Embassy of the United States New Delhi, India

See the State Department website on Returning Residents.

If you are a Lawful Permanent Resident and are outside of the U.S., you must re-enter the United States (U.S.) within one year from the date of your departure from the U.S. to maintain your Permanent Resident status. If you obtained a re-entry permit from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) prior to departing the U.S., you must re-enter the U.S. before the expiry of the re-entry permit to maintain your status. 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.

You should bring a completed Form DS-117 (PDF 296KB)("Questionnaire to Determine Returning Resident Status") and a fee draft. 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 cash (U.S. dollars) or a demand draft on a nationalized or foreign bank made out to "U.S. Embassy New Delhi".

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 you re-entry permit, because your stay outside the U.S. and 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.

You can apply for Returning Resident status on all working days, without any prior appointment between 8:30 to 10:00 AM.