Green Card Abandonment.

[AussieInAmerica 0]

Hi everyone. I hope this is the correct place to post this question.

For various reasons (better employment opportunities, family, better standard of living, etc), I will be leaving the USA permanently in early August this year. I hold a 10 year Green Card that I received earlier this year. My husband is the USC, and unfortunately he will have to stay behind until his visa stuff is sorted out, among other things. This arrangement is not desirable, but it is the only way for us to leave America sooner rather than much, much later.

Anyway, what are the repercussions of green card abandonment? Is there a "legal" way of surrendering my GC back to USCIS? Forms, interviews, etc? Will I ever be allowed to travel back to America (not to live, just visit)? I really want to do this the proper way. I have no desire to become an American citizen when the time comes. America just isn't working out for us.

Any advice or experiences would be very welcoming. Thank you.

[Sweetcheeksss 91]

The I-407 is the "official" form you would fill out to abandon your lawful permanent resident status. I think you can even turn in the form along with the card at the airport.

I don't know the answers to your other questions tho, sorry.

Good luck with everything!

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Permanently?

There's no such thing; you can't even step into the same river twice!

Why not waiting a few months longer with your husband and getting yourself a US passport?

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Permanently?

There's no such thing; you can't even step into the same river twice!

Why not waiting a few months longer with your husband and getting yourself a US passport?

Becoming a US citizen imposes responsibilities as well as benefits. If they don't plan on returning to the US to live then it would be more of a bother than a benefit to have the IRS following you around the world.

AussieInAmerica, when you get back to Australia you can go to any US consulate, sign an I-407, and hand in your green card. You will no longer be a permanent resident. At many consulates you can do this without an appointment. Thereafter, you should be able to return to the US as a non-immigrant visitor.

[AussieInAmerica 0]

Becoming a US citizen imposes responsibilities as well as benefits. If they don't plan on returning to the US to live then it would be more of a bother than a benefit to have the IRS following you around the world.

AussieInAmerica, when you get back to Australia you can go to any US consulate, sign an I-407, and hand in your green card. You will no longer be a permanent resident. At many consulates you can do this without an appointment. Thereafter, you should be able to return to the US as a non-immigrant visitor.

Thank you! That sounds very simple and straight-forward. I was a little worried that it was going to be a big process/hassle to give up permanent residency. You are quite correct about the benefits/non-benefits in becoming a USC... The IRS following both me AND my husband once he becomes an Australian permanent resident is not worth the bother. I can't apply for citizenship for at least another two years, anyway.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Thank you! That sounds very simple and straight-forward. I was a little worried that it was going to be a big process/hassle to give up permanent residency. You are quite correct about the benefits/non-benefits in becoming a USC... The IRS following both me AND my husband once he becomes an Australian permanent resident is not worth the bother. I can't apply for citizenship for at least another two years, anyway.

I think Bob was presuming you had already had a conditional green card for two years before you got your 10 year green card. You're eligible for US citizenship if you're married to a US citizen, and you've been an LPR for a total of 3 years. Some people go straight to the 10 year green card if they were married to a US citizen for two years when they get their first green card. Sounds like you fit into the latter group.

The IRS is going to follow your husband even after he becomes a permanent resident in Australia. They'll follow him as long as he's a US citizen. This doesn't necessarily mean he'll need to pay taxes in the US, since taxes which are required to be paid to a foreign government are generally deducted from any US tax liability. However, he'll probably still be responsible for filing tax returns.