You still can use it if you're going home this year as long as your work permit is still valid and working on the same employer.
My visa and work permit both will be expiring in Dec. 2011, I want to go home and spend some time with my family after finishing my 24 months in August, would come back in October, but my employer would not wait for me over two weeks, I have to be looking for a new employer when I come back, is that ok? I am worried immigration would not let me in if I have no employer, ...