My green card was taken in 2012 by a racist officer

[Noor Kayyali 0]

Hello everyone, im from the middle east, Jordan

and my family applied for a green card long time ago through my uncles who lived in the states, in Florida and Ohio

we finally received green cards in 2004, I was 14 at the time, we were told to keep visiting annually in order to keep the green card running until we decide to reside, and I had school in my hometown

therefore we kept our green card valid for 8 years until I graduated from school, in 2012 I visited Florida to search for a college, they have stopped me and sent me to the immigration office, saying that Ive been visiting and need to reside, and so my turn was up at the window and this specific officer was telling me I could freeze my Green card until I finally decide to reside in the states then reclaim it easily from the american embassy in my home town Jordan, I explained to him that a few years back we wanted a year off and not visit the states and had to make a White passport, which is permission to not take away the green card for being away from the states for more than 12 months, He said no you could freeze it for as many years as you need to be out of the states and simply reclaim it with no problems, Unfortunately he managed to talk me into it and I have given up my green card, 2 Years later I went to the American Embassy in Jordan to "Reclaim my Green Card", I was confident and all, there they told me I was fooled because there is no such thing, and no form exists to reclaim a taken green card and that my only option was hiring a lawyer against that man who I can never reach anyways. and so I am stuck, Married now and my hopes of living in the states are gone, we have spent so much money getting and trying to keep the green card, and now i have no idea how to bring my case to justice and reclaim my green card that was taken from me, I intended to keep it no matter the cost but that individual succeeded in taking my dreams away from me, now I want to reside in the states, reunite with my family there. If anyone could help me or direct me to the right path It will be highly appreciated.

Thank you

[arken 4,197]

While the officer was wrong in telling you such thing, he had the authority to take the Green Card from you. So even if this case goes to the court, winning is unlikely.

A GC is for residing in the US not for visiting. You had been using your GC for 8 years for visiting US. You said you were told to do that, so whoever (possibly your parents or relatives) told you to do so gave you a wrong advice. The officer at port of entry had every right to take your GC but he used the wrong method in taking that card. But i believe he simply told you and didn't give you in writing about freezing and reclaiming thing and now you can't prove that he suggested those things.

May be it's the time to hire a good immigration lawyer but i think reclaiming might be difficult since it's proven that you never intended to reside in the US and you were using it for visiting purpose only for 8 years. Now the GC is gone and you are saying they took away your dreams of residing in the US, immigration judge or other people will have difficult time believing that.

Good luck and its now time to consult with an immigration lawyer.

Edited July 29, 2016 by arken

[Boiler 43,438]

If you have a GC you have to live in the US, visiting occasionally does not work.

Sounds like you surrendered your GC so that is now dead.

Your family can sponsor you for a new visa.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Have your parents or sibling stayed in the US ? Are they residents or citizens

[Unlockable 7,306]

Whoever advised you to use the green card for visiting and not residing here is the one you should blame. The officer did his job.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Hi,

Whoever told you that you can visit the US and keep the green card was wrong.

You abused the green card for 8 years with visits instead of living here.

You voluntarily surrendered the green card.

Your family will have to petition for you and you will have to wait 7-13 years.

This story should serve as a warning to others who think living abroad and visiting the US is okay to keep their green cards.

Sorry.

P.S. How was the officer racist?

Edited July 29, 2016 by aaron2020

[Pitaya 2,576]

Welcome to the forum.

[aaron2020 11,651]

While the officer was wrong in telling you such thing, he had the authority to take the Green Card from you. So even if this case goes to the court, winning is unlikely.

A GC is for residing in the US not for visiting. You had been using your GC for 8 years for visiting US. You said you were told to do that, so whoever (possibly your parents or relatives) told you to do so gave you a wrong advice. The officer at port of entry had every right to take your GC but he used the wrong method in taking that card. But i believe he simply told you and didn't give you in writing about freezing and reclaiming thing and now you can't prove that he suggested those things.

May be it's the time to hire a good immigration lawyer but i think reclaiming might be difficult since it's proven that you never intended to reside in the US and you were using it for visiting purpose only for 8 years. Now the GC is gone and you are saying they took away your dreams of residing in the US, immigration judge or other people will have difficult time believing that.

Good luck and its now time to consult with an immigration lawyer.

CBP does not have the authority to take his green card. They can only refer him to immigration court. Only a judge in immigration can terminate his LPR status.

OP voluntarily surrendered his green card. That's the only way it could have gone down at the POE.

[Anitafeliz 1,133]

Why Is the officer racist??? he did his job.

He is RIGHT advising you its not a visa to visit you mis used the GC.

[Avery Cates 1,141]

Hello everyone, im from the middle east, Jordan

and my family applied for a green card long time ago through my uncles who lived in the states, in Florida and Ohio

we finally received green cards in 2004, I was 14 at the time, we were told to keep visiting annually in order to keep the green card running until we decide to reside, and I had school in my hometown

therefore we kept our green card valid for 8 years until I graduated from school, in 2012 I visited Florida to search for a college, they have stopped me and sent me to the immigration office, saying that Ive been visiting and need to reside, and so my turn was up at the window and this specific officer was telling me I could freeze my Green card until I finally decide to reside in the states then reclaim it easily from the american embassy in my home town Jordan, I explained to him that a few years back we wanted a year off and not visit the states and had to make a White passport, which is permission to not take away the green card for being away from the states for more than 12 months, He said no you could freeze it for as many years as you need to be out of the states and simply reclaim it with no problems, Unfortunately he managed to talk me into it and I have given up my green card, 2 Years later I went to the American Embassy in Jordan to "Reclaim my Green Card", I was confident and all, there they told me I was fooled because there is no such thing, and no form exists to reclaim a taken green card and that my only option was hiring a lawyer against that man who I can never reach anyways. and so I am stuck, Married now and my hopes of living in the states are gone, we have spent so much money getting and trying to keep the green card, and now i have no idea how to bring my case to justice and reclaim my green card that was taken from me, I intended to keep it no matter the cost but that individual succeeded in taking my dreams away from me, now I want to reside in the states, reunite with my family there. If anyone could help me or direct me to the right path It will be highly appreciated.

Thank you

He took it because you were mis-using it, not because he was racist. I know the fashion nowadays is to call everything racist, but a green card isn't for visiting the US once a year until living here is convenient for you.

[arken 4,197]

CBP does not have the authority to take his green card. They can only refer him to immigration court. Only a judge in immigration can terminate his LPR status.

OP voluntarily surrendered his green card. That's the only way it could have gone down at the POE.

When a person does something because he was duped or manipulated to do such thing, his action is no longer a voluntary action. That's what happened to OP at POE.

CBP officers have right to take the green card but they don't have the right to revoke the permanent residency which only an immigration judge can do.

[Anitafeliz 1,133]

The way OP is translating this to be a racist act (which clearly is not) how do we know CPB didnt use the legal channels and OP is leaving it out??

There more to this story if CPB didn't have the power to revocate than it wouldnt happen.

I belive he was denied entry and the legal course was taken.

Edited July 30, 2016 by Anitafeliz

[aaron2020 11,651]

When a person does something because he was duped or manipulated to do such thing, his action is no longer a voluntary action. That's what happened to OP at POE.

CBP officers have right to take the green card but they don't have the right to revoke the permanent residency which only an immigration judge can do.

You can believe the OP that he was duped or manipulated. Just like you can believe the officer was racist. OP may believe his version of events.

Was CBP really racist?

Did OP just not understand things and labeled it as being duped or manipulated?

He seem to think using his green card for 8 years to visit the US was okay.

There may be a perception problem.

[Boiler 43,438]

OP has not clarified as to how the office was racist, just that he was.

[EM_Vandaveer 2,370]

When a person does something because he was duped or manipulated to do such thing, his action is no longer a voluntary action. That's what happened to OP at POE.

CBP officers have right to take the green card but they don't have the right to revoke the permanent residency which only an immigration judge can do.

CBP officers cannot take a GC. They can refer the LPR to an immigration court. An IJ can "take the GC".

OP officially and in writing abandoned his LPR status, possibly because of the officer's mistaken/misleading advice.

Edited August 7, 2016 by EM_Vandaveer