Hi,
I just went through a very similar situation. I was a GC holder until very
recently and my wife is a US citizen. We have been living for some time in
my native country, Italy, with the likelihood of not returning to the US in
several years.
My last entries after absences of 5 to 6 months had raised quite a few
questions at the POE, and next time I travel to the US would have been after
more than one year of absence, making the GC invalid for entry. At one time
I obtained a Reentry Permit good for 2 years, but that was already expired
and I did not take the trouble to renew it.
So, after much hesitation, I finally decided to surrender the GC (filing
Form I-407) and at the same time apply for a B1/B2 visa, as I want to be
able to keep visiting the US from time to time.
I went to the Embassy armed with all kinds of papers showing my ties to
Italy (property, work contract, bank accounts, etc.), but they told me that
if I was returning the GC, I didn't need any of that to obtain the B1/B2
visa (no immigration intent could be assumed when I was just surrendering
the GC). I was granted the visa right away, after a five minute interview.
The visa has written in it that I have returned my GC and filed form I-407.
They also gave me a copy of the form once signed by the consular officer.
The interview for the visa was mostly the consular officer asking me if I
was sure about giving up the GC and suggesting that I could visit the US
once a year to keep it (which is not really true, if one has in fact
abandoned residence in the US).
Giving up the GC was a hard decision that I had to ponder at length. But
being married to a US citizen and having US citizen children, there is
always the possibility of them applying for a new GC for me in the future,
and obtain it in a reasonable time.
And believe me, going though immigration with the GC after long absences
once you are no longer really living in the US, was not fun at all. So I am
quite relieved that next time I'll be travelling as a plain tourist, with a
B1/B2 visa.
I'm not suggesting that you do the same thing for your wife, but hope the
information about my experience is of some value to you.
Best regards,
FRD
"Jay Patel" wrote in message
news:8e889957.0411231846.60ac7857@posting.google.com...
> Hi,
>
> My wife is a GreenCard holder and I am a US citizen. We are returning
> to India for my work and will probably be there for more than 2 years
> thus making a reentry permit useless. Any suggestions you can provide
> to overcome this situation? I don't mind taking a visitors visa for
> my wife as most likely we don't intend on returning here permanently
> for another 3 - 5 years.
>
> Any help is appreciated.
>
> Thank you.
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