Hi! I was successful in the 2013 Lottery and travelled to the US in September of 2013 for a month to find an apartment, (hopefully) line up a job, sort out bank accounts, drivers license etc before I came back to Australia to tie up loose ends here before making the permanent move.
I was not able to find a job while there in September (I have a small business so was still self sufficient and not worried) but when I travelled home I suffered a major & unavoidable financial blow and was not able to get back to the US when I had hoped.
It is still affecting my finances and my business and I was wondering if I had any options left to try and retain my green card. As I had left the US with the intention of moving back around 6 months later, I did not apply for a reentry permit (this detail still keeps me awake at night. I've never regretted anything this much!). I understand there is a SB visa related to green card reentry, but I am concerned it will not apply as my issues were financial and they don't seem to take much sympathy upon those kinds of issues, if I understand correctly?
I am still not in the same place financially as I was before, but if there is any hope that I could still use my green card I will anything in my power to make it work.
I am sorry to anyone who thinks I am ungrateful for my card - I know how lucky I was to receive it and I kick myself daily for not preparing better.
I regret my choices but desperately cling to hope that I may be able to salvage it. Any and all advice is so gratefully received, thank you for reading!
I was not able to find a job while there in September (I have a small business so was still self sufficient and not worried) but when I travelled home I suffered a major & unavoidable financial blow and was not able to get back to the US when I had hoped.
It is still affecting my finances and my business and I was wondering if I had any options left to try and retain my green card. As I had left the US with the intention of moving back around 6 months later, I did not apply for a reentry permit (this detail still keeps me awake at night. I've never regretted anything this much!). I understand there is a SB visa related to green card reentry, but I am concerned it will not apply as my issues were financial and they don't seem to take much sympathy upon those kinds of issues, if I understand correctly?
I am still not in the same place financially as I was before, but if there is any hope that I could still use my green card I will anything in my power to make it work.
I am sorry to anyone who thinks I am ungrateful for my card - I know how lucky I was to receive it and I kick myself daily for not preparing better.
I regret my choices but desperately cling to hope that I may be able to salvage it. Any and all advice is so gratefully received, thank you for reading!