I was never a patriot

Since marrying Tolga it forever changed my view on so many things.  

You don't know what you don't know.

We didn't know who hard it would be to get a green card.

We didn't know about the discrimination he'd receive as a non-citizen. 

We didn't know the green card was only temporary.

We didn't know we'd leave in less than two years. 

We didn't know that even though we left, even though the card expired, even though Tolga was not a citizen nor allowed to be a resident.  

For tax purposes . . . they will never. let. you. go.

So we continued being required to file for him.  And then, this past year - because Tolga's green card was long expired (5 years!) and his visa was expiring - we had to reapply for a visa.  Upon receiving the application we were informed he had to officially abandon the green card by filling out document 384028b.  We did, and upon handing it to the official - she asked, "Why would you abandon your green card."

Um.  Do we have a choice?  We surely didn't want to - but we had plane tickets to the states and no valid entry ticket - don't you make the rules?  Didn't you just tell us we had to abandon it?  

And for my favorite time of year - it's become a tax issue as well.  Now that the paperwork is official (to which our tax person asked as well, "Why would you abandon your green card?" - Um, am I missing something here?  Did we have a choice somewhere along the way that I didn't know about?) our tax situation is in a transition phase where we may file as dual-status resident, but after we expatriate.  Expatriation, from my quick and stimulating perusal of government documents, is a way for the government to get money from the rich who don't want to be citizens or tax residents any longer (they are probably expatriating for the sole purpose of not paying taxes any longer too).

But we are not rich.  We struggled in a country for 18 months that gave us no support, lots of rules, and limited residency that expired and was not allowed to renew.  We threw our hat in the ring hoping to make a life in America.  And I'm feeling more and more like we have our money to smugglers who forced on an overcrowded boat that is doomed to sink us all.

I'm praying we don't become prey to this system.