re-entry application

[Maia]

Hello, I am a green card holder but have not been back to the US in over a year due to my husbands job. We currently spend the majority of the time in latin America, Ecuador. I am french, my husband is american, and our two kids are french-american. I am writing for advice, as we (the whole family) are traveling to the US in a couple of weeks and at this point I do not know what my best option is : Should I apply for re-entry via form DS-117 (returning resident status) and hope it's granted eventhough i have been out of the US for quite some time in the last 4-5 years (only returning for a couple of weeks every year or so)? Or do i turn in my green card and apply for the ESTA right away on the basis that i am a french citizen and apply for the visa waiver.

Also, is there a grace period between turning in a green card and and applying for ESTA. I travel soon and have little time to figure this all out! Needless to say, I really do not want to be turned back with my two small kids, ages 5 and 1, upon landing in the US... please advise me.

Thank you for help.

[bashchamp]

re-entry application

I m A3 visa holder, I wanna get my family here, how can I get

[cafeconleche]

Surrender your GC at the embassy in Quito, and ask them whether you can just use an ESTA, or you would need a visit visa. I doubt you'd qualify for a returning resident visa, unless you did not return to the US due to extenuating circumstances.