Abandoning Green Card

[DesertJason 1]

How does one abandon their conditional green card while they are still in the US? The instructions I read, involved doing so after you left. I'd really like to do that before leaving the US.

[Cheezees 1,514]

I think you head to your nearest USCIS office and surrender your card. I'm not sure what happens afterward in terms of your eligibility to stay in the US (Maybe they would require you to leave within a certain time period).

Are you sure this is what you want to do?

[DesertJason 1]

I know it's an odd thing to ask, but the answer is yes. However, I am trying to find more about the details.

[Cheezees 1,514]

It's not that odd actually. Some people just leave the country and never file the ROC which seems to effectively lead to the abandonment of residency since the conditions were not met/proven.

[lost_at_sea 995]

Why do you want to surrender it before you leave? I wonder if there's no data on it because it's not possible to do whilst being in the USA under that status or something.

[lost_at_sea 995]

Looking at the abandonment form instructions (the one you use to give up your GC) it says it's used "outside of the United States or at a Port of Entry", which leads me to believe it's not possible to do inside the USA.

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-407instr.pdf

The form itself only offers options for POE or Outside of USA (Q12a, b or c).

Edited August 25, 2016 by lost_at_sea

[Cheezees 1,514]

Looking at the abandonment form instructions (the one you use to give up your GC) it says it's used "outside of the United States or at a Port of Entry", which leads me to believe it's not possible to do inside the USA.

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-407instr.pdf

The form itself only offers options for POE or Outside of USA (Q12a, b or c).

Yes, it looks like you need to be out ofthe country or at, say, an airport (possibly flying out right after).

[lost_at_sea 995]

Yes, it looks like you need to be out ofthe country or at, say, an airport (possibly flying out right after).

I don't think you can do it on the way out of the US airport - you don't get to speak to the delightful border agents on the departure side, after all.

The easiest, and I think only, way the OP can do it now is just to surrender it at the local embassy once he's packed up and moved. Looks like it can just be done by mail.

[lost_at_sea 995]

Just checked the OPs visajourney - he's not the one with the green card - his wife is. My bad. She can give up her green card if she wants to when and if she has left the USA.

Edited August 25, 2016 by lost_at_sea

[Cheezees 1,514]

I don't think you can do it on the way out of the US airport - you don't get to speak to the delightful border agents on the departure side, after all. True! They don't care if we're on our way out anyway!

The easiest, and I think only, way the OP can do it now is just to surrender it at the local embassy once he's packed up and moved. Looks like it can just be done by mail.

Edited August 25, 2016 by Cheezees

[DesertJason 1]

Yeah, thanks for the help. We'll have it mailed, after outside the country.

[KierenHby 897]

Fill out Form I-407 ..Record of Abandonment of LPR Status.

https://www.uscis.gov/i-407

**In a location with a USCIS international field office: Submit Form I-407 in person or by mail to that office. Find locations at www.uscis.gov/international.

In other locations: Mail Form I-407 to the nearest USCIS international field office or submit it in person at a U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate. You may also submit Form I-407 to a Customs and Border Protection officer at a U.S. port of entry.

Additional Information for Completing Your Form:

If you submit Form I-407 on paper: Be sure to sign the form at Part 1, Item Number 13.a., Signature of Alien. The fillable version of Form I-407 now includes “Don’t forget to sign!” messages and an arrow pointing to the signature box as reminders for when you print the completed form for mailing. USCIS rejects any unsigned Form I-407. Having to return it to you for a signature will delay processing of your request.