Embassy Abroad Declines Reentry

• Nationality: Zimbabwe
• Applicant: Alexa
• Case: Extended Stay, Reentry
• Challenges:
  1. Client was out of the U.S. for two years
  2. Permanent Residence Status
  3. Minimal home times to the U.S.

BACKGROUND

The haunting tremor in Alexa’s voice indicated more than a caller in distress. Tsang & Associates had encountered a terrified woman on the line. The Zimbabwe native had gained U.S Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) status and had been enjoying the equivalent of the American dream alongside her husband: Shared ownership of a home in a tiny enclave of Denver, Colorado, as well as owners of a home flooring business built with their mutual sweat equity. Life had rarely been better—until it took a fateful turn on her mother’s health back on the African continent.

Alexa returned to Zimbabwe in December 2016 to celebrate the coming new year with her mother. Unfortunately, her mother became ill and bedridden during her visit. She admirably assisted in nursing her parent back to sustainable health. In the process, Alexa, herself, became seriously ill and subsequently was unable to return to the U.S. within the six-month absence limit of her LPR. Having overstayed her visit due to forces beyond her control, Alexa’s right to re-enter the U.S. had been critically jeopardized according to the U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe, which declined her re-entry application. Petrified by the prospect of having to forfeit the hard-earned life she’d cultivated with her husband in America, Alexa was desperate for a lifeline.

She found it in Tsang & Associates.

KEYS TO SUCCESS

Upon thoroughly reviewing Alexa’s case—the merits of her selfless compassion in overstaying her visa to take care of her sick mother, as well as the family and business ties she was eager to return to in the U.S. were obvious—the law firm promptly contacted U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on her behalf and pleaded her right to re-enter and rejoin her awaiting family and business in America. Alexa was granted re-entry, and the United States has welcomed back a resident who continues to show her appreciation to the country via shared entrepreneurship and a strong family foundation alongside her husband.

OUTCOME

Her life, and that of her family, now restored, Alexa is home again.

*Name has been changed to protect client identity