Statement of Fact: Ma’s Green Card is Invalid

Press Release

Statement of Fact: Ma’s Green Card is Invalid

Ma Ying-jeou Campaign Headquarters

February 1, 2008

Ma Ying-jeou obtained his Green Card in 1977, but stopped using it in the latter years of the 1980s (about 20 years ago; the exact year awaits confirmation, but should be around 1985). The only old passport Ma currently has in his possession was issued 18 years ago (Passport No.: M4715079, Issue Date: 1990/06/27, Expiration Date: 1996/06/27), which contains a non-immigrant visa stamp issued by the American Institute in Taiwan on June 29, 1990 (Visa No.: 081854, Expiration Date: 1995/06/29). Ma used the visa six times. From 1990 to 2006, the U.S. government granted Ma five-year, multiple-entry non-immigrant visas four times, valid for a total of 21 years. According to the customary practice of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, Ma’s Green Card has been invalid for a long time. Ma and his family are currently trying to find his earlier passports.

It should be noted that Ma remembers that he gave up his Green Card some time around 1985. Ma has yet to find his old passport issued before 1990, but this does not mean that he did not give up his Green Card until 1990.

In addition, Ma’s entry and departure record provided by the National Immigration Agency does not contain details on the name of country or countries Ma visited. According to the record, Ma returned to Taiwan from an overseas visit on November 27, 1992, and had not departed from Taiwan until February 8, 1994. In other words, Ma had not left Taiwan for any other country (including the U.S.) for more than a year (from November 27, 1992 to February 8, 1994). Therefore, according to the Code of Federal Regulations, 8 C.F.R. §211.1 (a) (2), Ma’s Green Card became invalid then because he had not entered the U.S. for more than a year, which means he voluntarily gave up his Green Card.

It should also be noted that while Ma did travel overseas every year from 1985 to 1992, it does not mean that he visited the U.S. during that period, as the entry and departure record provided by the National Immigration Agency does not contain details on the name of country or countries Ma visited. The record at hand can only illustrate how long Ma remained in Taiwan following his return on November 27, 1992.

It is certain from the two aforementioned facts that Ma gave up his Green Card a long time ago, and his Green Card has been invalid for quite a long time.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Ma obtained her Green Card in 1978, and she also stopped using it in the latter years of the 1980s. The only old passport Mrs. Ma currently has in her possession was issued 12 years ago (Passport No.: M11968117), which contains a non-immigrant visa stamp issued by the American Institute in Taiwan on April 17, 1996 (Visa No.: I9961075350030). Mrs. Ma used the visa three times.

Therefore, according to the customary practice of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, Mrs. Ma’s Green Card has been invalid for a long time as she voluntarily gave it up.

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