Tried to surrender green card Call

QUESTION:
I am a US citizen my wife Canadian.  We lived in the states for ten years
and have now moved to Canada.  I have applied for perm. res. status in
Canada and have just received "approval in principle" and my work permit.
For the first several months we showed my wifes green card everytime we
crossed to border.  They were always satisfied with the answer that she
would surrender her card when I received my approval in Canada.  We even
went inside on our own to talk to US immigration and were told we were ok,
but should surrender it soon.  Since I received approval, my wife went down
to surrender her card at the border.  They refused to take it.  They told
her that she could be out of the US for one year and before that one year
was up she could not surrender her card.  He said he was not allowed to take
her card.  He said just to be sure and show the card everytime we cross
(which is often). There were three officials all standing there confirming
this.  I am confused.  We are especially concerned because we are flying out
of the US to Paris next week (and back to the US). We wanted to surrender
the card prior so there wouldn't be any hassle fying out/into the USA. I
this right?
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david ingram replies:
I am flabbergasted that you would want to surrender it.  Just in case it
does not work out in Canada and you do want to return to the US, it will be
100 times better if she still has her green card.
Continue to file your US returns as joint returns and keep the green card as
long as you can "just in case".
I could even (and would) have made an argument that she get her US
citizenship before leaving the US.  The Green card is not a document to be
thrown away lightly.  Politics change - politicians change - world economies
change.  Keep it as long as you can.
She should have applied to keep it before leaving the US but there is legal
precedent for her keeping it if she continues to file US returns.
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