stllurnin48

Is there a requirement to inform Homeland Security if you are a green card holder and are returning to the UK? Their website has a change of address for moving within the US but nothing for leaving the country. This also raises the question about how long the Green card is good for once you leave. Can you return after , say, a year or will they expect you to revert back to the visa waiver scheme? Any ideas? Thanks!

Englishmum

Well the GC is for *permanent* residency in the USA; I understand that you need to enter the States at least every 6 months (a long weekend won't cut it) but still need to show that you are retaining strong links there eg. a property, bank accounts, paying into a pension 401k etc. and you still need to file Federal and if necessary, State taxes annually.

My spouse returned his GC, but made an appointment to do so at an American Embassy. They gave him a 2 minute interview to ensure he really wanted to give it up, then gave him a form to sign and they retained the GC.

I guess if you don't do anything, it will 'time out' but you still need to file taxes every year or you could face a huge problem years later if you want to visit the US and didn't send in your tax returns!

My spouse still returns to the US on business and leisure and has no problems at all (he did pay in full all the $$$ in taxes that were demanded) he just completes a visa waiver (which will soon be done electronically only, they're getting rid of the paper forms which the airlines give out).

Englishmum

Just a quick question:

How long have you actually held the Green Card for? It may have a bearing on what you may wish to do.

stllurnin48

About 3 years or so, Englishmum.

My OH and I have already moved back to the UK, having sold our house etc.

We have no plans to spend any real length of time over there for the time being other than the occasional trips to visit her US family. I guess that means that it will expire after 6 months but I should still inform them that I have left the country, is that right? Who do I tell?

Thanks for your help!

newXgate

If you are sure that you don't want to move back to the US permanently, you would be better off filing an Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Resident Status ( form I-407) petition with the US embassy in London. Otherwise you will be liable to worldwide tax as a US permanent resident. Note that your PR status does not expire after a given period - you are considered a PR until a US immigration judge decides you have abandoned the status.

This application appears to be free of charge.

robin1234

Yes, this worked for me when I abandoned my Permanent Residence status. I filed the form with the US Embassy in the UK. Then I was able to enter the US as a tourist for several years, and became a US Permanent Resident again a few years later.

stllurnin48

Thanks for the help. Just filled in the form to send off. I guess we may return to the US in years to come but not for the time being. You never know!