Undecided

[dxtrtor 0]

Hi forum

 

I have been actively reading this forum for almost 2 years but never registered before. Today I decided to register because I want to know what you think and what would you do in my situation...

 

Almost 2 years ago my company moved me from Mexico to US under L1A visa, getting a green card was never in the negotiation however after few months of living here I thought I should had asked for it, so I talked to my manager and gave him a bunch of reasons on why I would like to get the US permanent residency for me and my family. He gladly helped me to start the process and less than 2 years after I moved I got the "long yearned" card. Honestly it was very fast and easy, it took about 9 months from the process started to when I got the card in my hand, but well, that is not the point.

I moved here looking for better opportunities and growth within the same company who brought me to the US, however after 2 years I can say it has not been worth it proffesionally speaking, and personally has been a pain since has been hard to live far from your country, relatives, friends and traditions. Now there is what I think is a good opportunity to do something different in my same area and I believe grow (within the same company) but in Mexico. My concern is my green card, I know I need to be 5 more years and then apply for citizenship and the I would be able to move where ever I want (country).

 

On one stand, I would like to move to my country but of course I would like to keep the green card, I know if I move I am putitng on risk my status however I know of several people who is a green card holder and they live in Mexico; yes I know they are in risk as well, so what they do is try to travel to US 1 or 2 times a year and with good luck the US customs officer won't ask too much other than how long they were outside US (which easily you can say 5, 6, 7 days for vacation) and that is it. I would be willing to take the risk and to do this 1 or 2 times a year but I dont know if in order to keep the green card I also need a US address, still pay taxes, etc etc etc. or the US customs officers do not have access to this information?

 

Also, the other option is do not take the opportunity this time, wait 5 or 6 years until apply and become citizens and then move if we still want.

 

I really dont know what to do, I wish to have an answer. I know many, several people would do anything to have a green card because they have been illegal immigrants and they have had a very hard time in the US as undocumented immigrants and I know that, I really appreciate the green card, but I am also looking proffesional growth and where I am right now is not going to give me that.

 

My supervisor somehow know about my intentions, he told me he thinks here I can have more opportunities and visibility than if I move back to Mexico, and I told him the same thing I said above, I came here actually looking to become a supervisor (his position; he has been 1 year in the company only and was hired at my same level and he got promoted 3 months later to supervisor. I have been in the company almost 7 years) and after 2 years I dont feel it has been worth it, so I am stuck on either say yes I move or no I stay.

 

what do you think? what would you do? would you move back and leave the US? would you risk your card for proffesioanl growth?

 

Thanks and have a great weekend.

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

You answered your own question by having your own doubts.

 

Waiting to become a USC is probably best and smartest decision.

 

As you said, having a GC means you are a resident, a permanent resident of the US. While some people do tend to use it as a "live in home country but can go to the US whenever" card is not the smartest as they are subject to possibly losing their residency if it is found out. 

 

I myself would wait as you said, then you can move anywhere you want without worry.

[millefleur 5,052]

12 minutes ago, dxtrtor said:

On one stand, I would like to move to my country but of course I would like to keep the green card, I know if I move I am putitng on risk my status however I know of several people who is a green card holder and they live in Mexico; yes I know they are in risk as well, so what they do is try to travel to US 1 or 2 times a year and with good luck the US customs officer won't ask too much other than how long they were outside US (which easily you can say 5, 6, 7 days for vacation) and that is it. I would be willing to take the risk and to do this 1 or 2 times a year but I dont know if in order to keep the green card I also need a US address, still pay taxes, etc etc etc. or the US customs officers do not have access to this information?

I'm a little confused as to how you could move to your country and still keep your GC if you have a work-visa based GC. Wouldn't you just lose your GC status immediately because you wouldn't be working at the US branch anymore? GC's have categories, they aren't just a carte blanche for living in the US and doing whatever you want (unless you win the GC lottery or some other type of category that allows you to stay). If that were the case, you could quit that job and go find another job in the US and keep your GC, but correct me if I'm wrong, isn't your GC tied to that particular job?

[DrEllaNJ 288]

@millefleur you're confusing green card (work wherever) with visa (tied to job).

 

Would your plan be to move back to Mexico and apply for citizenship after 5 years? I'd read the form for Naturalization https://www.uscis.gov/n-400 -you'll discover that's impossible.

 

Lying to immigration services is never a good idea, and to advise to do so would be against VJ's terms of service.

 

Now that you have a Green Card, is it an option to look for work at a different company? You are no longer tied to the company that sponsored you - GC sponsoring is a common reason to not get promoted. Employers figure they have you on a leash anyway since you'll lose status/green card app if you leave the company. Now that you have it, you have a lot more possibilities.

 

Btw, keep in mind that if you become a USC and move back to Mexico, you still have to pay taxes to the US. 

Edited June 16, 2017 by DrEllaNJ

[dxtrtor 0]

48 minutes ago, millefleur said:

I'm a little confused as to how you could move to your country and still keep your GC if you have a work-visa based GC. Wouldn't you just lose your GC status immediately because you wouldn't be working at the US branch anymore? GC's have categories, they aren't just a carte blanche for living in the US and doing whatever you want (unless you win the GC lottery or some other type of category that allows you to stay). If that were the case, you could quit that job and go find another job in the US and keep your GC, but correct me if I'm wrong, isn't your GC tied to that particular job?

My GC is not tied to a particular job/company, so if I want I can move now to any other employeer within the US with this GC.

[millefleur 5,052]

Just now, dxtrtor said:

My GC is not tied to a particular job/company, so if I want I can move now to any other employeer within the US with this GC.

I understand now. In that case, I agree with @DrEllaNJ, why not try to find another job in the same field but at a different company? It seems like you're qualified and a good worker. Have you already looked and had no luck?

[dxtrtor 0]

29 minutes ago, DrEllaNJ said:

@millefleur you're confusing green card (work wherever) with visa (tied to job).

 

Would your plan be to move back to Mexico and apply for citizenship after 5 years? I'd read the form for Naturalization https://www.uscis.gov/n-400 -you'll discover that's impossible.

 

Lying to immigration services is never a good idea, and to advise to do so would be against VJ's terms of service.

 

Now that you have a Green Card, is it an option to look for work at a different company? You are no longer tied to the company that sponsored you - GC sponsoring is a common reason to not get promoted. Employers figure they have you on a leash anyway since you'll lose status/green card app if you leave the company. Now that you have it, you have a lot more possibilities.

 

Btw, keep in mind that if you become a USC and move back to Mexico, you still have to pay taxes to the US. 

DrEllaNJ

 

I am not planning to move back to Mexico and apply for citizenship after 5 years, first of all I am looking to keep my GC status while living in Mexico in case I decide to move (which I know is too risky) and maybe if after 5 or 6 years I still have it then try to apply for citizenship which as you said that is to lie to the immigration services and is not a good idea.

 

Yes, I have started to search for a new job/company now that I am not tied to the company who sposored my GC anymore.

 

Have a good day.

59 minutes ago, Ben&Zian said:

You answered your own question by having your own doubts.

 

Waiting to become a USC is probably best and smartest decision.

 

As you said, having a GC means you are a resident, a permanent resident of the US. While some people do tend to use it as a "live in home country but can go to the US whenever" card is not the smartest as they are subject to possibly losing their residency if it is found out. 

 

I myself would wait as you said, then you can move anywhere you want without worry.

Ben&Zian

 

thanks for your opinion.

[dxtrtor 0]

5 minutes ago, millefleur said:

I understand now. In that case, I agree with @DrEllaNJ, why not try to find another job in the same field but at a different company? It seems like you're qualified and a good worker. Have you already looked and had no luck?

I have just started to look, not very actively but I have been searching, not with a big rush but yes, I am starting to look.