ANG mga lawful permanent resident (LPR) o green card holders na nasa ibang bansa at hindi makapag-biyahe pabalik ng U.S. dahil sa COVID-19 pandemic ay kailangang maging handang magpakita ng mga dokumento sa Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Officers tungkol sa kanilang ties sa U.S. Kailangan din silang magpakita ng ebidensiya na wala silang intensyong mag-relinquish ng kanilang US permanent resident status noong sila ay nagbiyahe sa ibang bansa.
Para sa mga LPR, ang pananatili sa labas ng U.S. ng mahigit na 180 araw hanggang isang taon ay nagbibigay ng pagpapalagay na ang permanent resident status ay inabandona na. Maaari silang tanungin ng CBP Officers tungkol sa kanilang intensyon noong sila ay umalis, ang dahilan sa pagbiyahe sa ibang bansa, gaano katagal ang inilaan sa pagbiyahe, iba pang mga pangyayari na nakapagpatagal ng panahon na sila ay nasa labas ng U.S., at bakit hindi sila nakabalik ng napapanahong paraan. Samakatuwid, ang mga LPR na natigil sa ibang bansa dahil sa COVID-19 pandemic ay kailangang magdala ng ebidensya sa kanilang pagbalik sa U.S. na ang hindi napapahahong pagbalik ay dahil sa COVID-19. Maaari nilang ipakita na walang mga paglipad papuntang U.S., na mayroon silang well-grounded fears of travelling, o dahil sila ay nagkaroon ng COVID-19.
Ang mga LPR ay kailangang magbigay ng ebidensiya na sila ay nagpanatili ng permanent resident status, katulad ng mga sumusunod: (1) Ang LPR ay may residence o tirahan pa sa U.S. dahil pinanatili niya ang kanyang bahay o inuupahang apartment; (2) Ang LPR ay may financial ties sa U.S. sa pananatili ng bank accounts, credit cards at investments; (3) Ang LPR ay pinanatili ang kanyang home o renter’s insurance, health insurance, at life insurance; (4) Ang LPR ay nag-file ng tax returns sa kanyang U.S. address; (5) Ang LPR ay pinanatili at binayaran ang utility bills na nasa kanyang pangalan; (6) Ang LPR ay pinanatili ang kanyang pag-aari ng kotse at mayroon pa rin siyang valid US driver’s license.
Ang mga LPR na stranded sa ibang bansa dahil sa pandemic ay maaaring magtagumpay sa mga paghahadlang dulot ng kanilang prolonged absence sa pamamagitan ng paghahanda ng dokumentasyon. Kailangang sila ay magdala ng kopya ng flight cancellations, doctor’s note, U.S. tax returns, lease contract o mortgage, employment certificate, bank statements at credit card statements sa kanilang paglakbay pabalik ng U.S. pagkatapos ng matagal na kawalan dahil sa COVID-19.
* * *
Lawful permanent residents (LPRs) or green card holders who are abroad and cannot travel back to the U.S. due to the COVID-19 pandemic should be prepared to present documents to the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Officers of their ties to the U.S. They should also present evidence that there was no intention to relinquish permanent resident status in the U.S. during the travel abroad.
For LPRs, absences of more than 180 days to one year may create a presumption that the permanent resident status has been abandoned. They can be questioned as to their intentions at the U.S. port-of-entry by CBP Officers, such as the reason for their trip abroad, how long they intended to be absent from the U.S., any other circumstances on their absence, events that prolonged their absence, and why they could not return in a timely manner. Hence, LPRs who were stuck abroad due to COVID-19 pandemic should carry evidence upon their return that failure to timely return was due to COVID-19. They can show that they were unable to return because there were no flights out of the country to the U.S., well-grounded fears of travelling, or that they have contracted COVID-19.
LPRs should also present evidence that they have maintained permanent resident status. The following are some of the evidence that the LPR did not abandon or relinquish his lawful permanent residence in the U.S.: (1) The LPR maintained residence through ownership of a home or renting of an apartment; (2) The LPR has financial ties to the U.S. as shown by maintaining bank accounts, credit cards and investments; (3) The LPR maintained and kept home or renter’s insurance, health insurance, and life insurance; (4) The LPR filed tax returns at U.S. address; (5) The LPR maintained and paid utility bills in his name; (6) The LPR maintained car ownership and valid U.S. driver’s license.
LPRs stranded abroad due to the pandemic should be able to overcome the hurdles of their long absence as long as they are prepared with documentation. They should bring copies of flight cancellations, doctor’s note, U.S. tax returns, lease contract or mortgage, evidence of employment, bank statements and credit card statements when travelling back to the U.S. after a prolonged trip abroad.
***
ATTY. RHEA SAMSON is the principal of SAMSON LAW FIRM, P.C. She has been a member of the State Bar of California for over 15 years and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines for over 20 years. Atty. Samson received her Legal Management degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and her Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo Law School. She was a Professor for over 10 years, teaching Obligations and Contracts, Labor Laws and Social Legislation and Taxation Law. Atty Samson is the author of The Law on Obligations and Contracts (2016), Working with Labor Laws-Revised Edition (2014) and Working with Labor Laws (2005).
SAMSON LAW FIRM, P.C., 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1710, Los Angeles, CA 90010; Phone: (213) 274-4561; Email: [email protected].
(Advertising Supplement)
