second time Green Card

[ys123 4]

Hi All,

I have lived in the US as a permanent resident, and moved to Australia with my US/Australian citizen husband 6 years ago. I'm Japanese and live here as a permanent resident. We thought we won't go back to the US to live for many years, so we didn't maintain my green card (thus I lost my status). But now we are planning on moving back to the US, so we started the procedure of applying a new green card again. I was wondering if it affects the procedure because I didn't do anything about my green card(valid until 2015) when we moved out. Was I supposed to hand in my green card to the immigration office? Is it OK to apply all over again?

Also lots of people said Sydney consulate is very slow at this moment. I just sent I-130 to Chicago last week. How is the processing time for a spouse visa these days? Anyone in the same situation?

Any information would be great, thanks!!

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

It would have been "tidier" if you handed back the old greencard officially but it;s no big deal and won't affect the new petition/ via application.

[ys123 4]

Thank you! It's good to know.

[YpsiFella 20]

Hi All,

I have lived in the US as a permanent resident, and moved to Australia with my US/Australian citizen husband 6 years ago. I'm Japanese and live here as a permanent resident. We thought we won't go back to the US to live for many years, so we didn't maintain my green card (thus I lost my status). But now we are planning on moving back to the US, so we started the procedure of applying a new green card again. I was wondering if it affects the procedure because I didn't do anything about my green card(valid until 2015) when we moved out. Was I supposed to hand in my green card to the immigration office? Is it OK to apply all over again?

Also lots of people said Sydney consulate is very slow at this moment. I just sent I-130 to Chicago last week. How is the processing time for a spouse visa these days? Anyone in the same situation?

Any information would be great, thanks!!

I was in a similar situation. What happened was that just before re-applying my wife (USC) and I were going to the US to pick someone up at the Seattle airport (we live close to the border). They tweaked that I had been a permanent resident and ultimately we ended up in secondary where I had to sign an I-407 to formally abandon my previous status. It was about an hour delay but then we went on to the US. I was actually happy it happened because it did clean up the loose ends. You might want to consider it. I re-applied (strangely enough) a month later and my NOA2 came in 30 days. So in the end it was not held against me so don't worry too much about it. If you still have that green card though they will be asking for it.

[ys123 4]

Thank you for sharing your experience. I feel much better now.

We put a cover letter and a copy of my old green card with I-130 application, so I hope they won't ask more.

[Joanne and Roy 0]

I've had a green card in the past, which expired when I moved back to Australia. I didn't think I'd ever want to live there again. However, I just had my K1 visa approved with no problem. So I don't think you need to worry.

[G0ds1ay3r 30]

It is no problem and you will breeze through the process.

You can use your old green card if you still have it when you re-enter the USA at the POE but if the A# on your original card is different to the A# in the sealed envelope then you will be sent to secondary processing and will be there for about 2 hours while the sort it out.

I gave my original card which expires 2017 to the officer at POE but because the A# was different in the sealed envelope (my original A# was the same in every other piece of paperwork in my case) He was very confused as to why the numbers were different and took 2 hours to sort out...... what an ordeal.

[ys123 4]

It is no problem and you will breeze through the process.

You can use your old green card if you still have it when you re-enter the USA at the POE but if the A# on your original card is different to the A# in the sealed envelope then you will be sent to secondary processing and will be there for about 2 hours while the sort it out.

I gave my original card which expires 2017 to the officer at POE but because the A# was different in the sealed envelope (my original A# was the same in every other piece of paperwork in my case) He was very confused as to why the numbers were different and took 2 hours to sort out...... what an ordeal.

Hi

Thanks for your response. What does it mean the sealed envelope? Is it the one which you receive from the immigration before the green card arrives, at the final stage?

I have submitted I-130 this month and received I-797C from USCIS, but there was no A# on that paper. It was just blank. I guess I will have a different number later. I think I would just bring my old card to Sydney Consulate when my interview, and ask them what to do with it, unless there is a notice before that.

[ys123 4]

I've had a green card in the past, which expired when I moved back to Australia. I didn't think I'd ever want to live there again. However, I just had my K1 visa approved with no problem. So I don't think you need to worry.

Thank you Joanne and Roy.

[G0ds1ay3r 30]

Hi

Thanks for your response. What does it mean the sealed envelope? Is it the one which you receive from the immigration before the green card arrives, at the final stage?

I have submitted I-130 this month and received I-797C from USCIS, but there was no A# on that paper. It was just blank. I guess I will have a different number later. I think I would just bring my old card to Sydney Consulate when my interview, and ask them what to do with it, unless there is a notice before that.

The sealed envelope is the thing you get when you get your visa in the mail, you bring this to the POE in America but do not open it.

I took my card with me to my interview and they photocopied it and they told me that I could use this instead of getting issued a new one but I guess somebody screwed up because I was issued another number different to my original card.