Thinking about returning my Green Card....
 

Hi,
I have had a G/C from 1980 - 2007,2007 was the last time I was in the U.S.
I would imagine it is now deemed abandoned....however,I have not yet officially turned it in to the U.S Embassy in London.

I would like to visit the U.S,dont think I will ever be living there again,so I only want to visit.I have 2 kids (U.S citizens over the age of 18) who currently live in the UK.

Would the best way for me to visit the U.S be for me to return the G/C and just visit the U.S with the ESTA visa...or is there another visa available that may be more appropriate based on my two kids U.S citizenship ?

Thank you.

Re: Thinking about returning my Green Card....
 

If you want to formally abandon your status, complete form I-407 and submit it. Once that's done, you can use ESTA/VWP to visit the US. If, at some point in the future, you change your mind about returning to the US to live, then once your USC children reach age 21, they can submit an I-130 petition and sponsor you for an immigrant visa.

Ian

Re: Thinking about returning my Green Card....
 

Thanks Ian,
But are there any other options?....someone mentioned to me that I should go for the B2....why I dont know.

Re: Thinking about returning my Green Card....
 

Only two reasons I can come up with are:

1. You want to spend more than 90 days at one time in the US; or

2. They feel you are ineligible to use the VWP.

The only appropriate visa based on your USC children would be for them to sponsor you for a LPR visa.

Re: Thinking about returning my Green Card....
 

The situation is this.
I was married to my American wife for 30 years,in 2008 while we were in the UK she told me that she wanted a divorce,I had recently bought a beach front property in the UK(she had been living in the house for 4 months)she moved out and started divorce proceedings,she then moved in with a man she had been having an affair with,she requested that I sell the property immediately so that she could receive 1/2 of any profits,my lawyer told me that if I was able to take any photos of her and the new guy together we may be able to get the divorce judge to get her 50/50 % request of the house sale reduced to a lower amount.One day while shopping I saw her and the guy,I went to my car and waited for them to exit,at a distance of about 100 yds I took about 6 pics of them together,the guy saw me and approached me,we got into a slagging match,my wife called the cops,I was arrested and charged with harassment,went to magistrates court,advised by my lawyer to plead not guilty,after an all day hearing I was found guilty and sentenced to 100 hours of community work,so there you go,I have an harassment charge against me.

Re: Thinking about returning my Green Card....
 

Options for what? Visiting the US? There's ESTA/VWP or a B-2 visa. If you're eligible for the VWP you're unlikely to get a B-2.


I don't know either - because the application is likely to fail.


I doubt this is a CIMT and therefore doesn't stop you from using the VWP.

That all said, I've got to wonder why you didn't naturalize as a USC when you had the opportunity many years ago!

Ian

Re: Thinking about returning my Green Card....
 

Hi Ian,
Yes,I sometimes sit and wonder why I didnt naturalize all those years ago.My mistake.

Re: Thinking about returning my Green Card....
 

Im now wondering what comes first.
Returning my G/C or applying for Esta.
I would imagine that the first thing would to be to return the G/C and then applyfor ESTA ??

Re: Thinking about returning my Green Card....
 

Er, only if the sponsoring child has returned/is returning to live in the US themselves.

Re: Thinking about returning my Green Card....
 

Ah... true enough! :)

Ian

Re: Thinking about returning my Green Card....
 

First, submit the I-407 with your green card... then apply for ESTA. Why? Because so long as the US thinks you're a PR, you aren't really eligible to use ESTA.

Ian

Re: Thinking about returning my Green Card....
 

I am also currently working on applying for my U.S Social Security.
Would you wait until the SS is worked out before I turn in the GC or does it matter ?
Thank you.

Re: Thinking about returning my Green Card....
 

It doesn't matter - it's irrelevant as far as US immigration is concerned.

Ian

Re: Thinking about returning my Green Card....
 

It's also irrelevant as far as the US Social Security Administration is concerned.

Re: Thinking about returning my Green Card....
 

Thank You Ian & Pulaski.
Appreciate your suggestions.