved tomorrow. Do we have to wait until the current re-entry permit expires to apply for a new re-entry permit?

[EM_Vandaveer 2,408]

Yes, we plan to return to the US. The re-entry permit is for those that will return just stay outside the US for more than 1 year, which the current green card is valid for. We just need the 2 year card not the 6 month, as her current letter is valid for that. So in other words we never needed to apply until she gets her new green card and then apply?

Lets say it gets approved tomorrow. Do we have to wait until the current re-entry permit expires to apply for a new re-entry permit?

That's an excellent question, to be honest, I've no idea. I am assuming that it's not necessary to wait until your current one expires, but I'm really not sure. Hopefully someone else with more knowledge will chime in. Edited December 15, 2016 by EM_Vandaveer

[TeamMcGregor 21]

Hi watdog,

 

You need to send in your current re-entry permit with your next application if you're applying for a new one (unless the form has changed?). I would wait until you get your new green card to reapply - while you are removing conditions a re-entry permit will only be approved to be valid until your extension letter expires. Does that help?