What is the Significance of Having an I-193 Stamped in Your Passport
I have a green card for the past 3 years. I am Mexican and my husband is US born citizen. We are retired for a long time and have homes in Mexico and the US. We travel back and forth every few months to visit family etc. A few moths ago we came back to SFO and I was detained a few hours by immigration and got a warning because we were gone for 14 months. My husband had an accident Mexico and we could not travel back to the US until he was better. They said in the future I need to return every 6 months to avoid a problem and stamped my passport about I-193 which says i entered without a visa or passport. ? After 2 months we went back to Mexico for 3 months and then back here again. NO problem with immigration. Stayed here 2 months and back to mexico for 4 months. Just returned this week and was detained again and got another I-193 stamp? The officer said i need to exchange my Green card for a tourist visa. We thought to try this forum to try to get an understanding of this.I have US bank accounts, Us medical care and property here. Also I tried to get a tourist visa when we were married and was denied because i needed to prove I would return to Mexico. It is Catch 22 as my husbamd says! Do i need to go to the Uscis office in San Francisco to get a tourist visa or try to talk to someone that understands what is the problem.
Thank you all for your help.
Re: Why Do I Keep Getting Something About an I-193 Stamped in My Passport
You appear to have been deemed to have given up your green card status, due to repeatedly leaving the country.
Re: What is the Significance of Having an I-193 Stamped in Your Passport
From what you have posted, the USCIS appears to have concluded that you are a permanent resident of Mexico and have abandoned your residency in the United States. The I-193 waives your need for a visa to enter the U.S., but by your description of what you were told by the immigration officer as far as they are concerned you are no longer a permanent resident and you need to get a tourist visa for your visits to the U.S.
If you wish to try to maintain (or, more likely at this point, re-establish) permanent residency, I suggest consulting an immigration lawyer.
Re: What is the Significance of Having an I-193 Stamped in Your Passport
kfburrage: If you have been married to your husband for three years then you are likely eligible to become a US citizen through naturalization (see here, especially Attachment A on the fourth page). Once you are a citizen, you will not need to worry about this any more.
If you satisfy the eligibility requirements then your best option is probably to apply for citizenship as soon as possible and remain in the US until that process is completed. Based on what immigration officers are telling you, you're at risk of having your green card revoked at any time if you keep leaving the country and then reentering.
Re: What is the Significance of Having an I-193 Stamped in Your Passport
Quote:
Quoting
bsreg
kfburrage: If you have been married to your husband for three years then you are likely eligible to become a US citizen through naturalization (see
here, especially Attachment A on the fourth page). Once you are a citizen, you will not need to worry about this any more.
If you satisfy the eligibility requirements then your best option is probably to apply for citizenship as soon as possible and remain in the US until that process is completed. Based on what immigration officers are telling you, you're at risk of having your green card revoked at any time if you keep leaving the country and then reentering.
STOP IT.
Being married is NOT the important thing. RESIDENCY is the important thing.
Re: What is the Significance of Having an I-193 Stamped in Your Passport
Dogmatique: I'm confused by your reply. Stop what?
She's looking for a solution to her problem -> becoming naturalized would solve that problem -> she appears to be eligible for naturalization -> so...?
If I'm missing something here, I'd appreciate it if you could clue me in. :)
Re: What is the Significance of Having an I-193 Stamped in Your Passport
I do apologize for being testy. No excuse for it.
But, the problem the OP has is that residency has been abandoned. OP would have to start from scratch.
Re: What is the Significance of Having an I-193 Stamped in Your Passport
Quote:
Quoting
bsreg
Dogmatique: I'm confused by your reply. Stop what?
She's looking for a solution to her problem -> becoming naturalized would solve that problem -> she appears to be eligible for naturalization -> so...?
If I'm missing something here, I'd appreciate it if you could clue me in. :)
No, she is not eligible for naturalization because it appears that she is considered to have abandoned her residency. If her residency was intact, then yes, she would be eligible for naturalization, but her residency is NOT intact.