Richland, FL Immigration Law Firms & Lawyers

It is unclear from your question as to whether you are a conditional permanent resident (married for less than two years at the time of entry into the States or approval for adjustment of status) or a resident with a permanent green card. If in the latter class, you do not have to do anything as you already have the final green card. If you only have a conditional one, you will have to file for removal of the conditions of your residence status within two years of your having received that card. In doing so, you can obtain a permanent card if you show U.S.C.I.S. that you either had a bona fide marriage although it was ended, or that you were a victim of violence by your spouse, or that a refusal to allow you a permanent card would cause extreme hardship to you, such hardship occurring during the time of the conditional residence. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee, Esq.'s (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.

Your facts suggest that you may have abandoned your residency.   If you have been outside the U.S. longer than 180 days but less than a year, there is a rebuttable presumption that you have abandoned your residency and you will need to prove, with documentary evidence, that you have not abandoned residency. If you have been outside the U.S. longer than 1 year, you have abandoned your residency and upon entry into the U.S., you should seek to see an Immigration Judge and then hire competent, experienced counsel to defend you in removal proceedings. Typically, a Lawful Permanent Resident who knows that they will be abroad longer than 180 days should apply for a re-entry permit, which is valid for 2 years.   Please consult with an immigration attorney about your predicament.      

You are 17 and your American girl friend is 16 and your plans may not be as definite as they appear to you at this time. I suggest that perhaps you may not be as firmly committed as people who are of a more mature age. Therefore you may wish to come to the US under a B visa (if you obtain it) and go through your plans with her and her parents when you arrived in the States. You may find that things are not as simple as they now appear to be. It may turn out that in the end your visit is just that – a three-month visit. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee, Esq.'s (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence