Help! I-131 pending, close to 1 year outside U.S. – what happens if not approved?
My mother is a U.S. green card holder. We filed Form I-131 (reentry permit) in June 2025 and she left the U.S. in August 2025 after doing her pinger prints at the USCIS center.
She has to stay abroad because my younger special need sister is alone back home and cannot be left by herself. My sister also has an immigration case through my mother, but it will take about 3–4 years before she can join us in the U.S.
We applied for the reentry permit so my mother could stay outside the U.S. for up to ~2 years and still maintain her residency by traveling back and forth. However, we are now approaching the 1-year mark outside the U.S., and the I-131 is still pending.
Our family concerns:
What happens if she crosses 1 year outside the U.S. while I-131 is still pending?
If the reentry permit is denied or never approved, what happens to her green card?
Any options at this point? I contacted USCIS through call and live chat, they say we have to wait and they cannot or will not comment more.