URGENT!! REENTRY PERMIT Question! PLEASE help if you can!

Question

I just got a surprising notice that I can compete in a music competition in my home country and need to leave in 3 weeks.

This could mean that from there I wouldn't return to the US for 1.5 years.

I want to fill out the reentry form (I am a permanent resident), BUT with the biometrics appointment I may already be gone when I could come in for finger prints.

I called the USCIS Service center and they had no answers for me. They were unable to tell me how long it takes when you expedite the process and they didn't answer my questions about whether it's possible to go to a consulate or embassy in Europe to submit biometrics.

I REALLY need help!

Please if you know ANYTHING about this please let me know.

I have 18 days before I need to be on that plane.

Thank you!!

Answer 1

Do not miss your biometrics appointment; USCIS is notoriously inflexible and missing this important appointment will possibly jeopardize your immigration case. That's the unfortunate situation with USCIS. It seems incredibly stupid to miss an important music competition as a result, but many people miss weddings, funerals, and/or births because they don't want to skip their appointment. Hopefully it's not the end of the world for you.

Answer 2

The only thing I could think about is request an expedite.  As soon as you get your receipt notice make an info pass appointment at your local office and request that they issue you a biometrics appointment.  Make sure you take with all of you supporting documents that show you have an urgent need to travel including you plane ticket, invite letter, ect...

Answer 3

Hmm... I see what you're saying.

You can leave the US before the re-entry permit is approved, and when it's approved, have it sent to a USCIS office abroad so you can pick it up or have it sent to you, however the biometrics is indeed the problem. It's hard to say whether that can be expedited, but I strongly doubt that biometrics can be done at a US embassy or consulate outside of the US. I don't believe they have the resources to fingerprint you like they do at ASCs in the US.

The application for the re-entry permit itself can definitely be expedited.

See http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-131ins... about that, notably page 6. Unfortunately I cannot tell you how long the expedited process would take. 18 days is indeed a short time to do any kind of business with US immigration.

The best thing you can do is probably to apply for an expedited re-entry permit; once that's done and you know USCIS has received your application, you could make an InfoPass appointment with your local USCIS office to make sure your biometrics are done in time. Check https://infopass.uscis.gov/ about InfoPass appointments.

If you're lucky, the whole thing may even be approved before you have to leave. You have to apply for it anyway if you intend on maintaining your permanent residence, so better give it your best shot and go the expedited way.

Answer 4

You have to be in th US for the biometrics, but don't have to be in the US when the document is approved, you can elect to have it sent to an overseas Embassy or Consulate.

Looks like youll have to return to the US for biometrics when scheduled.

Expedite processing is approved on a case by case basis, and normally reserved for emergency reasons. Wishing to participate in a voluntary event is not seen as an emergency.