What is the best way to surrender my green card today ?

[Paskaval 2]

Hello everyone,

I'm French, married to a US citizen, got a K1 visa in 2018, got married quicly and got a conditional 2 year GC a few months later, applied for removal condition in 2021 and got my 10 year GC in may 2024 without interview, but nobody knows (I was in France then).

I'm still married but the problem is that we finally couldn't maintain our US residence and moved to France in 2021.

We have to go to the US next week for family reasons but just for a short visit (20 days), absolutely not to move back to the US, we have our return ticket.

I already traveled back and forth from US to France with my first GC, at the arrival the only simple question they asked was "how long have you been outside the US ?", it was 2 weeks, 4 months... then they just stamped my passport and "welcome back" without checking anything more.

When I will be at the CPB desk shall I try to lie if they ask the same question (I`m very very reluctant) ?

Is it easy for them to check my past trips (I don't know what they have on their screen).

Otherwise I`m ready to volonteerly file the i-407 form, no problem, but will they let me in for a limited time signing the i-193 (paying fee) or paroled ?

I worry they can send me back immediately.

Any experience of that ?

 

 

 

[milimelo 5,021]

Do NOT lie ever.

[Crazy Cat 46,343]

No one here will condone lying to CBP...ever.  

[Boiler 48,784]

They usually ask you questions they know the answers to,

 

Seems a high risk strategy, I would have gone with filing the I 407 and ESTA.

[Paskaval 2]

I agree, I won't lie. So the last question : filing the i-407 at a port of entry is a perfectly normal and legal way. Being still recorded as a LPR, I can't apply for an ESTA or a visa untill the abandonment of status is recorded (take months and the trip was not planed), seems logical, in theory a double status (resident/visitor) is incoherent, even if that happens sometimes. Then, filing a i-193 or being paroled  (for a short visit) would be accepted ?

[Boiler 48,784]

Not sure I would say would but that seems common.

 

Not cheap.

[Skyman 344]

https://www.uscis.gov/archive/uscis-will-no-longer-accept-i-407-at-international-field-offices

 

See if you can file the i-407 at the embassy and once that us done, you should have no problem getting a B-2 tourist visa.

Edited July 21, 2024 by Skyman

[Paskaval 2]

I'm French, married to an American citizen,  and still have a 10 year green card valid until 2033.

We moved back to France !n March 2021 and live there. I went back to the US in July 2024 for a short visit. Arriving at the airport I did declare that I had been outside the US for 3 years (and had the I-407 form ready). An officer took my passport and GC, came back after 10 minutes, gave me back my passport and GC and let me in without more problem or questions.

Today it could be very different. I tried to mail the I-407 but the french post office has stopped all tracked or certified mail to the US. Due to my wife's family problems I could have to travel to the US very soon (not staying there very long), and if I plan to surrender my GC at a port of entry I fear to be in trouble, even signing the I-407, since I've been outside the US for so long, I hear so many terrifying stories about immigration service now. I'm affraid to be immediately sent back or worse... detained.

Did anybody have recent experience surrending their GC arriving at the arport ?

Thanks

[Daphne . 2,164]

What kind of trouble are you expecting now? There is absolutely no reason for you to get detained. 
 

The only thing that could happen is that they deny you entry this time, but that might not happen. Just give them the I-407, your greencard and explain the reason for your visit and see if they let you in. 

Edited 11 hours ago by Daphne .

[Crazy Cat 46,343]

33 minutes ago, Paskaval said:

I'm French, married to an American citizen,  and still have a 10 year green card valid until 2033.

We moved back to France !n March 2021 and live there. I went back to the US in July 2024 for a short visit. Arriving at the airport I did declare that I had been outside the US for 3 years (and had the I-407 form ready). An officer took my passport and GC, came back after 10 minutes, gave me back my passport and GC and let me in without more problem or questions.

Today it could be very different. I tried to mail the I-407 but the french post office has stopped all tracked or certified mail to the US. Due to my wife's family problems I could have to travel to the US very soon (not staying there very long), and if I plan to surrender my GC at a port of entry I fear to be in trouble, even signing the I-407, since I've been outside the US for so long, I hear so many terrifying stories about immigration service now. I'm affraid to be immediately sent back or worse... detained.

Did anybody have recent experience surrending their GC arriving at the arport ?

Thanks

You were lucky you weren't sent before an immigration judge in 2024, imo.  I agree with @Daphne ..  I think I would surrender the Green Card at POE, then ask to be paroled into the country for a short visit as a visitor.   CBP could either deny entry after you surrender the card, or they might allow you a short visit.

Edited 10 hours ago by Crazy Cat

[Crazy Cat 46,343]

***Similar/same topics merged***

[appleblossom 5,877]

2 hours ago, Paskaval said:

I tried to mail the I-407 but the french post office has stopped all tracked or certified mail to the US

 

Could you not send it via another method i.e. Fedex/DHL?