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Dear all, I am seeking some advice on my current situation as a permanent resident currently out of the U.S.
My real concern is largely to do with the fact that I have so far spent only a small amount of time (Under two months) in the U.S since emigrating almost 17 months ago. I have made 4 long excursions back to the UK to study, take part in an exhibition and finally tend to a personal medical problem.
Do you think that I will have problems when trying to re-enter at Los Angeles airport this April? and should I have a lawyer in mind should I have to contest an accusation of abandonment?
My story is:
May 2007: Obtained greencard through diversity lottery as a New Zealand citizen. I have grown up in the UK and also have a British Passport (I am 26yrs at present, single and educated to a master degree level).
November 2007: Made first entry to become an LPR. First trip to Los Angeles. No friends or family in California. Returned to London three weeks later for Christmas. At this time I am enrolled on a masters degree course at my previous university in London, which was a fast track masters that would be unobtainable elsewhere for the same price or duration.
February 2008: Returned to LA, Stayed for one week and returned to London. Now I have made some friends, opened a bank account and applied for a temporary driving license.
July 2008: Returned to LA having completed Masters course. Stayed for three weeks and started to look for work. Travelled to Portugal from L.A for vacation with my girlfriend who is portugese. From late August to December I am in London, having been offered a place in a major art exhibition. I am an artist and an architect.
December: I travel to New York to consider moving there and try to make contacts. I only stay for three days before returning to London.
January to Present, I have completed my exhibition, and have been applying for jobs teaching in Los Angeles art and architecture schools. I have so far received an invitation to be a guest critic at an art school, with the hope a more solid offer of employment will come from this. I plan to stay indefinitely this time, or return to LA very quickly after any further abscences. I now have no employment in London (previously I have done ad-hoc freelance work. and am pushing to find suitable employment in California as quickly as I can. I did plan to return to LA sooner this year, but have had a cancer scare regarding my testicles - turning out to be a significantly swollen and sometime painful vein. I see my last specialist next week courtesy of the UK national health service.
I have documentation of all of the above, and have maintained an address at a new friends apartment in LA. I have a current bank account and a secured credit card. I should also have a California I.D. card awaiting me in LA. I have a social security number and will be purchasing my Health Insurance plan in the next week or so. I have also always entered the US on one-way tickets, and as I have no plans to leave LA soon, I will definitely be going one-way this time.
My real concern is largely to do with the fact that I have so far spent only a small amount of time (Under two months) in the U.S since emigrating almost 17 months ago. I have made 4 long excursions back to the UK to study, take part in an exhibition and finally tend to a personal medical problem.
Do you think that I will have problems when trying to re-enter at Los Angeles airport this April? and should I have a lawyer in mind should I have to contest an accusation of abandonment?
My story is:
May 2007: Obtained greencard through diversity lottery as a New Zealand citizen. I have grown up in the UK and also have a British Passport (I am 26yrs at present, single and educated to a master degree level).
November 2007: Made first entry to become an LPR. First trip to Los Angeles. No friends or family in California. Returned to London three weeks later for Christmas. At this time I am enrolled on a masters degree course at my previous university in London, which was a fast track masters that would be unobtainable elsewhere for the same price or duration.
February 2008: Returned to LA, Stayed for one week and returned to London. Now I have made some friends, opened a bank account and applied for a temporary driving license.
July 2008: Returned to LA having completed Masters course. Stayed for three weeks and started to look for work. Travelled to Portugal from L.A for vacation with my girlfriend who is portugese. From late August to December I am in London, having been offered a place in a major art exhibition. I am an artist and an architect.
December: I travel to New York to consider moving there and try to make contacts. I only stay for three days before returning to London.
January to Present, I have completed my exhibition, and have been applying for jobs teaching in Los Angeles art and architecture schools. I have so far received an invitation to be a guest critic at an art school, with the hope a more solid offer of employment will come from this. I plan to stay indefinitely this time, or return to LA very quickly after any further abscences. I now have no employment in London (previously I have done ad-hoc freelance work. and am pushing to find suitable employment in California as quickly as I can. I did plan to return to LA sooner this year, but have had a cancer scare regarding my testicles - turning out to be a significantly swollen and sometime painful vein. I see my last specialist next week courtesy of the UK national health service.
I have documentation of all of the above, and have maintained an address at a new friends apartment in LA. I have a current bank account and a secured credit card. I should also have a California I.D. card awaiting me in LA. I have a social security number and will be purchasing my Health Insurance plan in the next week or so. I have also always entered the US on one-way tickets, and as I have no plans to leave LA soon, I will definitely be going one-way this time.
