unique status on green card

[hcpatel]

Hi all,

 

I have an unique case..I had a green card in 1991 through family based sponsorship. I came here with my parents in 1991 and left USA after 3 months in same year of 1991. After that I stayed in India for almost 16 year finished my under grad there. Came here on Student F1 visa in Dec 2007. In 2008 met an attorney in NY to ask if it is possible to reinstate my old green card which I still have. He said he can do that and he applied to reinstate my GC the form I-90. Got a notice for my finger prints and got it done. On the same day of finger print they put a sticker on my old GC for one year validity and said if you want to start using this you can now. In four month I got my new GC with 10 years validity but having initial date of 1991.

 

After that I am here and went back to India 2 times. After my first visit from India, immigration officer at Newark Airport stopped me and asked how you have two status, one student and GC?? I explained him that my attorney applied for reinstating my old GC and I got it back. He let me in. On my second visit I have not been asked a single que at JFK.

 

It is almost 5 year after I got my GC. Now I am wondering if is it possible to apply for citizenship, as the form N400 has a question regarding all your visit since you got your GC. Which in my case is 1991 (per date on my GC), which make no sense as it is not possible to get GC after that many years of gap out of USA.

 

Can someone help me in this unique situation??

[JoeF]

Looks to me as if this "reinstatement" was in error.

You should see a GOOD immigration lawyer.