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SilverShroud

Things didn't work out in the USA, should I still pursue citizenship?

By SilverShroud in Emigrating Outside the US

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SilverShroud Newbie

SilverShroud   0

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I moved to the USA on a K1 6 years ago and am now a permanent resident. Sadly my marriage ended this year and I am pretty sure I'd be better off moving back to my home country as that's where all my family and friends are.

 

The one thing that bothers me however is that in moving back home I will have to abandon my green card and residency and something sits wrong with me about that... I have no real ties to the USA other than my now ex wife, no kids, so it's not that big of a deal if I never come back right? But a part of me is considering applying for citizenship just for its value before eventually moving home as a dual citizen. Am I crazy? Should I just cut my losses and abandon my resident status or should I secure my citizenship just in case I ever want to move back to the USA? I am aware it can take up to a year to process. Perhaps a part of me is having a hard time letting go of the USA. Any advice or thoughts would be much appreciated.

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geowrian Grand Master

geowrian   22,335

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted

If you want US citizenship, you are fine to apply for it. There's nothing wrong with getting citizenship just so you have access to return to the US in the future. You can also vote, which is a good plus, as well as other benefits.

 

Just be aware of the responsibilities of being a USC, including the requirement to file taxes based on worldwide income. Usually one can exclude most to all foreign income from being taxes if living abroad, but the requirement to file persists.

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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Unlockable Mentor

Unlockable   7,306

Posted
Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Dominican Republic
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My vote is to apply for citizenship. It expands your opportunities if, in the future, you decide to one day come back.

“When starting an immigration journey, the best advice is to understand that sacrifices have to be made... whether it is time, money, or separation; or a combination of all.” - Unlockable

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Boiler Grand Master

Boiler   43,395

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
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Had back see how things go, you can fudge the I 407. USC and you are stuck with it, LPR you can offload easily.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

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Going through Mentor

Going through   5,668

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
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You've made it this far...apply for citizenship so you have your options open.

Applied for Naturalization based on 5-year Residency - 96 Days To Complete Citizenship!

July 14, 2017 (Day 00) -  Submitted N400 Application, filed online

July 21, 2017 (Day 07) -  NOA Receipt received in the mail

July 22, 2017 (Day 08) - Biometrics appointment scheduled online, letter mailed out

July 25, 2017 (Day 11) - Biometrics PDF posted online

July 28, 2017 (Day 14) - Biometrics letter received in the mail, appointment for 08/08/17

Aug 08, 2017 (Day 24) - Biometrics (fingerprinting) completed

Aug 14, 2017 (Day 30) - Online EGOV status shows "Interview Scheduled, will mail appointment letter"

Aug 16, 2017 (Day 32) - Online MYUSCIS status shows "Interview Scheduled, read the letter we mailed you..."

Aug 17, 2017 (Day 33) - Interview Appointment Letter PDF posted online---GOT AN INTERVIEW DATE!!!

Aug 21, 2017 (Day 37) - Interview Appointment Letter received in the mail, appointment for 09/27/17

Sep. 27, 2017 (Day 74) - Naturalization Interview--- read my experience here

Sep. 27, 2017 (Day 74) - Online MYUSCIS status shows "Oath Ceremony Notice mailed"

Sep. 28, 2017 (Day 75) - Oath Ceremony Letter PDF posted online--Ceremony for 10/19/17

Oct. 02, 2017 (Day 79) -  Oath Ceremony Letter received in the mail

Oct. 19, 2017 (Day 96) -  Oath Ceremony-- read my experience here

 

 

 

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Russ&Caro Proficient

Russ&Caro   1,548

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Colombia
 Timeline
Posted

Could a re-entry permit work allow OP an extra year to consider if he wanted to abandon his LPR? Obviously any signed statement indicating his intention of returning, if the re-entry application requires it, might negate this as an option since he would not want to make a material misrepresentation on the application.

Marriage: 2014-02-23 - Colombia    ROC interview/completed: 2018-08-16 - Albuquerque
CR1 started : 2014-06-06           N400 started: 2018-04-24
CR1 completed/POE : 2015-07-13     N400 interview: 2018-08-16 - Albuquerque
ROC started : 2017-04-14 – CSC     Oath ceremony: 2018-09-24 – Santa Fe

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Eugenia2017 Explorer

Eugenia2017   28

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Timeline
Posted
On 4/21/2019 at 4:41 PM, SilverShroud said:

I moved to the USA on a K1 6 years ago and am now a permanent resident. Sadly my marriage ended this year and I am pretty sure I'd be better off moving back to my home country as that's where all my family and friends are.

 

The one thing that bothers me however is that in moving back home I will have to abandon my green card and residency and something sits wrong with me about that... I have no real ties to the USA other than my now ex wife, no kids, so it's not that big of a deal if I never come back right? But a part of me is considering applying for citizenship just for its value before eventually moving home as a dual citizen. Am I crazy? Should I just cut my losses and abandon my resident status or should I secure my citizenship just in case I ever want to move back to the USA? I am aware it can take up to a year to process. Perhaps a part of me is having a hard time letting go of the USA. Any advice or thoughts would be much appreciated.

Life changes and maybe you soon want to return to the United States. Do not lose the opportunity to become Usa citizen, you will always have the doors open of this country of opportunities, that's why more people wants to be here  every day.

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laylalex Veteran

laylalex   7,245

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Scotland
 Timeline
Posted

When my ex-husband and I decided to get divorced, he hadn't applied for his citizenship yet. He'd been living here for about 5 years by that point. Being able to run his business from here in the US has opened up many opportunities for him, so it was kind of a no-brainer even though he and I were no longer going to be together. I didn't really have any problem with it since it meant I'd be off the hook for the I-864! :star:

 

If you're eligible to file, DO IT!

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Nitas_man Experienced

Nitas_man   3,100

Posted
Filed: Other Country: Saudi Arabia
 Timeline
Posted
On 4/22/2019 at 10:23 AM, Russ&Caro said:

Could a re-entry permit work allow OP an extra year to consider if he wanted to abandon his LPR? Obviously any signed statement indicating his intention of returning, if the re-entry application requires it, might negate this as an option since he would not want to make a material misrepresentation on the application.

Two years actually

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Nitas_man Experienced

Nitas_man   3,100

Posted
Filed: Other Country: Saudi Arabia
 Timeline
Posted
On 4/21/2019 at 4:41 PM, SilverShroud said:

I moved to the USA on a K1 6 years ago and am now a permanent resident. Sadly my marriage ended this year and I am pretty sure I'd be better off moving back to my home country as that's where all my family and friends are.

 

The one thing that bothers me however is that in moving back home I will have to abandon my green card and residency and something sits wrong with me about that... I have no real ties to the USA other than my now ex wife, no kids, so it's not that big of a deal if I never come back right? But a part of me is considering applying for citizenship just for its value before eventually moving home as a dual citizen. Am I crazy? Should I just cut my losses and abandon my resident status or should I secure my citizenship just in case I ever want to move back to the USA? I am aware it can take up to a year to process. Perhaps a part of me is having a hard time letting go of the USA. Any advice or thoughts would be much appreciated.

The US grows on you LOL

My advice is apply.  Unless you make >100k in income your foreign earned income is excluded anyway so filing taxes is easy.

 

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