Should I renew my Green Card?

[drizio 0]

Hi Members,

I'm happily married to my US citizen husband and due to renew my Green Card (ROC) in 5 months. I'm originally from Europe.

After 2 years in the USA I've realised that I had better employment opportunities back in Europe. My husband agreed. My husband is to follow in a few months. I have also expressed

that I'm more than happy to visit the USA as a tourist, and don't see myself living there permanently again. I was going to voluntarily give up my Green Card using a form. Shortly after we discussed this option of voluntarily giving up my green card, our jointly filed tax return showed we owed under $15k in taxes. We are in touch with the IRS and working on this matter. My most important aspect of all of this is that I'm compliant with the IRS whether I'm living in the USA or Europe. I do not want to get into any trouble. My question is if anyone had any similar experience like this? What did you do? I did not work a single day since arriving in the USA and that was part of the reason I decided to return to Europe. My husband was the only one working. Am I able to give up my green card and still work on this IRS tax issue or do I just go ahead with the ROC process? I'd appreciate any suggestions.

 

Thank you all.

[Starkilla09 366]

Permanent residency is given to an immigrant for living and working in the U.S. permanently, so in your case since you’ve decided to take residence abroad you have to relinquish it. A neat way to do so is to visit your local U.S. Embassy back home and fill out a form I-407 to surrender your green card and formally do so. As for that tax issue, yes you can still give up the green card and work it out. What you guys need to do is make payment arrangements with the IRS and chose how much you guys want to pay every month. You guys will just need to have a U.S. bank account the IRS can do direct withdrawals monthly. This is possible provided a payment arrangement had not been made previously within the last 5 years. It’s imperative you guys pay as much as you can to sort it out because there’s interest as well involved. (Think of it as having a loan from the government). With that being said good luck in your endeavors!

[drizio 0]

1 hour ago, Starkilla09 said:

Permanent residency is given to an immigrant for living and working in the U.S. permanently, so in your case since you’ve decided to take residence abroad you have to relinquish it. A neat way to do so is to visit your local U.S. Embassy back home and fill out a form I-407 to surrender your green card and formally do so. As for that tax issue, yes you can still give up the green card and work it out. What you guys need to do is make payment arrangements with the IRS and chose how much you guys want to pay every month. You guys will just need to have a U.S. bank account the IRS can do direct withdrawals monthly. This is possible provided a payment arrangement had not been made previously within the last 5 years. It’s imperative you guys pay as much as you can to sort it out because there’s interest as well involved. (Think of it as having a loan from the government). With that being said good luck in your endeavors!

2

Thanks for the reply. I've read somehwere that it is necessary to file form 8854 with the IRS. Is this correct?

[Starkilla09 366]

1 hour ago, drizio said:

Thanks for the reply. I've read somehwere that it is necessary to file form 8854 with the IRS. Is this correct?

No this isn’t applicable to you. It’s for long term lawful permanent residents of the U.S. who are expatriating.