Katz

Hi all,

I hope this is the correct place to ask this question. I hold a 10 year Green Card. I lived in the USA for almost four years, but two years ago I moved back home to Australia. My husband is a USC. He moved here to Australia last December and is a permanent resident... I want to give up my Green Card as I have NO intentions of ever moving back to the USA to live (loved living there, but I couldn't deal with the homesickness in the long term). Is there an official form to fill out and send to the USCIS? I've been back for almost 2 years now and I still have the card (haven't been back there since). If I give back the card, will I be able to enter the USA as easily as someone who has never held a green card? My hubby wants to visit family next year and I'd like to join him for a few weeks. Has anyone given up a green card and revisited the USA afterwards? Thank you.

You should be good to go. The air ticket should match the name on your passport though.

Great.

Yeah, I'm going to book my tickets using my maiden name.

I will be travelling back to Australia for the first time since moving here to the US. The only thing is, my Australian passport is still in my maiden name - my green card has my married name. Will this be a problem when getting back into the US? What other documentation should I bring other than the passport and green card? I plan to take my American driver's licence, marriage certificate, SSC and anything else I can think of.

Thank you for any help you can give.

Ahh, thought so. Thanks for clearing that up.

Are passport sized photos needed to be included, or is that only required when living overseas due to military orders?

Hi, all.

I have two questions:

1. My GC will be expiring on February 10th 2011. We plan to send the ROC package a few days after November 10th 2010. Would that be considered too early?

2. I went on the USCIS website to look at the I-751 instructions and application form. It says that the fee is $545 (which includes the bio fee). I saw somewhere in this forum that the fee is supposed to go up to $590 (#######?!) on November 23rd 2010. Is that true? I saw no evidence on the USCIS website stating the fee change. If it turns out to be correct, would the cheque for $545 be accepted if they receive the package before that date?

Thank you.

Thank you very, very much for this information. Extremely helpful! I'm really looking forward to visiting Canada - I've always wanted to go there.

My apologies if this is not the correct forum for this question.

My husband and I are planning a three day vacation to Canada in September this year. We will be driving in. I have a conditional (2 year) Green Card that will expire in early February 2011. My (Australian) passport still has my maiden name on it, but my Green Card, Social Security card and American driver's license has my new name. Will I be able to enter Canada and re-enter the US as long as I have sufficient ID? Do I need to obtain a re-entry permit? Is my Green Card too close to expiry to travel?

Thank you.

Thank you all for your wonderful and extremely helpful answers..

Just wanted to add: if I lose my permanent residency status, am I allowed back for a visit with a visitor visa? Or am I banned for a certain amount of time?

Thank you all for your wonderful and extremely helpful answers..

My sincerest apologies if this topic has been brought up a thousand times before... but I don't know where else to look.

Okay, my 2 year (conditional) green card expires in February next year, and we are going to file to remove the conditions. We have plans on moving to Australia permanently summer of next year. Can I be a resident in both countries? With that green card am I free to enter the US for visits whenever I want, no matter how long I have been gone? What are my rights with a 10 year green card?

I hope this all makes sense. Thank your for your help... I've been so confused on what to do.

Hi all... It's been a while since I've been here. I hope this is the correct place to post this question. My apologies if not.

My husband (US citizen) and I have plans on permanently leaving America and moving to Australia (where I am from) late this year/early next year. I am on a conditional green card which will expire early February of 2011. Our plan is for me to leave in October and he will later follow when his visa stuff is sorted out. Is it legal for me to just up and leave for home without filing for the 10 year green card? Do I have to notify the USCIS when I leave? I plan on doing so anyway... But is it absolutely necessary? Would like some advice.

Thank you.

My green card arrived on Friday! On my birthday, too! Haha.

See ya in two years!

When I originally filed for my AOS in August '08 I didn't bother to file for an EAD (pointless at the time), but in late December our circumstances had changed and I decided to file. Well, the EAD is still pending but my AOS was approved a few days ago (needless to say, I was shocked). Should I contact the USCIS and let them know to cancel it, or should I just leave it?

How did you file the I-485? It it was in your married name your card should reflect that.

It was filed under my married name.

We filed the AOS using Claudeth's married name and the card came with her married name on it.

But they used my maiden name at the biometrics and told me to just change it at my interview, which I didn't have because it was transferred to the CSC. I'm just worried that they'll get it mixed up and use the wrong name.

I just got approved the other day, but I do have a concern lurking about that won't go away...

Way back in September when I went for my biometrics, I had to do it under my maiden name because I didn't have proper ID in my new name (according to them - even though I brought my passport - in my maiden name, letters from the Social Security office, social security card in my new name, bank statements in my new name, but... I forgot my damn marriage certificate!). The friggin' security guard wasn't even going to let me through (I was getting VERY upset) until one of the women there was kind enough to say, "Don't worry about it, we'll just put it under your maiden name and you can just change it at your interview."

BUT, in November, my case was transfered to the CSC and it was approved without an interview the other day. Now I'm very, very worried that it will arrive with my maiden name. Can I change this? Can I still work, even if it has the mistake? What should/could I do?

They have been sending me out notices with my new surname though... So this is why I am a little confused.

Oh, and another question: I have two middle names... Will they put both middle names on it or just the first and use the initial for the second? I only ask this because the notices they have been sending me have: [First name] [First middle name initial] [surname].

First thing....back when I worked in HR, if you ever changed your name, then you needed to show the court document that showed that, such as the marriage license. Bank statements or social security card didn't count.

Anyway, even if you get your EAD with your maiden name, as long as you show your marriage certificate at your place of employment, it shouldn't be a problem. My friend had a similar issue a couple of years back, and that was not a problem; don't think the rules have changed in that regards, so you should be fine.

Yeah, I know... I learned that at the biometrics appointment...

I wasn't approved for an EAD, it was the green card itself. I hope it'll be the same for that too.

How did you file the I-485? It it was in your married name your card should reflect that.

It was filed under my married name.

I just got approved the other day, but I do have a concern lurking about that won't go away...

Way back in September when I went for my biometrics, I had to do it under my maiden name because I didn't have proper ID in my new name (according to them - even though I brought my passport - in my maiden name, letters from the Social Security office, social security card in my new name, bank statements in my new name, but... I forgot my damn marriage certificate!). The friggin' security guard wasn't even going to let me through (I was getting VERY upset) until one of the women there was kind enough to say, "Don't worry about it, we'll just put it under your maiden name and you can just change it at your interview."

BUT, in November, my case was transfered to the CSC and it was approved without an interview the other day. Now I'm very, very worried that it will arrive with my maiden name. Can I change this? Can I still work, even if it has the mistake? What should/could I do?

They have been sending me out notices with my new surname though... So this is why I am a little confused.

Oh, and another question: I have two middle names... Will they put both middle names on it or just the first and use the initial for the second? I only ask this because the notices they have been sending me have: [First name] [First middle name initial] [surname].

Thanks guys!

I was approved today for a green card. Yay! But... I'm curious about this bit in the online notice:

Application Type: I485 , APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Current Status: Notice mailed welcoming the new permanent resident.

On February 12, 2009, we mailed you a notice that we had registered this customer's new permanent resident status. Please follow any instructions on the notice. Your new permanent resident card should be mailed within 60 days following this registration or after you complete any ADIT processing referred to in the welcome notice, whichever is later. If you move before you get your new card call customer service. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case. Just follow the link below to register.

What is a ADIT?

OMG OMG OMG. I just logged on the USCIS website a few minutes ago...

PLEASE, tell me this is what I think it is:

Application Type: I485, APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Current Status: Notice mailed welcoming the new permanent resident.

On February 12, 2009, we mailed you a notice that we had registered this customer's new permanent resident status. Please follow any instructions on the notice. Your new permanent resident card should be mailed within 60 days following this registration or after you complete any ADIT processing referred to in the welcome notice, whichever is later. If you move before you get your new card call customer service. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case. Just follow the link below to register.

I filed my AOS back in August last year but didn't file for EAD (dumb, I know - but at that time it was pointless for many reasons, but things have now changed). I'm thinking about applying for one now... How hard would that be? I've read on the USCIS website that you can apply for an EAD without paying the fee if you send in a copy of the NOA receipt as evidence of the filing of an I-485. How many of you have done this? Was it succesful?

Thanks.

Okay, does anyone know, roughly, how long the wait from filing to approval/interview is? Especially for the CSC? The timeline on the USCIS website is useless.

Argh. I feel like I'm going crazy waiting around to see what happens. Since they "touched" us on Monday, would it have been THAT hard to slam down the "APPROVED" stamp on our files while they were at it?

My sentiments exactly! I keep trying to remind myself that they do not always update the system but I'm now starting to wonder if all the touches were just someone rearranging the shelves. Maybe just dusting our files. Come on, give us all our approvals already!

That's what I'm starting to wonder as well... I find it a little odd that so many of us got touches on the 12th and then... Nothing. Seriously, if you're gonna bother to look at it once and update the system, why not just approve a bunch of people while you're there? I swear, they must get their jollies making us wait and squirm.

Okay, I know this is probably a stupid question, but I'm paranoid and just want to make sure...

When I filed my AOS papers back in August last year I didn't bother filling out the EAD (or the AP) stuff. Will this make any difference when I FINALLY get my Green Card? I can still work the moment I get it, correct?

Yes...once you have your Green/PR Card - you can work and travel (no need for EAD or AP).

Neato. Thanks for clearing that up for me.