This is the official term of my legal status in the US. Sounds lovely, huh?
It always makes me think of little green men [or women] and X-Files :)
Due to the Thanksgiving-weekend-with-Kim-excitement, I totally forgot that November, 22nd marked the first anniversary of my immigrating to the US and the end of our freakin’ LDR!
Yes, folks, it has been a whole year. Unbelievable, isn’t it?
I usually refuse to call it immigrating, because it sounds so permanent, but it is in fact the truth, because technically I am allowed to live here until the day I die.
If I think back to the days when I had to figure out which visa to get and for how long I was allowed to stay with my man, I am really relieved that those days are over and nobody can make me leave again.
I am also kind of glad that we decided to live in the US for now and deal with all the paperwork, because even if we decide to move back to Germany at some point, I won’t lose my GC as long as I enter the US at least once in any 12-months-period. Piece of cake! :) And also, gaining legal status in Germany will be much easier for J than it was for me to come here.
I’ve been through a lot of emotions this last year and I definitely do miss my sister, my parents, the rest of my family and my friends, but I know that I also had the once in a lifetime chance to come and live here and I am making the best of it :)
Happy Anniversary to me :)
Susi
November 27, 2007 at 6:35 pmHappy Anniversary to you! YEAH!
Sanni
November 27, 2007 at 9:33 pmHappy Anniversary!
Tanja
November 27, 2007 at 11:32 pmI can remember our last phone conversation – at that point you were not sure for which visa you wanted to apply for…means – we haven’t talked to each other since a long, long time, Mrs. B. ;-)
Happy Anniversary !!!
Greetz from the (resident) alien way up in the north :-)
Silke
November 28, 2007 at 1:45 amHappy Anniversary.
A year? You gotta be kidding. Time just flies. :)
Maribeth
November 28, 2007 at 6:18 amHappy Anniversary, and you know, we are a better country for having you here!
Sanna
November 28, 2007 at 8:34 amHappy Anniversary!!!
Jess
November 28, 2007 at 10:06 amHappy anniversary!! Do you have the 2 year or 10 year card?
Unfortunately it is not that easy keeping your Green Card when you don’t live in the U.S. anymore….. why would anything be easy that has to do with immigrating here, right??
Here is a link about maintaing residence, but of course there are always some loopholes:
https://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=fe17e6b0eb13d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=4f719c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD
Maintaining Permanent Residence
Maintaining Permanent Residence You may lose your permanent residence status if you commit an act that makes you removable from the United States under the law in section 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. If you commit such an act, you may be brought before the immigration courts to determine your right to remain a Permanent Resident.
You may be found to have abandoned your permanent resident status if you:
Move to another country intending to live there permanently.
Remain outside of the US for more than one year without obtaining a reentry permit or returning resident visa. However in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the US may be considered, even if it is less than one year.
Remain outside of the US for more than two years after issuance of a reentry permit without obtaining a returning resident visa. However in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the US may be considered, even if it is less than one year.
Fail to file income tax returns while living outside of the US for any period.
Declare yourself a “nonimmigrant†on your tax returns.
Viviane
November 28, 2007 at 10:16 amHappy anniversary!
ute
November 28, 2007 at 4:56 pmi dont know why but you just made me cry and now i cant see anything and on top of that i am sitting in class. anyways, happy anniversary sweetie!!
ilka
November 29, 2007 at 7:57 amwow, time frigging flies. i know how much of a hassle it was to get that thang:-(