The hearing at the Immigration and Naturalization Services building

On the afternoon of 27 July 1976, John Lennon and Yoko Ono arrived at the Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) building in New York City for what would prove to be a landmark moment in Lennon's life. The hearing lasted approximately 90 minutes, beginning at 1pm, and was presided over by Judge Ira Fieldsteel.

Lennon's attorney, the distinguished immigration lawyer Leon Wildes, led the proceedings. After Lennon was sworn in, Wildes posed a series of routine questions designed to establish his client's eligibility for permanent residency. Lennon was then invited to make a personal statement — and he used the moment to pay heartfelt tribute to those who had stood by him throughout the ordeal.

"I'd like to publicly thank Yoko, my wife, for looking after me and holding me together for four years, and giving birth to our son at the same time. There were many times I wanted to quit and she stopped me. I'd like to also thank the cast of thousands, famous and unknown, who have been helping me publicly and privately for the last four years. And my last but not least thank you, my attorney Leon Wildes for doing a good job, and I hope that this is the end of it."

The government's single question — and the witnesses who supported Lennon

US government attorney William Dunlop posed just one question to Lennon during the hearing:

"Have you left the United States at all since you entered on August 13th, '71?"

Lennon replied in the negative. It was a telling moment: the government's case had effectively collapsed, and Dunlop's brevity reflected that reality.

Wildes had also assembled an impressive roster of character witnesses to support Lennon's application. They included:

• Sam Trust — President of ATV Music
• Norman Mailer — Pulitzer Prize-winning author
• Geraldo Rivera — broadcaster and journalist
• Isamu Noguchi — celebrated Japanese-American sculptor
• Gloria Swanson — legendary Hollywood actress

Their presence underscored the breadth of public support Lennon had garnered across American cultural life during his years of legal uncertainty.

The location: 26 Federal Plaza, New York City

The hearing took place at the INS building at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan — the same building that had been the administrative centre of Lennon's deportation proceedings for four years.

26 Federal Plaza, Lower Manhattan — the site of John Lennon's Green Card hearing on 27 July 1976.

Judge Fieldsteel's ruling

After both sides had summarised their positions — with Dunlop notably stating that the government offered no objection to Lennon becoming a permanent resident — Judge Ira Fieldsteel delivered his ruling:

"I find him statutorily, and from the point of view of discretion, eligible for permanent residence. It is ordered that the application for adjustment of status under Section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act be granted."

District Director Maurice Kiley then formally presented Lennon with his coveted Green Card. The document was far more than a bureaucratic formality: it granted Lennon the freedom to travel in and out of the United States without restriction, and opened the path to full US citizenship — which he would have been eligible to apply for in 1981.

The press conference: "There's a great woman behind every idiot"

Following the hearing, Lennon and Wildes held an impromptu press conference on the steps outside the courthouse. It was a jubilant, emotional occasion — and Lennon, characteristically, found the perfect words to capture the moment.

"As usual, there's a great woman behind every idiot, and she's the one. She kept me together, you know. I would have fallen apart long time ago, and she pulled me through it. And here I am, and I thank her, and God bless her."

Background: four years of legal battle

The road to Lennon's Green Card had been long and bitterly contested. The Nixon administration had sought to deport him as far back as 1972, widely believed to be motivated by Lennon's outspoken anti-war activism and his association with left-wing political figures. A 1971 drug conviction in the UK — for cannabis possession — had provided the legal pretext for the deportation proceedings.

Leon Wildes mounted a tenacious defence, deploying a novel legal strategy that exposed selective enforcement by the INS — arguing that the government was targeting Lennon for political reasons while routinely overlooking similar cases. The strategy ultimately succeeded, and the deportation order was overturned by the US Court of Appeals in 1975.

By the time of the 27 July 1976 hearing, the legal battle had effectively been won. The Green Card was the formal conclusion of a four-year ordeal that had cast a long shadow over Lennon's life in New York — the city he had come to regard as his true home.

Tragically, Lennon would never live to apply for full US citizenship. He was murdered outside his Dakota apartment building on 8 December 1980 — less than five years after finally securing the right to remain in the country he loved.

For a full account of Lennon's life and legacy, visit our John Lennon: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy page, or explore his complete solo discography. The Green Card era also coincides with the period following the release of Imagine — his most celebrated solo album.

Explore the John Lennon collection

Browse our full range of official John Lennon merchandise, or shop the dedicated Imagine – John Lennon Solo Era collection for artwork and apparel inspired by his most iconic solo period.

Key figures in the Green Card hearing

• John Lennon — applicant for permanent US residency
• Yoko Ono — Lennon's wife and steadfast supporter throughout the legal battle
• Leon Wildes — Lennon's immigration attorney, whose innovative legal strategy proved decisive
• William Dunlop — US government attorney, who ultimately offered no objection to Lennon's residency
• Judge Ira Fieldsteel — presiding judge who formally granted the application
• Maurice Kiley — District Director who presented Lennon with his Green Card
• Sam Trust — ATV Music president and character witness
• Norman Mailer — author and character witness
• Geraldo Rivera — broadcaster and character witness
• Isamu Noguchi — sculptor and character witness
• Gloria Swanson — actress and character witness

Frequently asked questions

Why did John Lennon have to fight for a Green Card?

The Nixon administration initiated deportation proceedings against Lennon in 1972, citing a 1971 UK drug conviction. It is widely believed the real motivation was political — Lennon was a prominent anti-Vietnam War activist, and the administration viewed him as a threat. His attorney Leon Wildes successfully argued that the INS was selectively enforcing immigration law for political purposes.

When did John Lennon first arrive in the United States?

Lennon entered the United States on 13 August 1971. He and Yoko Ono initially came to New York to pursue custody of Yoko's daughter Kyoko, and Lennon quickly fell in love with the city, making it his permanent home.

Did John Lennon ever become a US citizen?

No. Lennon received his Green Card on 27 July 1976, which made him a permanent resident. He would have been eligible to apply for full US citizenship in 1981, but he was killed on 8 December 1980.

Who was Leon Wildes?

Leon Wildes was a prominent New York immigration attorney who represented John Lennon throughout his four-year deportation battle. His legal strategy — exposing selective enforcement by the INS — was groundbreaking and ultimately successful. Wildes later wrote a book about the case, John Lennon vs. The USA.

What did Lennon say at the press conference after receiving his Green Card?

Lennon held an impromptu press conference outside the courthouse with Leon Wildes. His most memorable remark was a tribute to Yoko Ono: "As usual, there's a great woman behind every idiot, and she's the one. She kept me together, you know. I would have fallen apart long time ago, and she pulled me through it."

Further reading

• John Lennon: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy
• John Lennon Solo Discography – The Complete Guide
• Imagine by John Lennon: The Story Behind the Album
• People in Beatles History: The Complete Who's Who
• The Beatles Knowledge Hub