HELP! confused about what to do with our green card???

[SheenaP]

Hi, my family and I received our green card through a relative who is a US citizen last year and have been returning every 6 months until we decide what to do. The problem is that after waiting 12 years for the green card since we first applied, we've received it at a wrong point in our lives. I'm beginning medical school in Sept 2010 for 5 years and my brother is beginning his master's in the UK. Leaving it now would mean having to start all over again and wait 3 years to start medical school in the USA. I am soon 22 years of age and my brother will be 21 years of age.

It is tremendously difficult to enter medical school, and for me it's much cheaper to continue in the UK but i want to complete USMLE medical licensing exams during my medical course so i can do post-graduate training in the US. How do i retain my green card until then? instead of having to apply for visas when i graduate.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO FREEZE OR EXTEND MY GREEN CARD AND USE IT TO ENTER THE USA ONCE I HAVE COMPLETED MY DEGREE AND GAINED OFFICIAL PERMISSION TO PRACTICE MEDICINE IN THE USA??

should my parents keep their green cards and file for us later? could we extend it as a family for 2 years?? We don't want to lose it but similarly don't want to prolong our work.

There is probably a simple solution but i just don't know what??? If i do lose my green card, how long would it take to gain after 5 years??

Thank you for your help!

 

[Jackolantern]

You can get a reentry permit to preserve your green card while abroad for 2 years (each individual must apply, it's not one for the whole family). And it can be renewed. But the renewal might only be for 1 year, and the extended time abroad will delay your eligibility for citizenship.

But since you have not yet started your non-US study programs, it would be advisable from a career, green card, and citizenship perspective to attend US schools instead. By attending a US school, your brother will have the benefit of on-campus recruiting to make it easier to get a job right after graduation (and business contacts established while living in the US), and you will find it easier to get into the US medical residency program of your choice.

 

[Concerned4us]

You cannot just visit the US periodically and retain your GC. You must reside here. If a pattern of travel shows that you are not maintaining proper residency, your GC can be voided.

FYI, depending on the country, a medical degree that takes 9 years (college, med school, and internship) in the US can be had in less than 6 years. Given the cost of medical school in the US, many who have the option of attending elsewhere due to their citizenship of a country other than the US, choose to do so and avoid the huge debt the US trained physicians incur.

 

[SheenaP]

Thank you for your advice.

I understand how difficult it is to gain medical residency, but weighing out US medical debts plus waiting time for gaining a place (including premedical years i have to complete in the US prior to applying to any medical school) against my existing medical placement, it may be much easier for me to complete it in the UK and hopefully pass my USMLE.

I will be entering the US this summer and will process a re-entry permit application, do you know how long it takes to process before i can come back to the UK??

My main issue is whether i can renew it for 5-6 years.

 

[Jackolantern]

(including premedical years i have to complete in the US prior to applying to any medical school)

If you already have a bachelor's degree, you would not need to do premedical studies, except maybe a semester or a year of some science/math courses if your first degree doesn't have enough math and science.

However, I agree that the cost and debt burden of medical school in the US is a compelling reason to study elsewhere. But I can't say the same for your brother and his Master's degree, given the affordable options for state schools and the fact that some employers will pay tuition for their employees to study for a Masters part-time.

I will be entering the US this summer and will process a re-entry permit application, do you know how long it takes to process before i can come back to the UK??

You need to be in the US when it is filed (including the day USCIS receives the app), and to give fingerprints 2-5 weeks later. You can leave the US between those points in time, and again after you give fingerprints.

My main issue is whether i can renew it for 5-6 years.

Maybe, maybe not. When you stay outside the US for that long, without having strong ties to the US like a house or apartment in the US or a spouse or minor children staying in the US while you are gone, you risk having the GC canceled even if you have a reentry permit.

 

[Concerned4us]

Thank you for your advice.

I understand how difficult it is to gain medical residency, but weighing out US medical debts plus waiting time for gaining a place (including premedical years i have to complete in the US prior to applying to any medical school) against my existing medical placement, it may be much easier for me to complete it in the UK and hopefully pass my USMLE.

I will be entering the US this summer and will process a re-entry permit application, do you know how long it takes to process before i can come back to the UK??

My main issue is whether i can renew it for 5-6 years.

You won't be my doctor. You have the opportunity to attend school in the US and choose to do so elsewhere for financial reasons. IMO, you should be required to practice where you obtain your education. You are depriving the citizens of the country that paid to send you to school the benefit of your service. Your attitude is selfish and not deserving of my confidence in your character to do the "right" thing on my behalf if it is to your financial benefit to do otherwise. No matter how you attempt to defend your actions, your actions speak louder than words.

 

[TheRealCanadian]

IMO, you should be required to practice where you obtain your education. You are depriving the citizens of the country that paid to send you to school the benefit of your service. Your attitude is selfish and not deserving of my confidence in your character to do the "right" thing on my behalf if it is to your financial benefit to do otherwise. No matter how you attempt to defend your actions, your actions speak louder than words.

You don't understand the concept of freedom at all, do you?

 

[Rabin]

Hi, my family and I received our green card through a relative who is a US citizen last year and have been returning every 6 months until we decide what to do. The problem is that after waiting 12 years for the green card since we first applied, we've received it at a wrong point in our lives. I'm beginning medical school in Sept 2010 for 5 years and my brother is beginning his master's in the UK. Leaving it now would mean having to start all over again and wait 3 years to start medical school in the USA. I am soon 22 years of age and my brother will be 21 years of age.

It is tremendously difficult to enter medical school, and for me it's much cheaper to continue in the UK but i want to complete USMLE medical licensing exams during my medical course so i can do post-graduate training in the US. How do i retain my green card until then? instead of having to apply for visas when i graduate.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO FREEZE OR EXTEND MY GREEN CARD AND USE IT TO ENTER THE USA ONCE I HAVE COMPLETED MY DEGREE AND GAINED OFFICIAL PERMISSION TO PRACTICE MEDICINE IN THE USA??

should my parents keep their green cards and file for us later? could we extend it as a family for 2 years?? We don't want to lose it but similarly don't want to prolong our work.

There is probably a simple solution but i just don't know what??? If i do lose my green card, how long would it take to gain after 5 years??

Thank you for your help!

SheenaP, See how best you can interpret the extract below that I got from USCIS web site. Good Luck.

Maintaining Permanent Residence


You may lose your permanent resident status (green card) if you commit an act that makes you removable from the United States under the law, as described in Section 237 or 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (see the “INA” link to the right). If you commit such an act, you may be brought before an immigration court to determine your right to remain a permanent resident.

Abandoning Permanent Resident Status

You may be found to have abandoned your permanent resident status if you:

Move to another country intending to live there permanently
Remain outside of the United States for more than 1 year without obtaining a reentry permit or returning resident visa. However, in determining whether your status has been abandoned, any length of absence from the United States may be considered, even if less than 1 year
Remain outside of the United States for more than 2 years after issuance of a reentry permit without obtaining a returning resident visa. However, in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the United States may be considered, even if less than 1 year
Fail to file income tax returns while living outside of the United States for any period
Declare yourself a “nonimmigrant” on your tax returns