aphrodite7

No hate comments. We did what you are considering and this is the summary (again):
My wife received a green card (CR1) in Aug, 2008 and we left the country for work in Jan, 2009. We held on to and surrendered the green card in August, 2010, (just before it expired)
She did not have a green card or visa between Aug, 2010 and Oct, 2011 so instead of visiting the US during leave we visited her home country (way better in my view).
When we were ready to return to the US we re-applied for an IR1 in Feb, 2011, and received a new IR1 visa in Oct, 2011. We are back in the US after 3 years overseas and the new green card (the second green card) actually arrived in the mail yesterday.
The option to re-apply is always open. In our case we did DCF in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and the process of re-application after surrendering the first green card went through without a single issue or hitch. Actually the same lady we surrendered the card to accepted the new application LOL and the interview was just a formality.
The only thing about your case that is different from ours is that we never considered turning in the green card right away. All of our assets (cars, banking, everything) were still in the US and we travelled back to the US in Dec, 2009 after 11 months out and returned again in June, 2009 (after 5 months out) before surrendering the card at the consulate in August before it expired.
One thing I do know is that a re-entry permit cannot be obtained overseas. It has to be applied for in the US before you leave. We didnt worry about it. There was 1 1/2 years left on the green card so what was the point of a 2-yr re-entry permit?
The rule is not 6 months, it is 1 year as long as you can demonstrat at entry that you have clear ties in the US. That 1-year rule is even on the "welcome to the US" brochure that we received with the green card yesterday. Where this 6-month thing comes from puzzles me.
Hope that helps you. Best of luck

CR1
Hold on to it though. Whats the difference? You already filed and paid for it. You can turn it in at the consulate after taking some time to see if you really like being out of the US. There is a form to sign and you have to go in person.

You'd get an IR-1 in that case yea. The CR-1 and IR-1 process is virtually the same, you just won't have to remove conditions for the IR-1. I don't think you would have a very hard time re-applying in a few years time if you both still live together in marriage. It's perfectly legal to abandon your LPR status, and it's perfectly legal and normal for US citizens and their foreign spouses to move. In fact, surrendering your green card is exactly what you should do if you plan to reside outside the US. You should voluntarily surrender your Green Card.
The only problem I could see you maybe having would be if you wanted to visit the US before you re-apply for the IR-1 visa. You'd need a B-2 visa, and for that you obviously have to prove sufficient ties to the Philippines. Having a US citizen spouse can be a liability in those cases, but if you can sufficiently document that you both reside there and intend to continue living there, you should have a good shot of getting a B-2 as well. (After all, you voluntarily surrendered your LPR status).
If/when you do decide to move back to the US, plan the I-130 filing accordingly. That way you'll be able to time it right, and the waiting for it won't be an issue. Also, make sure you know what visa/documents your husband needs in order to legally move to the Philippines or whatever country you plan to reside in.

I agree with you here - that was my exact advice to the OP.

You might want to consider this, there is no hurry to surrender your GC via the I-407, take your time, hang on to the GC for a few months. Your husband still has family here and you did mention that someone is/was ill. You never know what emergency might pop up 6 months after you're settled in Korea, your husband can travel back to the U.S. without restrictions, you might want to keep that options open to you for as long as you can.
I know you want to and will give up the GC, but hanging on to it might just come in handy, so consider surrendering the GC later rather than immediately.

I did, but sad to say but most of them were snobs. (No offense to other pinoys)

Hi Poloniks,
Welcome to VJ. I'm so sorry that you are going thru this issue right now. Unfortunately, Filipino families are generally like that. Being, Filipina myself, I am experiencing the same thing with my family. They expect me to support them "forever"! I am married to a Filipino naturalized USC, he grew up here so his "mentality" about helping my family is totally the opposite of how I feel, so initially it has been a very big issue with us. We were fighting and arguing about about finances during our 1st two years of marriage. But things got better especially when we got kids. Not only that I set limits to what I send them (fortunately I'm a nurse and I make good money) I stood by my husband. Before every time we will have an argument my family will not only take my side but will try to instigate something to make the argument much worse. My aunt and best friend talked some sense to me about standing up for my man and prioritizing my hubby and kids over my family, which is the best decision I ever did. Now, my family can't manipulate me anymore, they know where they stand.
Maybe you and your wife can compromise on something, if she wants to send money to her family she needs to work, however much she wants to send she should work for it. She will only know the value of money if she works hard to earn it. You have to think of your kids future. Make sure you have enough cushion/emergency fund/ retirement fund and things like that.
Stand your ground, I hate to say this but the silent treatment is a form of manipulation, just think of it this way, if you are not in their lives what would they do? Don't send them money, they are all abled body and they can find a way of helping themselves. It just makes me mad sometimes how the in-laws can be so selfish and just think of themselves, do they even think that this is becoming a strain in your marriage?
Well, at the end of the day you guys need to talk about it, set your priorities, if your in-laws get mad at you or both of you, then what are they gonna do? give them the silent treatment too! I wish you good luck and thanks for serving our country, stay safe and God bless you.