Immigrant Visas

Returning Resident Status

A permanent resident alien is allowed to re-entry into the United States within one year from the date of departure from the United State. If you obtained a re-entry permit prior departing the U.S. you can re-enter the U.S. before the expiry of the re-entry permit. If you have not entered the U.S. within one year or if your re-entry permit is not valid, you must qualify for a new immigrant visa as a returning resident.

To qualify for a special immigrant visa as a returning resident, an applicant must establish that he/she has continued to maintain an unrelinquished permanent residence in the United States and his/her absence abroad beyond the permitted limit was due to circumstances beyond his/her control.

To apply for returning resident status, you may come to the Visa Applicant Gate at the U.S. Consulate General at 08:00 A.M. on Monday through Friday except Wednesdays that the Consulate is open (please note that the Consular Section is closed on many Indian and all U.S. official holidays and on the last Friday of each month) with a completed Form DS-117 ("Questionnaire to Determine Returning Resident Status"). Click here to obtain a copy of this form. It is also available at your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. You should bring any documentary evidence you may have of permanent residence in the U.S. A consular officer will then conduct an interview to determine whether or not you are eligible for returning resident status.

Fees must be paid by a demand draft on a nationalized or foreign bank with a Chennai branch in favor of "American Consulate General, Chennai."

For information on current fee amounts, click here (for purposes of conversion into Indian Rupees, please use the rate of Rs. 42 per 1 US dollar.)

If you have not yet spent one year outside the United States, we urge you to return within one-year or before the expiration of your Re-Entry permit (if available) as your stay outside the U.S./Re-Entry permit cannot be extended. We cannot accept your application for "Returning Resident Status" if you have been outside of the U.S. for less than one year or before the expiration of your re-entry permit.