I went to have my US Visa renewed last August 24. I’m still waiting for it to arrive. It’s my second time to get a 10-year visa. Getting a US Visa has never been an issue for me because I have a document which says I surrendered my Green Card back in 2003. That said, I’ve never had to bring truckloads of documents. I usually just bring the required stuff (passports, photo, visa fee receipt, and confirmation), the surrender document, and a bank certificate (which they’ve never asked for).
It’s true, once upon a time I was a US resident. It’s a long story but I’ll keep it short and simple. My parents divorced when I was around 10. Mom went to the US, the official “greener pasture” at the time. Dad stayed in the Philippines. The plan was, my mom would find a job, get settled, and we (my sister and I) would follow her to the US. When the time came, our dad was tasked with getting US Visas for us. This is where things went haywire. I remember it all too clearly. Our consul was a nice man who asked my dad very basic questions like when our birthdays were, what grade we were in… he couldn’t answer correctly. We were denied. Hence we were unable to go to the US to be with our mom. This happened in the 80’s.
But I understand this now. Men are, I think, naturally worse at these things. My hubby doesn’t really remember the exact dates of our kids’ births. Plus he would always ask me what grade they’re in when he is asked. When we went to apply for US Visas with the kids, I had him memorize all those details.
Anyhow fast forward to 1995. Mom had successfully petitioned us after about a decade. My sister and I were both given Green Cards. We flew to California where mom was based. But it was too late. I was already 21 and I had just graduated from college. My life was here in the Philippines. I just wasn’t interested in going off to live in the US anymore.
I got married in 1999. My hubby also had no intention of living in the US since everything is here in Metro Manila — family business, properties, etc. Traveling was difficult. Since I was officially a US resident, I had to be in the US most of the time. I had to apply for a re-entry permit so I could stay in the Philippines for an extended time. But you can’t keep doing this because they will start to doubt your resident status if you do. Your Green Card might even get revoked.
If I want to become a US citizen, I have to stay and work in the US for 5 years straight to become eligible to apply for citizenship. US citizens can travel everywhere and stay where they want for as long as they want. I gave birth in 2001 and by then I knew it was really impossible for me to do the 5 year thing.
I knew my mom worked really hard to get us the Green Cards. But I had already established a life of my own. I did not see the US as greener pastures, so to speak. In 2003, I decided to surrender my Green Card to the US Embassy. The consul must’ve asked me 3x if I was really really sure. I said yes and I was given a document which states I am judged as abandoning my residency in 1999, the year I got married. They told me to bring this document when I apply for a US Visa. I figured this is better than having my Green Card revoked for not staying in the US.
I applied for a US Visa back in 2007. I showed the consul the document like I was told. They pretty much waved me off afterwards with minimal questions. That visa expired last April and I applied for a new one last Aug. 24.
Over a decade has passed since I surrendered my Green Card. I don’t regret what I did.
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It is SO much better than having your residency revoked. The US government wants visitors to prove they aren’t planning on trying to stay illegally. Surrendering residency proves that, kasi nobody who wants to live permanently in the US surrenders a green card.
It was getting very hard for me to hang onto the green card when I had already decided that my life is here in PH.
If natuloy ka dun, ano magiging work mo sana?
Fresh grad ako when I went there. I only stayed a month then promptly went back to PH and started working as the Corporate Marketing Manager of Parker pens. I had no idea what I was going to do in the US if ever…
Nice story. And aga nyo pala nag asawa Ro! haha
Getting married at 25 was the in thing that time lol.
The perfect age, actually. Young people nowadays are marrying later. Did your sister push thru with her green card?
No she surrendered it too for the same reasons I did.
I wish I’ve read this entry before leaving my job to move to the US! I was petitioned by my dad and after 10 years or so, visa’s been approved and I had to go to the US. My life and the love of my life is in the Philippines and I really wish to go back. I may not be earning the $$$, but I know where my heart really is.