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!
Showing posts with label About Mama Pettie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label About Mama Pettie. Show all posts
Happy Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel!
Today, July 16, is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Mama and I joined the procession in culmination of the novena masses to our Lady of Mount Carmel. It was an hour procession from the Carmelite Monastery Cebu towards St. Joseph's Parish Mabolo with the images of the Carmelite Saints and the miraculous image of the Lady.
Mama and I followed the Society of the Angel of Peace (SAP) brothers and sisters with their founder Msgr. Cris Garcia. The image of the Lady of Mount Carmel went out last from the Monastery and she did looked splendid with the flowers around Her.
In honor of the Lady, I'm going to share a testimony of how She granted my prayers.
For once in my life, I felt I was alone. I was jobless and I was loveless. Funny but true. I heard about other people's prayers granted by the Lady. So then, with faith, I started my novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. I religiously visit the Carmelite Monastery with my close friend Beth during that nine consecutive days. I prayed for a good job and yes, I prayed for a love from a good man. In other words, I prayed to be happy.
On my fifth day of my novena, I received a phone call from a friend. She was the one who read my online application for the job position. If I'm not mistaken, it was Academic Coordinator. Unfortunately, I lack the experience for the position that I was applying for so she offered me another job. I thought about a job in line with my academic knowledge or experience. I have a degree in Psychology and was once a Guidance Counselor so I thought of landing in a job that is at least related to them. But the job offered is actually not at all related to any of the two. I gave it a shot anyway.
Before I went to church for my 7th day novena, I went to the office for an interview. By the way, the position is Technical Coordinator. Yes, you read it right, technical and according to my friend that if I'll be hired, I'll be joining in a group of males, about 30 males, mostly engineers, or shall I say, all of them engineers from different field. There was two of us to be interviewed. The other one is a very tall lady who has backgrounds in the said job description. During my turn, I wasn't interviewed at all. But the 'boss' just gave me orientation instead, I wondered!
Fast forward, I was hired. Fast forward, I married my boss!
Mama and I joined the procession in culmination of the novena masses to our Lady of Mount Carmel. It was an hour procession from the Carmelite Monastery Cebu towards St. Joseph's Parish Mabolo with the images of the Carmelite Saints and the miraculous image of the Lady.
Mama and I followed the Society of the Angel of Peace (SAP) brothers and sisters with their founder Msgr. Cris Garcia. The image of the Lady of Mount Carmel went out last from the Monastery and she did looked splendid with the flowers around Her.
In honor of the Lady, I'm going to share a testimony of how She granted my prayers.
For once in my life, I felt I was alone. I was jobless and I was loveless. Funny but true. I heard about other people's prayers granted by the Lady. So then, with faith, I started my novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. I religiously visit the Carmelite Monastery with my close friend Beth during that nine consecutive days. I prayed for a good job and yes, I prayed for a love from a good man. In other words, I prayed to be happy.
On my fifth day of my novena, I received a phone call from a friend. She was the one who read my online application for the job position. If I'm not mistaken, it was Academic Coordinator. Unfortunately, I lack the experience for the position that I was applying for so she offered me another job. I thought about a job in line with my academic knowledge or experience. I have a degree in Psychology and was once a Guidance Counselor so I thought of landing in a job that is at least related to them. But the job offered is actually not at all related to any of the two. I gave it a shot anyway.
Before I went to church for my 7th day novena, I went to the office for an interview. By the way, the position is Technical Coordinator. Yes, you read it right, technical and according to my friend that if I'll be hired, I'll be joining in a group of males, about 30 males, mostly engineers, or shall I say, all of them engineers from different field. There was two of us to be interviewed. The other one is a very tall lady who has backgrounds in the said job description. During my turn, I wasn't interviewed at all. But the 'boss' just gave me orientation instead, I wondered!
Fast forward, I was hired. Fast forward, I married my boss!
To the US Consulate-Cebu to Surrender her Green Card
Yesterday, I asked Mama to write a letter to the US Embassy pertaining her decision to surrender her PR. For one, to legally put in writing her desire to abandon her Permanent Residency. In this case, she will be granted a Tourist Visa anytime she wants to go for a visit. Lucky enough, my husband read somewhere in the web that just writing a letter is not considered. The legal process is to complete and submit the Form I-407.
Mama and I went to the US Consular Agency located in Waterfront Hotel Lahug. With a short interview by the Consulate of why such decision, Mama was asked to surrender her GC to the US Embassy in Manila before the 20th of July. That will be this monday. The Consulate assures entry as a tourist. She is going to fill up the I-407 before applying for the Tourist Visa which the Consulate assured will be granted 100% for Mama.
This is a very great news for my brother and sister in the US. Mama's case is a good example for other people who have or is planning to abandon their Green Card!
Mama and I went to the US Consular Agency located in Waterfront Hotel Lahug. With a short interview by the Consulate of why such decision, Mama was asked to surrender her GC to the US Embassy in Manila before the 20th of July. That will be this monday. The Consulate assures entry as a tourist. She is going to fill up the I-407 before applying for the Tourist Visa which the Consulate assured will be granted 100% for Mama.
This is a very great news for my brother and sister in the US. Mama's case is a good example for other people who have or is planning to abandon their Green Card!
Mama Decided to Surrender her Green Card
Mama is an Immigrant to the United States. She has been there three times. And everytime she's going to leave the Philippines, it has always been a struggle. When asked why, she doesn't love it there as much as she loves the Philippines, and more endless reasons. She said three times is enough to see and experience the country we call "The Land of Milk and Honey". If not for my brother Clark, sister Claire and her husband Jon with kids, Lauren, Ethan and Nolan, she would not have come back there.
It's been barely a year since Mama arrived to Cebu from the United States. This time, she decided to surrender her Permanent Residency or what we commonly call the Green Card. She is one of those who treats her Immigrant Visa as a Visiting Visa. I read that spending most of the time in the Philippines and making brief periodic stays in the US is not even 'safe'. You can read the letter from Atty. Garfunkil HERE.
Mama is done with the Re-Entry privilege - this is a permit that the US gives to an Immigrant to stay outside US for 2 years. That is still not enough for her. So now, she decided to call it quits.
It's been barely a year since Mama arrived to Cebu from the United States. This time, she decided to surrender her Permanent Residency or what we commonly call the Green Card. She is one of those who treats her Immigrant Visa as a Visiting Visa. I read that spending most of the time in the Philippines and making brief periodic stays in the US is not even 'safe'. You can read the letter from Atty. Garfunkil HERE.
Mama is done with the Re-Entry privilege - this is a permit that the US gives to an Immigrant to stay outside US for 2 years. That is still not enough for her. So now, she decided to call it quits.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
You Might Also Like:
