LPR with valid GC returning to the US after styaying abroad three years

[Paskaval 2]

Hello everyone,

I'm French, married to a US citizen, got a K1 visa in 2018, got married quicly and got a conditional 2 year GC a few months later, applied for removal condition in 2021 and got my 10 year GC in may 2024 without interview, but nobody knows (I was in France then).

I'm still married but the problem is that we finally couldn't maintain our US residence and moved to France in 2021.

We have to go to the US next week for family reasons but just for a short visit (20 days), absolutely not to move back to the US, we have our return ticket.

I already traveled back and forth from US to France with my first GC, at the arrival the only simple question they asked was "how long have you been outside the US ?", it was 2 weeks, 4 months... then they just stamped my passport and "welcome back" without checking anything more.

When I will be at the CPB desk shall I try to lie if they ask the same question (I`m very very reluctant) ?

Is it easy for them to check my past trips (I don't know what they have on their screen).

Otherwise I`m ready to volonteerly file the i-407 form, no problem, but will they let me in for a limited time signing the i-193 (paying fee) or paroled ?

I worry they can send me back immediately.

Any experience of that ?

 

 

 

[milimelo 4,508]

Do NOT lie ever.

[Crazy Cat 41,985]

No one here will condone lying to CBP...ever.  

[Boiler 45,743]

They usually ask you questions they know the answers to,

 

Seems a high risk strategy, I would have gone with filing the I 407 and ESTA.

[Paskaval 2]

I agree, I won't lie. So the last question : filing the i-407 at a port of entry is a perfectly normal and legal way. Being still recorded as a LPR, I can't apply for an ESTA or a visa untill the abandonment of status is recorded (take months and the trip was not planed), seems logical, in theory a double status (resident/visitor) is incoherent, even if that happens sometimes. Then, filing a i-193 or being paroled  (for a short visit) would be accepted ?

[Boiler 45,743]

Not sure I would say would but that seems common.

 

Not cheap.

[Skyman 327]

https://www.uscis.gov/archive/uscis-will-no-longer-accept-i-407-at-international-field-offices

 

See if you can file the i-407 at the embassy and once that us done, you should have no problem getting a B-2 tourist visa.

Edited July 21 by Skyman