How easy to get ReEntry permit - without supporting documents?

[hwhjryu]

I'm a US citizen and my wife got her GC on 2011.
Since then we've traveled back and forth to another country
(staying outside of the US for 2 years and 11 month total out of the 4 years since she got the GC)
We are planning to go abroad for another year, and she was going to apply for the reentry permit (i-131) through an immigration lawyer,
but the lawyer told her that she needs to prepare documents such as ties to the US and reasons for application which we don't have.
But when I check the i-131 form and instruction from the USICIS site, it doesn't mention that I need to submit supporting evidence
other than a copy of the GC (unless they ask for supporting evidence/documents later on)
So my question is

1. Should my wife still apply for i-131 by just mailing the application for, a copy of the GC and fee?
2. How easy is to get a Reentry permit. Do they just give them out easily just by saying that I'm traveling because of "family obligations"?

Any past experience with the application and procedure would be much appreciated!
Thanks in advance.

[rayb]

Your attorney is a tad misiformed. Supporting documents are only needed for Reentry Permit applications if the applicant has a history of abuse of allowable time periods outside the US while in Green Card status. The I-131 takes about 20 minutes to complete with a $450 fee, hardly something that one would need an attorney to do for an average fee of $1,000.

I think your attorney wanted his service to appear more difficult and complicated than it really is.

--Ray B

I'm a US citizen and my wife got her GC on 2011.
Since then we've traveled back and forth to another country
(staying outside of the US for 2 years and 11 month total out of the 4 years since she got the GC)
We are planning to go abroad for another year, and she was going to apply for the reentry permit (i-131) through an immigration lawyer,
but the lawyer told her that she needs to prepare documents such as ties to the US and reasons for application which we don't have.
But when I check the i-131 form and instruction from the USICIS site, it doesn't mention that I need to submit supporting evidence
other than a copy of the GC (unless they ask for supporting evidence/documents later on)
So my question is

1. Should my wife still apply for i-131 by just mailing the application for, a copy of the GC and fee?
2. How easy is to get a Reentry permit. Do they just give them out easily just by saying that I'm traveling because of "family obligations"?

Any past experience with the application and procedure would be much appreciated!
Thanks in advance.

[hwhjryu]

Thanks for your quick reply!
So I shouldn't worry too much about my application being denied? (or followed up by an interview or request for supporting documents)
Also the fact that we were living more time outside the US should be ok as long as we weren't for over a year?
Thanks.

Your attorney is a tad misiformed. Supporting documents are only needed for Reentry Permit applications if the applicant has a history of abuse of allowable time periods outside the US while in Green Card status. The I-131 takes about 20 minutes to complete with a $450 fee, hardly something that one would need an attorney to do for an average fee of $1,000.

I think your attorney wanted his service to appear more difficult and complicated than it really is.

--Ray B

[rayb]

Part 5 of the I-131 asks how long you have been outside of the U.S. since becoming a Permanent Resident, and it is possible than excessive time outside could cause a Request for Evidence, but that has not been my experience.

--Ray B

Thanks for your quick reply!
So I shouldn't worry too much about my application being denied? (or followed up by an interview or request for supporting documents)
Also the fact that we were living more time outside the US should be ok as long as we weren't for over a year?
Thanks.

[hwhjryu]

So generally in cases such as my wife's, people usually get it without having to provide extra supporting docs other than the i131 form, GC copy, and fee?
even if she were almost 3 years out of the 4 years since her GC?

Part 5 of the I-131 asks how long you have been outside of the U.S. since becoming a Permanent Resident, and it is possible than excessive time outside could cause a Request for Evidence, but that has not been my experience.

--Ray B

[rayb]

Reporting that much time might evoke a question and evidence request, but possession of the Reentry Permit is meant to express your intent to retain domicle.

If the attorney with whom you discussed this had personal experience with clients who spent a great deal of time outside of the U.S., this may have happened, so he could have been advising with some precedent in mind.

But when submitting the I-131, fill out the form and subi the form, fee and Green Card copy.

--Ray B

So generally in cases such as my wife's, people usually get it without having to provide extra supporting docs other than the i131 form, GC copy, and fee?
even if she were almost 3 years out of the 4 years since her GC?

[hwhjryu]

I understand that having a Reentry Permit is meat to express my intent to retain domicile.
I think my wife is going to apply without the "help" of an attorney.
We are just cautious because we were a good deal of time outside the US which might complicate her process for obtaining the Reentry Permit.
Do you know if there are any issues if she gets denied (such as alerting about her situation at the Port of Entries) or if she isn't able to respond with the request of further supporting evidence?

By the way, thanks for all your quick responses.
I greatly appreciate it.

Reporting that much time might evoke a question and evidence request, but possession of the Reentry Permit is meant to express your intent to retain domicle.

If the attorney with whom you discussed this had personal experience with clients who spent a great deal of time outside of the U.S., this may have happened, so he could have been advising with some precedent in mind.

But when submitting the I-131, fill out the form and subi the form, fee and Green Card copy.

--Ray B

[rayb]

I've never heard of a Reentry Permit denial, though I am sure they happen. Surely, there are some red flags that might be up if an applicant is viewed as misusing the Green Card status to spend more time out than in the U.S. The question in Part 5 referred to earlier might trigger a request for more evidence or even a denial.

Also, however, there seems to be a discretionary limit to the number of Reentry Permits that may be issued in a given period of time, apparently to counter abuse of the Reentry Permit availablity (2 or 3 limit, or time allowed outside the U.S. may be limited).

--Ray B

I understand that having a Reentry Permit is meat to express my intent to retain domicile.
I think my wife is going to apply without the "help" of an attorney.
We are just cautious because we were a good deal of time outside the US which might complicate her process for obtaining the Reentry Permit.
Do you know if there are any issues if she gets denied (such as alerting about her situation at the Port of Entries) or if she isn't able to respond with the request of further supporting evidence?

By the way, thanks for all your quick responses.
I greatly appreciate it.