Retirement of Greencard or not

S

Seanmc768

New Member
My greencard has expired and I am now living outside the USA. However I had lived in the US 12 years (initially on a L1A then a GC)and in my final 6 months (before expiration) filed for naturalization as I was living in the USA. During the naturalization process I took a job outside the USA in the UK. However I flew back for my biometrics and my Civics test - but on re-entry to take my civics test an immigration officer took offence to me having been out of the country for months and started proceedings for my greencard to be removed. But as I left the country to go back to work in the UK the proceedings stop as I now live outside the USA.
The problem is now that I am stuck as my naturalization wont complete and the GC removal cant go ahead as I'm out of the country.
Ideally I would like to complete my naturalization from overseas, as I have done all the tests and provided all the documents - but if that is not possible is my only option to voluntarily return my greencard and have to go back to square one in regards to naturalization?
 
They've probably already cancelled your green card because you didn't show up in court for the proceedings, and didn't arrange a reschedule. And even if they didn't cancel the green card, and your removal proceedings were left pending, they can't approve naturalization with pending removal proceedings. You also can't complete the naturalization oath outside the US unless you're in the military.
 
Cancelled green card

Jackolantern said:
They've probably already cancelled your green card because you didn't show up in court for the proceedings, and didn't arrange a reschedule. And even if they didn't cancel the green card, and your removal proceedings were left pending, they can't approve naturalization with pending removal proceedings. You also can't complete the naturalization oath outside the US unless you're in the military.
Click to expand...

The hearings get cancelled and the removal procedure stopped/cancelled as they cant notify me and I even turned up at the immigration center to reactivate my application but both the removal proceedings and the naturalization both get cancelled as they cannot contact someone with a residential address outside the USA.

I could obviously fly back to the USA for my Oath, that would not be a problem - but I'm stuck in limbo as I'm still a PR - so is there any way I can reactiveate my application from outside the USA?
If not then my only alternative is to surrender my greencard.
 
Even if you can somehow reinstate the naturalization application, they're not going to approve it. Your primary residence is now obviously outside the US, and you will be denied for breaking continuous residence. For naturalization you're supposed to reside primarily in the US through the entire process, all the way until the oath. Trips abroad should only be for vacations, studies, or short-term business projects, not long-term employment.

Most likely your green card has already been cancelled as a result of you failing to show up in immigration court.
 
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