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Shanny

Can I stay in the USA as a Permanent Resident for the rest of my life??

By Shanny in Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from K1 and K3 Family Based Visas

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Shanny Explorer

Shanny   0

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

This may be a dumb question and I'm sure it has been asked before, but do I really need to be a citizen? Can I not just keep renewing my green card for the rest of my life? The thing is, I am Canadian and there is NO way that I want to lose my citizenship to my own country. My husband and I will likely move to Canada one day. Not sure when, it could be 5 years, 10 years or 20+ years! We really have no idea but the thought and desire is there. So I am just wondering if I really need to apply for citizenship in the USA. Can I live here without it? Do a lot of people do this? Is it even legal? Boy, I have a lot of research to do, don't I? Please forgive my ignorance, but a little insight or a point in the right direction would be nice. Thanks in advance!

our timeline:

I-130:

sent 3/30/2006

noa1 4/6/2006

touched 4/8/2006

APPROVED!!! - noa2 7/10/2006

I-129F:

sent 4/25/2006

noa1 5/2/2006

touched 5/13/2006

touched 7/3/2006 - IMBRA RFE

APPROVED!!! - noa2 7/31/2006

received package 3 - 8/31/2006

faxed package 3 to vancouver - 9/5/2006

received package 4 - 9/12/2006 with an interview date of 9/25/2006

called for a specific interview date and got it!

INTERVIEW!!!!! - 10/16/2006

GOT K-3 VISA - 10/16/2006

WOOT DEE WOOT!

EAD:

sent 11/3/2006

noa1 11/13/2006

biometrics appt 11/28/2006

touched 11/29/2006

touched 11/30/2006

touched 1/20/2007

touched 1/23/2007

touched 1/24/2007

approved 2/12/2007

card received 2/17/2007

SSN:

applied 2/20/2007

card received 3/5/2007

AOS:

sent 04/08/2008

check cashed 04/17/2008

noa1 04/19/2008

biometrics appt 05/02/2008

case status appears online 05/02/2008

touched 05/05/2008

touched 05/06/2008

touched 05/16/2008

received interview letter 06/20/2008

interview 09/04/2008 - APPROVED!!!

card received 09/29/2008

Zil Contributor

Zil   1

Posted
Filed: Country: Wales
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

As far as I know you can keep renewing your greencard forever. However you may loose it if you move to Canada later. If you are a US citizen you can come back no matter how long you lived outside of the country. So if Canadian law permits dual citizenship why not applying for US one as well?

Edited by Zil
Shanny Explorer

Shanny   0

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted
As far as I know you can keep renewing your greencard forever. However if you move to Canada later you may loose it. If you are a US citizen you can come back no matter how long you lived outside of the country.

Thanks for the quick reply, Zil. Hmmm, so becoming a citizen probably is a good idea then if my husand and I decide to move to Canada and then possibly move to the USA again. I guess it would keep us safe in case something like that did happen. It would really suck to have go through the immigration process all over again if we moved and then came back again.

our timeline:

I-130:

sent 3/30/2006

noa1 4/6/2006

touched 4/8/2006

APPROVED!!! - noa2 7/10/2006

I-129F:

sent 4/25/2006

noa1 5/2/2006

touched 5/13/2006

touched 7/3/2006 - IMBRA RFE

APPROVED!!! - noa2 7/31/2006

received package 3 - 8/31/2006

faxed package 3 to vancouver - 9/5/2006

received package 4 - 9/12/2006 with an interview date of 9/25/2006

called for a specific interview date and got it!

INTERVIEW!!!!! - 10/16/2006

GOT K-3 VISA - 10/16/2006

WOOT DEE WOOT!

EAD:

sent 11/3/2006

noa1 11/13/2006

biometrics appt 11/28/2006

touched 11/29/2006

touched 11/30/2006

touched 1/20/2007

touched 1/23/2007

touched 1/24/2007

approved 2/12/2007

card received 2/17/2007

SSN:

applied 2/20/2007

card received 3/5/2007

AOS:

sent 04/08/2008

check cashed 04/17/2008

noa1 04/19/2008

biometrics appt 05/02/2008

case status appears online 05/02/2008

touched 05/05/2008

touched 05/06/2008

touched 05/16/2008

received interview letter 06/20/2008

interview 09/04/2008 - APPROVED!!!

card received 09/29/2008

reeses16 Proficient

reeses16   8

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ethiopia
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

I agree with Zil. Also, Canada recognizes dual citizenship, so what would be the advantage of not becoming a US citizen? Also, if you were only a LPR of the US, you would loose out on some (~50% I think) of the retirement benefits that you would be able to get as a USC. There was a thread detailing this several months ago. I'll see if I can find it.

Edited by reeses16
Shanny Explorer

Shanny   0

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted
I agree with Zil. Also, Canada recognizes dual citizenship, so what would be the advantage of not becoming a US citizen? Also, if you were only a LPR of the US, you would loose out on some (~50% I think) of the retirement benefits that you would be able to get as a USC. There was a thread detailing this several months ago. I'll see if I can find it.

Oh, awesome. Thank you. So I guess there are some pretty good benefits of it then. Especially if my country recognizes dual citizenship because that whats most important to me.

our timeline:

I-130:

sent 3/30/2006

noa1 4/6/2006

touched 4/8/2006

APPROVED!!! - noa2 7/10/2006

I-129F:

sent 4/25/2006

noa1 5/2/2006

touched 5/13/2006

touched 7/3/2006 - IMBRA RFE

APPROVED!!! - noa2 7/31/2006

received package 3 - 8/31/2006

faxed package 3 to vancouver - 9/5/2006

received package 4 - 9/12/2006 with an interview date of 9/25/2006

called for a specific interview date and got it!

INTERVIEW!!!!! - 10/16/2006

GOT K-3 VISA - 10/16/2006

WOOT DEE WOOT!

EAD:

sent 11/3/2006

noa1 11/13/2006

biometrics appt 11/28/2006

touched 11/29/2006

touched 11/30/2006

touched 1/20/2007

touched 1/23/2007

touched 1/24/2007

approved 2/12/2007

card received 2/17/2007

SSN:

applied 2/20/2007

card received 3/5/2007

AOS:

sent 04/08/2008

check cashed 04/17/2008

noa1 04/19/2008

biometrics appt 05/02/2008

case status appears online 05/02/2008

touched 05/05/2008

touched 05/06/2008

touched 05/16/2008

received interview letter 06/20/2008

interview 09/04/2008 - APPROVED!!!

card received 09/29/2008

Kathryn41 Grand Master

Kathryn41   3,205

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

Canada definitely recognizes dual citizenship. The only way to lose your Canadian citizenship is to officially renounce it on a special form and submit that to the Canadian government. Taking out US citizenship does not stop you from being a Canadian citizen and there is no way a foreign country can remove your citizenship, although they may not recognize it. That is basically what the US does if you become a US citizen - they recognize you as a US citizen and not a Canadian citizen. Canada, however, recognizes you as a Canadian citizen and that is what you want.

If you and your husband are planning to move back and forth between Canada and the US, you will have to sponsor him for Canadian permanent residency as well when the time comes. If you decide to move back to Canada and you do not have US citizenship, then if you wanted to move back to the US you would have to go through the whole US immigration process all over again. It is much, much, much simpler if you have US citizenship - and eventually he has Canadian citizenship - to move back and forth between the two countries to live.

That being said, there is nothing to stop you from being a permanent resident for the rest of your life as long as you live in the US. Once you live elsewhere, then you lose your permanent residency.

Edited by Kathryn41

“...Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we knew all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?”

.― Lucy Maude Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

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Reba Experienced

Reba   2

Posted
Filed: Other Timeline
Posted

One thing to point out is that once you become a citizen of the US, you have to file taxes with them forever, no matter where you live in the world. Which, IMO, is a pain in the #######. :P

I know a Canadian whose had a US green card for about 45+ years, never bothered with citizenship.

divorced - April 2010 moved back to Ontario May 2010 and surrendered green card

PLEASE DO NOT PRIVATE MESSAGE ME OR EMAIL ME. I HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT CURRENT US IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES!!!!!

zqt3344 Experienced

zqt3344   21

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Ukraine
 Timeline
Posted

Yes, every 10 years after that first 2 year GC you have to renew. :thumbs:

This may be a dumb question and I'm sure it has been asked before, but do I really need to be a citizen? Can I not just keep renewing my green card for the rest of my life? The thing is, I am Canadian and there is NO way that I want to lose my citizenship to my own country. My husband and I will likely move to Canada one day. Not sure when, it could be 5 years, 10 years or 20+ years! We really have no idea but the thought and desire is there. So I am just wondering if I really need to apply for citizenship in the USA. Can I live here without it? Do a lot of people do this? Is it even legal? Boy, I have a lot of research to do, don't I? Please forgive my ignorance, but a little insight or a point in the right direction would be nice. Thanks in advance!
soulprovider915 Enthusiast

soulprovider915   4

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Ecuador
 Timeline
Posted
As far as I know you can keep renewing your greencard forever. However you may loose it if you move to Canada later. If you are a US citizen you can come back no matter how long you lived outside of the country. So if Canadian law permits dual citizenship why not applying for US one as well?

Even though your card expires your status doesn't. You should renew your card though.

03/03/2008 Mailed AOS to Chicago Day 1

03/05/2008 AOS Received in Chicago I-485 & I-765 Day 3

03/10/2008 Notice Date I-485 & I-765 Day 8

03/28/2008 I-485 Transfer to California Service Center Email/Viewable Online Day 26

03/29/2008 Biometrics Appointment Day 27

04/04/2008 I-485 CSC Transfer Notification Email/NOA in Mail/Touch Day 33

05/08/2008 I-765 EAD Approval Notice Sent Day 67

05/10/2008 I-765 EAD Card In Hands Day 69

07/07/2008 I-485 Approved Day 127

07/14/2008 10 Year Green Card Received Day 134

05/25/2011 Mailed N-400 to Dallas, Texas Day 1

06/01/2011 Check Cashed Day 8

06/06/2011 NOA Received Dated 06/01 Day 13

06/09/2011 Biometrics Letter Received Day 16

06/30/2011 Biometrics Appointment 9:00 am Day 37

08/18/2011 Notice of Interview Sent Via Mail Day 86

09/26/2011 Interview Day 125 APPROVED!!!!!!!!!

10/17/2011 Oath Ceremony Complete!!!!!!!!!

FaithfulandTrue Proficient

FaithfulandTrue   6

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Egypt
 Timeline
Posted
This may be a dumb question and I'm sure it has been asked before, but do I really need to be a citizen? Can I not just keep renewing my green card for the rest of my life? The thing is, I am Canadian and there is NO way that I want to lose my citizenship to my own country. My husband and I will likely move to Canada one day. Not sure when, it could be 5 years, 10 years or 20+ years! We really have no idea but the thought and desire is there. So I am just wondering if I really need to apply for citizenship in the USA. Can I live here without it? Do a lot of people do this? Is it even legal? Boy, I have a lot of research to do, don't I? Please forgive my ignorance, but a little insight or a point in the right direction would be nice. Thanks in advance!

i agree with zil, try dual citizenship

Passage Revelation 19:11:

11And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

"satan is real and he's playing for keeps
God is realer and we are His sheep
which side are you on, CHOOSE, start moving your feet
choose JESUS and have ETERNAL PEACE" by GOD to me on 9/26/10 about 2am
Thank you Jesus!!!!


Bebe and Cece Winans Heaven



Abdel Halim Hafez Qariat al Fingan


Shannon and David Community Regular

Shannon and David   0

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Peru
 Timeline
Posted

I lived in the US for 16 years with a green card, renewing it periodically. Got my citizenship eventually.

Good luck with your decision!

AOS & getting the SSN & the I-693

6/13/08 Applied for SSN for David ----- TRIP 1; 6/23/08 Went back to SSA 'cuz the person didn't pc all documents (rec'd letter from them) ----- TRIP 2

7/2/08 Received David's health insurance cards! Yay!

7/3/08 Went back to SSA; they said come back 7/9 if he still hasn't received it ----- TRIP 3

7/8/08 Got list of vaccines he still needed from CS by fax/phone; tested for immunity to MMR (only vaccine still needed) at our family dr

7/9 & 7/10/08 Went back to SSA, card still not received - Denied opportunity to apply for replacement ----- TRIP 4; Went back to SSA again to apply for a replacement card - Talked to a supervisor this time, POE people entered his last name incorrectly ----- TRIP 5; went to get David's ID thru the State, denied - instructions wrong on website; measles test inconclusive, another test needed; requested new lease

7/14/08 SSA called me in regards to problems at local SSA office

7/15/08 INFOPASS appt to fix POE name input error and then went to airport to fix POE name error

7/17/08 Received SSN card in mail and went to get state ID

7/21/08 State ID received in the mail and tested again for measles immunity

7/29/08 MMR shot #2 given and dropped off papers at Civil Surgeon (CS)

7/31/08 Picked up I-693, completed by local CS, (I paid $25, don't be fooled)

8/3 - 8/6/08 Worked on forms I-485, G-325A, I-864, I-765 and I-131; sent to Chicago - YESSS!

8/11/08 NOA1 for AOS, EAD and AP; 9/2/08 Transfered to CSC; 9/4/08 Biometrics

10/24/08 Rec'd AP; 10/27/08 Rec'd EAD; 11/24/08 Rec'd GC

sweetcouple Explorer

sweetcouple   0

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Timeline
Posted

this is helpful..tnx

---------------------------------

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At Fort Worth Stockyards

---------------------------------

April 12, 2008 - Wedding, Rose Garden (Tyler, TX)

May 23, 2008 - mailed AOS packet to Chicago Lockbox

June 7, 2008 - NOA for I-485, I-765, I-131 received

June 9, 2008 - Received ASC letter

June 24, 2008 - Biometrics appointment in Fort Worth

July 9, 2008 - AOS transferred to CA

July 28, 2008 - AOS approved

Aug. 5, 2008 - GC received

 
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