Need to keep records?

[Cewseww6 16]

Hi everybody,

 

I have a quick question, is there any reason I would need to bring all my paperwork, a binder full, for the green card process?

I was approved a 10-yr green card in 2018, and am on my way back to the US after 5 months outside of the country. Just don't feel like bringing this heavy binder but just leave it with my family.

[Dashinka 23,376]

If you plan to naturalize at some point you may need those records, but beyond that, I would not worry about it as it would still be available if needed.

 

 

[Cewseww6 16]

57 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

If you plan to naturalize at some point you may need those records, but beyond that, I would not worry about it as it would still be available if needed.

 

 

Yeah Im not getting rid of them, just dont have room to bring them this time. It'll at least 3 years until I can apply for citizenship and by then I'll have them back.

[Mike E 11,727]

Your timeline says yoyr last entry into the US was in June of 2020 after an absence 11 months and 3 weeks.  
 

And it send like you were in the USA for less than a month, left, now you’ve been gone for 5 months.  
 

You will definitely want that binder with you.  Buy a bigger suit case.  
 

You will want proof of maintaining residency in the US for these past 19-20 months.  Your tax returns, you rent / mortgage receipts, your mobile phone bills, etc.  

 

Expect a secondary inspection and expect pressure to relinquish your LPR status.  

[Cewseww6 16]

21 hours ago, Mike E said:

Your timeline says yoyr last entry into the US was in June of 2020 after an absence 11 months and 3 weeks.  
 

And it send like you were in the USA for less than a month, left, now you’ve been gone for 5 months.  
 

You will definitely want that binder with you.  Buy a bigger suit case.  
 

You will want proof of maintaining residency in the US for these past 19-20 months.  Your tax returns, you rent / mortgage receipts, your mobile phone bills, etc.  

 

Expect a secondary inspection and expect pressure to relinquish your LPR status.  

Yeah, we were supposed to travel in March but covid-19 pushed us to June/July. And we went there to apply for the I-131 because our original plan was to stay abroad at least another year.

 

But in September it all changed with a US employer hiring me, and we decided to move back asap.

So at the moment we have a solid job, we have a lease for a townhouse, we have already shipped 7 boxes of stuff and we're leaving on Thursday.

 

And to be clear, in my binder it's just all the documentation for my green card application, and nothing else. Haven't used any of it since 2018.

[Mike E 11,727]

4 hours ago, Cewseww6 said:

And to be clear, in my binder it's just all the documentation for my green card application, and nothing else. Haven't used any of it since 2018.

I’m saying there is a significant probability your immigration attorney will need these documents for your defense in the event you are given a Notice to Appear if CBP or the rest of DHS concludes you abandoned your LPR status.  

[Cewseww6 16]

Just to update, we arrived at PoE Chicago O'Hare on 11/19. Quite many other travelers out, probably due to the holidays.

 

Got to CBP, nice older gentleman, asked when I was in the US last, July, and why we left.

Then it was a "welcome back" and we headed to our connecting flight.

 

Maybe I was one of the lucky ones, but now we're back and not leaving for at least a year or so.

[TBoneTX 43,423]

Thanks for the positive report.  All the best to you!

[Cewseww6 16]

6 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Thanks for the positive report.  All the best to you!

Thanks!