If you are a U.S.lawful permanent resident (LPR) stranded outside of the United States due to COVID-19, you may find the information below useful.Please note, the U.S.
Embassy does not set travel policies for lawful permanent residents (LPRs).U.S.Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) retains jurisdiction over the status of LPRs and any request for official guidance should be directed to them.
Unfortunately, USCIS does not have an office in Turkmenistan.
Generally, you can stay outside the U.S.for up to one year.If you have been issued a Re-Entry Permit, which applicants must apply for while in the U.S., you can stay outside the United States as long as your Re-Entry Permit has not expired.
Please note, per USCIS, the abandonment of residency may be found to have occurred on trips of less than a year outside of the United States if is determined you did not intend to make the U.S.
your permanent residence.For further information, please see the USCIS website here.
Pursuant to USCIS policy, you cannot apply for Re-Entry Permit when you are outside of the United States. You must apply for one before you depart the United States. Also, an expired Re-Entry Permit cannot be extended.
There has not been an announcement or policy exception issued by USCIS regarding this issue. LPRs who have stayed outside of the United States for more than one year, or longer than the validity of their Re-Entry Permits, are generally considered to have abandoned their LPR status.
If your case falls under either of these scenarios and you wish to return to the United States, you will need to apply for an SB-1 Returning Resident visa with the Consular Section. Please see instructions here.
You may apply for a Boarding Foil at the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat. Please visit this page and refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) pertaining to LPRs.
Presently, there are no commercial international flights to or from Turkmenistan. The U.S. Embassy receives information about charter flights from other embassies and makes this information available to U.S. citizens and LPRs and may coordinate submitting names of interested travelers to the respective embassy.
Citizens of Turkmenistan who are LPRs should consider host country travel restrictions and must obtain approval from the Government of Turkmenistan in order to be on a manifest for departing charter flights.
Please contact the U.S.Embassy Consular Section (consularashgab@state.gov) for current information on how LPRs may submit a travel request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan is not responsible for any changes in flight availability or associated flight changes.
Please refer all questions of this nature to U.S.Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS).USCIS retains authority to determine the status of LPRs and any request for official guidance must be directed to them.
The U.S.Embassy in Turkmenistan cannot answer these questions or make a formal determination regarding a person’s LPR status.It is recommended you contact USCIS directly with these questions or review resources available on the USCIS website.
Our office is unable to provide advice or guidance regarding what actions an LPR should take.
It is recommend you wait for their answer, and review all the resources available on the USCIS website before taking further action. Our office is unable to provide advice or guidance regarding what actions an LPR should take. Any questions pertaining to LPR status should be directed to USCIS.
By US Embassy Ashgabat | October 25, 2020 | Topics: Consular Affairs, Immigrant Visas, News, U.S. Citizen Services, Visas