Reentry permit - required to be US at applying and also approval?

[kingno1]

Hi, I applied for the re entry permit for my parents last year a week before they travelled to US hoping that they will be onetime for the finger prints. However, it got rejected saying that they are not in country when applied.
Want to be careful this time.
Do they need to here in US when they get the card or can they leave after they are done with finger prints?
Also, how long can they stay out of US, 2 years?

[newacct]

Hi, I applied for the re entry permit for my parents last year a week before they travelled to US hoping that they will be onetime for the finger prints. However, it got rejected saying that they are not in country when applied.
Want to be careful this time.
Do they need to here in US when they get the card or can they leave after they are done with finger prints?
Also, how long can they stay out of US, 2 years?

They need to be in the US when they apply for it (i.e. when it is received by USCIS), but they do not need to be in the country when it is pending or approved. In fact, when applying for it they can have it sent to a US consulate abroad for them to pick up when it is approved.