A permanent resident (called lawful permanent resident or LPR) or conditional resident (CR) who has remained outside the United States for longer than one year, or beyond the validity period of a Re-entry Permit, will require a new immigrant visa to enter the United States and resume permanent residence. A provision exists under U.S. visa law for the issuance of a returning resident special immigrant visa to an LPR who remained outside the United States due to circumstances beyond his/her control.
To determine your eligibility for a returning resident visa, you must create an account and schedule an appointment by following the instructions at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-gy/iv/information/lpr_help. Under provisions of immigration law, to qualify for returning resident status, you will need to prove to the Consular Officer that you:
- Had the status of a lawful permanent resident at the time of departure from the United States;
- Departed from the United States with the intention of returning and have not abandoned this intention; and
- Are returning to the United States from a temporary visit abroad and, if the stay abroad was protracted, this was caused by reasons beyond your control and for which you were not responsible.
Please appear with evidence, such as your green card, medical documentation etc. to support your request. You will be provided with additional application instructions if you are determined to be eligible to apply. For complete details on Returning Resident Visas, you may visit usvisas.state.gov.
