My wife moved to the United States last month after being away from the United States for 6-years. When she arrived in Atlanta, she was told by Immigration Officers that she had one of two choices, to either surrender her Green Card, or ask to see an Immigration Judge. She was absolutely lost as to what to do because we never saw anything like this coming.
I spoke with two Immigration Officers and they stated she had been out of country too long. I (American by birth) explained that we have been married for 26 years and that I am a defense contractor with a major corporation – that my work kept us away for all these years and we lived together overseas during that employment. I further explained that we are now permanently relocating with the same corporation back home to the States. The Immigration Officer asked if my wife intended to remain in the United States or return to her country of birth. I explained that we were home now for good, but that we would be travelling in the distant future as our son lives overseas.
I asked what would be the right thing to do at this point and the Officer stated she should voluntarily surrender her Green Card immediately because Immigration Judges have no leniency in cases such as this. She surrendered the card and travelled on to our home. Now we are very confused and worried as to what we need to do now. I have no idea what to do! Do we reapply for another green card, apply for Returning Resident Status, or what should the next step be?
Circumstances:
1. I am a Defense Contractor who worked overseas for 20+ years, and had my family with me.
2. My wife is a Turkish national who has retained a Green Card the entire time we have been married.
3. She failed to enter the United States while we were overseas – a 6-year period went by before we returned this time. We were not aware of the requirement to reenter every year to keep the card valid.
4. We elected to surrender the card in Atlanta since the Immigration Officer stated we would have little luck with a judge.
5. The Immigration Officers offered no advice whatsoever as to what to do after surrendering the card.
6. My wife and I are currently in the States.
7. My wife’s Turkish passport was stamped valid until 23 December 2012 – at which time we assume she will be required to leave the States.
8. My wife has had a Social Security card since we married in 1984.
9. My wife and I have filed joint tax returns, every year, since our marriage.
10. My wife has two credit cards, has had them for years.
11. My wife has a United States driver’s license.
12. My wife and I jointly own our own home in the United States.
Please help! We are unsure as to what we must do, who to contact, what forms to file, and what steps to take now.
I spoke with two Immigration Officers and they stated she had been out of country too long. I (American by birth) explained that we have been married for 26 years and that I am a defense contractor with a major corporation – that my work kept us away for all these years and we lived together overseas during that employment. I further explained that we are now permanently relocating with the same corporation back home to the States. The Immigration Officer asked if my wife intended to remain in the United States or return to her country of birth. I explained that we were home now for good, but that we would be travelling in the distant future as our son lives overseas.
I asked what would be the right thing to do at this point and the Officer stated she should voluntarily surrender her Green Card immediately because Immigration Judges have no leniency in cases such as this. She surrendered the card and travelled on to our home. Now we are very confused and worried as to what we need to do now. I have no idea what to do! Do we reapply for another green card, apply for Returning Resident Status, or what should the next step be?
Circumstances:
1. I am a Defense Contractor who worked overseas for 20+ years, and had my family with me.
2. My wife is a Turkish national who has retained a Green Card the entire time we have been married.
3. She failed to enter the United States while we were overseas – a 6-year period went by before we returned this time. We were not aware of the requirement to reenter every year to keep the card valid.
4. We elected to surrender the card in Atlanta since the Immigration Officer stated we would have little luck with a judge.
5. The Immigration Officers offered no advice whatsoever as to what to do after surrendering the card.
6. My wife and I are currently in the States.
7. My wife’s Turkish passport was stamped valid until 23 December 2012 – at which time we assume she will be required to leave the States.
8. My wife has had a Social Security card since we married in 1984.
9. My wife and I have filed joint tax returns, every year, since our marriage.
10. My wife has two credit cards, has had them for years.
11. My wife has a United States driver’s license.
12. My wife and I jointly own our own home in the United States.
Please help! We are unsure as to what we must do, who to contact, what forms to file, and what steps to take now.