2010 US Trip

  1. ED’s visit to the US: written on 20/12/2010
Back in Ghana after an eventful trip! First, I would like to thank all friends and supporters who made my unexpected long stay pleasant and productive. Special thanks to Linda and Tom Temple for lending me their car to use throughout my stay.  I cannot imagine how I could have managed without means of transport in OKC! They, Patti and many others gave much needed support the few times I felt frustrated about overstaying my welcome.  Thank you! In Ghana we say, “Man proposes and God disposes”. I thought my trip was well planned. I’d leave a month after the school year starts. (I was in the US when the 2009/2010 school year began).  Besides, November may be a better time for friend and fund raising than Aug-Sept for all concerned. The Board agreed with this reasoning. Yeah, it made sense. I’d come the second half of Oct., attend the AMS Fall Conference in San Diego and take a week off to visit family in Canada.  Three weeks (almost) of friend and fund raising in OK would be OK!! I would even get to see the Global Market in operation. I’d only be away from school and home for a little over a month: Oct 16-Nov 22, including travel to and from Accra.  Close enough to perfect for me! Then first warning signs at the port of entry in NY-JFK. The immigration officer checks my passport and green card, consults his computer and states that I have been out of the country over a year. And, did I want to be in this country or not? Did I know that my permanent residence status (green card) is a privilege, not a right, and hence can be taken away? He allowed me in, obviously. But it gave me food for thought. After researching on the net and consulting with our immigration lawyer, I learned the permanent residence status (green card) can indeed be revoked for various reasons including abandonment of residence if one spends more time outside than in the US within a year. Only green card holders who work for US government or international agencies such as the UN are/may be exempted.  No, PAMBE Ghana does not qualify, and its Executive Director is not exempted. Lawyer Davis (our immigration Lawyer) strongly advised I apply for a travel document (I-131) which allows physical absence for up to two years without penalty. However, this period won’t count for citizenship purposes. It’d be matching time, standing on the sport. Do I want to be a US citizen? Don’t know’ all I know is that my husband and I want to keep our options open.  So we will do what we can to keep our hard-worn US permanent residence. To cut the long story short, the application and biometrics to begin processing the said travel document cost many $$$ and almost four weeks extended stay in OKC. Got home Dec. 15, and to school the following day, in time to wish our students and teachers Happy Holidays. Alice

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