Presenting in timeline format rather than essay for simplicity.
Wife - Japanese citizen
Me - US citizen
2017 - Married
January 2018 - Started I-130 process
November 2018 - Approved for CR1
February 2019 - Moved to US
September 2019 - Stuff happened with wife's family back in Japan, so she flew back. Found out it will be for indefinite period of time.
February 2020 - I moved to Japan since we have no idea how long this will be
February 2021 - CR1 visa expired, but she had already left the US and had not returned, so she has never overstayed.
Late 2022 (I think?) - We filed I-407 to officially abandon LPR status. Family stuff is resolved, but we're settled back in Japan.
Now - Company is planning to relocate me to Hawaii in March 2024
So the short relocation timeline possibly qualifies us for DCF, but of course that's not a guarantee; we'll have to see how that plays out. My main concern is whether or not my wife previously having LPR but then only being in the country for 8 months and then surrendering LPR a couple of years later is likely to affect her new application. We have clear documentation in her passport of leaving the US and not returning, and translated record of her re-registering as a resident of Japan, both occurring before her CR1 expired.
Anyone have experience with this? With trying to get the exact same status again, just a few years later?