CR1 abandonment

[aphrodite7 1]

You asked this same question in this post http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/361963-cr1-abandonment/page__p__5285245#entry5285245 YOU listed YOUR OWN OPTIONS and people took their time to respond. Are you so confused that you forgot?

Thank you. I am indeed confused.

Appreciate it sir.

[aphrodite7 1]

**** three topics on the same/ similar issues merged. Please only start one topic on a question/ issue. If you have updates or follow-on questions, ask them as a reply to your original topic. Topic moved to General Immigration as OP is considering traveling/ living abroad for some time and the question is not related to the CR-1 process of getting a spousal visa****

Thank you for merging the topic. Apologize for posting twice.

[aphrodite7 1]

No hate comments. We did what you are considering and this is the summary (again):

My wife received a green card (CR1) in Aug, 2008 and we left the country for work in Jan, 2009. We held on to and surrendered the green card in August, 2010, (just before it expired)

She did not have a green card or visa between Aug, 2010 and Oct, 2011 so instead of visiting the US during leave we visited her home country (way better in my view).

When we were ready to return to the US we re-applied for an IR1 in Feb, 2011, and received a new IR1 visa in Oct, 2011. We are back in the US after 3 years overseas and the new green card (the second green card) actually arrived in the mail yesterday.

The option to re-apply is always open. In our case we did DCF in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and the process of re-application after surrendering the first green card went through without a single issue or hitch. Actually the same lady we surrendered the card to accepted the new application LOL and the interview was just a formality.

The only thing about your case that is different from ours is that we never considered turning in the green card right away. All of our assets (cars, banking, everything) were still in the US and we travelled back to the US in Dec, 2009 after 11 months out and returned again in June, 2009 (after 5 months out) before surrendering the card at the consulate in August before it expired.

One thing I do know is that a re-entry permit cannot be obtained overseas. It has to be applied for in the US before you leave. We didnt worry about it. There was 1 1/2 years left on the green card so what was the point of a 2-yr re-entry permit?

The rule is not 6 months, it is 1 year as long as you can demonstrat at entry that you have clear ties in the US. That 1-year rule is even on the "welcome to the US" brochure that we received with the green card yesterday. Where this 6-month thing comes from puzzles me.

Hope that helps you. Best of luck

Thank you so much himher for this reply. I would not mention this issue again and would already consider it as resolved. Once again, I apologize for posting the same issue as my previous one. As I've mentioned, we're still in the process of deciding which option is the best to take before we leave the US.

For those people who replied back from my very first post (and for this post too), I can't thank you guys enough for the comments you gave me. The reason why I ask for more advice is that I want to make sure that I wouldn't have any problems if ever I am about to let go of my papers (visa) from here.

Thank you for the Moderators for merging my topic. (sorry about that)

Best wishes to everyone on their journeys.

[Iyawo Ijebu 157]

To OP, I am saddened to read your post. So sorry that this is happening to you Guys.

I wish you the best of luck on your future journeys.

[aphrodite7 1]

To OP, I am saddened to read your post. So sorry that this is happening to you Guys.

I wish you the best of luck on your future journeys.

Thank you Sarafa. Best of luck to you too!