kathy_FROMFLORIDA

I left the U.S in 2006 after living there for a considerable amount of time,I have not returned to the U.S from 2006 to present.My G/C has an expiry date of 2007 on it.I still have possession of the G/C.
I would like to visit the U.S for a 3 week trip.

Q What is the easiest way of visiting the U.S for a short vacation,should I just complete the ESTA questionnaire as a visitor does,have my vacation and return to the UK.As a UK citizen Im living in the UK now.

Any help really is appreciated.
Thanks.
Kathy.

crg

Formally surrender the LPR status by completing an I-407 at the consulate along with the submission of a visitor visa application. You'll essentially trade one for the other. The VWP is a possibility, but without knowing a lot more about your route to LPR status the last time, I can't gauge your chances. Sometimes people break a few eggs during that process and end up ineligible for the VWP, or have other things to sort out.

BTW: Sometimes people who are LPRs end up automatically becoming a USC because they were under the age of 18 and living in the custody of a US citizen parent. They may not even know it. It's a possibility that could apply to you depending on your situation.

kathy_FROMFLORIDA

Thanks for the information.
If possible I really would like to hang on to the G/C.
I was wondering what would happen if I completed the ESTA form and showed up in the U.S had my vacation and came back to UK,I suppose im wondering if immigration would know if I had an expired G/C?

ian-mstm

You can keep it if you want... but remember that the GC is proof of your status as a PR... it is not the status itself. Even though you have the card, it's more than likely that your status as a permanent resident has long ago been abandoned. That said, time outside of the US, by itself, is not sufficient for a finding of abandonment... but the dark forces will likely see it differently.


You must assume they know... because no one can tell you whether they actually do or not.

That said, if you're not intending to come back to the US to live, submit form I-407. If you do that, your prior status as a PR will not come into question if/when you visit the US.

Ian

crg

If things don't go your way at the border, you may find yourself in removal proceedings. That means you will have to appear at multiple hearings, possibly pay for legal counsel out of your pocket, as well as the expense of either staying in a hotel for a few months/years or flying back and forth to court. If you skip a court date, they can order you removed in absentia and barred from reentering the US for five years or longer. The judge will want to see things like where you have been residing and working and if that was in the US like it was supposed to be. Also, LPRs are supposed to file taxes etc.

kathy_FROMFLORIDA

Thank you crg.
What would be the situation if I decided that it may be best to abandon the G/C,would I just complete the on line ESTA form show up in the U.S and have my vacation..which I believe would be a maximum of 3 months?
Thank you.

kathy_FROMFLORIDA

Thank you Ian.
I may decide to give up the G/C and just have vacations in the U.S.
Thank you.

crg

It would be helpful to know what mechanism you used to get the green card in the first place, and if you broke any rules along the way.

kathy_FROMFLORIDA

What are you suggesting...broke the rules,why do you say that..are you accusing me of something ??because if you are I do not appreciate it do you understand that??

Duncan Roberts

Reactions like that immediately make people think you are hiding something, especially true of immigration officials. You probably want to grow a thicker skin and reply with something more along the lines of "I got my greencard via X and I didn't break any rules as far as I know"

crg

Take a pill or something. You're asking specific questions, yet provide no useful information on which to base a response. For all we know, you received your green card after sneaking into the US with a fake passport and claiming asylum. You won't say. Until you do, nobody can even come close to answering your question.

There are thousands of scenarios that would make you ineligible for the VWP. You could even have a mental disorder that makes you a danger to yourself or others....... (your unprovoked ranting may indicate that is more likely than I would have previously thought).

Unless you can provide some details, this thread is about as useful as howling down a well.

lansbury

In a post June 3 2008 you said you were a US citizen, so which is it?

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showp...14&postcount=9

fatbrit

Probably asking for a friend.

kathy_FROMFLORIDA

Crg accused me of breaking some rules along the way...he is way out of line with type of questioning,I ask a perfectly legitimate question...I even suggest that I may give up the G/C so that I can go to the U.S for an innocent vacation and now CRG is asking me if I broke any rules in the process of obtaining my G/G...you are out of order... wow..what kind of a forum is this?
amateurs.goodbye.

fatbrit

Bye!