Immigration Status Question

[jpmonzon]

My father's employers were processing his residency around the end of the 1980's, INS gave him an employment card and a social security number. Around 1990 my grandfather was sick with parkinson's disease and my father went back to his native country to take care of his father. Around that time the Greencard arrived at his previous address in the US, but he wasn't there to claim it.

My question is: Is it still possible to get his Greencard, claim it, or start a process to get it?


Your answers are greatly appreciated.

[candg918]

He has to start all over.

[evcalyptos]

Originally Posted by jpmonzon

My father's employers were processing his residency around the end of the 1980's, INS gave him an employment card and a social security number. Around 1990 my grandfather was sick with parkinson's disease and my father went back to his native country to take care of his father. Around that time the Greencard arrived at his previous address in the US, but he wasn't there to claim it.

My question is: Is it still possible to get his Greencard, claim it, or start a process to get it?


Your answers are greatly appreciated.

I'm afraid that ship has sailed. The name of the 'green card' is Permanent Resident card, and keeping that status means being a resident in the US. After 10 plus years of not living in the US, the status that goes with the card is very likely gone.

If your father wanted to really, really pursue it, he should work with a US immigration attorney who understands and can explain what might happen if your father returned to the US claiming to be a PR. He may be detained until he can make his case to an immigration judge, but if he doesn't have a case to make, it's a pretty pointless exercise.

Expect to pay for proper advice for this situation.