Resident Return Visa

Resident return visas (RRV) are three separate but related systems for allowing ordinarily resident and former resident foreign nationals in Australia, New Zealand, and The United States of America. to travel to another country and return to the issuing country.

The United States

Lawful Permanent Residents who have been outside of the U.S. for more than a year without a re-entry permit, or those who have remained outside the U.S. beyond the validity of their re-entry permit are required to process a new immigrant visa before they will be permitted to return to the U.S. as a Lawful Permanent Resident. Lawful Permanent Resident who have remained outside the U.S. for extended periods of time may apply at their nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate to process the SB-1 Returning Resident Visa. Applicants under this category will be required to pay new visa processing fees and medical fees however there is no need for a new immigrant petition to be filed (I-130, I-140). ^[1] Spouse or Child of a Member of the U.S. Armed Forces or Civilian Employee of the U.S. Government Stationed Abroad - If you are the spouse or child of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces or of a civilian employee of the U.S. government stationed abroad on official orders, you may use your Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551, to enter the United States even if it has expired. Therefore, you would not need a Returning Resident (SB-1) immigrant visa, as long as you:

1. Have not abandoned your LPR status; and 2. Your spouse or parent is returning to the United States.

Qualifying for Returning Resident Status: Under immigration law, to qualify for a returning resident visa, you will need to prove that you:

2. Had the status of a lawful permanent resident at the time of departure from the U.S.A. 2. Departed from the U.S.A. with the intention of returning and have not abandoned this intention. 3. 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.

Required Documentation

3. A completed Application to Determine Returning Resident Status, Form DS-117 2. Your Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) 3. Your Re-entry Permit 4. You must also submit supporting documents that show the following:

  a. Dates of travel outside of the United States (Examples: airline tickets, passport stamps, etc.)
  b. Proof of your ties to the United States and your intention to return (Examples: tax returns, and evidence of economic, family, and social ties to the      United States)
  c. Proof that your protracted stay outside of the United States was for reasons beyond your control (Examples: medical incapacitation, employment with a U.S. company, etc.)
  d. Pay the required fees

^[2]

Australia

A Resident Return Visa (RRV) is a re-entry visa allowing the holder of that visa to travel to another country and return to Australia's migration zone. RRVs allow permanent residents of Australia to re-enter Australia as often as they wish during the validity of the visa. RRVs may be issued with five years' or three months' validity.^[3]

New Zealand

The similar visa in New Zealand is called Returning Resident's Visa (RRV). It gives New Zealand permanent residents the right to resume their residence status when they return to New Zealand. The first Returning Resident's Visa is valid for two years. An Indefinite Returning Resident's Visa (IRRV) will be issued once the resident has shown commitment to New Zealand over the past two years. Twelve-month or 14-day RRVs are also issued under different circumstances.

Under the Immigration Act 2009, Returning Resident's Visas has been replaced by Resident visas and/or permanent resident visas. A resident visa holder may also be subject to other ‘conditions’ depending on the residence category they applied under. A permanent resident visa allows the holder to re-enter New Zealand as a permanent resident anytime. A permanent resident visa cannot be subject to any conditions.^[4]

References

1. http://globallawcenters.com/returning-resident-visa-sb-1/
2. https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/returning-residents.html
3. "Resident Return Visas (Subclasses 155 and 157)". Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
4. "Holders of residence permits and returning resident’s visas". Immigration New Zealand. 29 November 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2012.

External links

• Fact Sheet 95 - Documents Needed to Enter Australia dead link]
• Immigration New Zealand Operational Manual
• Travel Visa Australia