A ReEntry Permit or Visa Abandonment?

I did mention that my Mama is opting to surrender her Green Card. As per advise by the Consulate here in Cebu, she has to surrender it in the Embassy personally. She has to 'willingly surrender it' because she wants to go back to US for a visit afterall. I know of a case where someone literally abandon her PR for years without entries to the US. Now, he is having difficulty entering United States even with the invitations and re-application by his family. He was not even granted a Tourist Visa (B1/B2). It was negligence and ignorance that deactivated his US Visa.

So going back, Mama was serious of doing so, hoping that she will be granted a Tourist Entry. So last Monday, July 20, I accompany her an hour flight away from Cebu to surrender her Green Card and hopefully, apply for Tourist Visa (non-Immigrant visa) on that same date since we are booked for last flight back to Cebu. First flight inbound, last flight outbound, this will be a one day adventure miles away from my kids! A day off maybe! We were actually early in the US Embassy. As usual, the lines outside the building are getting longer especially that line for the non-immigrants. Good for immigrants, they don't make a line! Immigrants are waiting for Window number 35 to open at 8:30am. We had an hour and a half more so waiting means talking!

I had fun there meeting other people talking about different cases. Some lost there passport and Green Card. Some had their Green Card expired while on vacation here in the Philippines. And two, including Mama, wanted to surrender their Green Card. Mama's case is one attention-getter. While others on the other side of the building are flocking and competing for entry to the US, she wants hers surrendered!

Anyway, at Window 35, her turn, she was given two options. One, surrender the Green Card, fill up I-407, apply for tourist entry, 100% grant. Or two, retain immigrant status, fill in ReEntry Permit, continue Permanent Residency. Of course as decided, she filled up I-407 (Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Resident Status). It is a one-page form that asks for your basic personal information and your reasons for abandoning PR. It was funny when she argued with the person in the Window that she is not 'abandoning her PR' but is 'willingly surrendering it'. Well, it legally means the same thing, she has not abandoned her PR but is abandoning it!

Now that Mama is officially not an Immigrant anymore, she could stay in the Philippines as long as she wants, "without pressure", as she always say it.

So, next step: Apply for Tourist Visa (B1/B2). Easy!