POE, I-551 & Green Card

[BBCC 16]

Once our CR-1 is approved and my spouse enters the US, we would like to know how soon she can travel into Canada.

After searching through the forum archives, I see two answers:

1. You can get a I-551 stamp in your passport before the Green Card arrives and travel in and out as much as desired.

2. No, better two wait until the Green Card comes and then travel.

Which answer, or other, is correct?

Also curious how soon the Green Card will arrive after entry. I see numbers ranging from as little as 8 or 9 days to 2 months.

Did I miss something on the Processing Times statistics pages? I would expect to see this reported there but see no mention of it.

Thanks in advance for any answers.

Edited November 18, 2011 by BBCC

[Ryan H 3,812]

Once our CR-1 is approved and my spouse enters the US, we would like to know how soon she can travel into Canada.

After searching through the forum archives, I see two answers:

1. You can get a I-551 stamp in your passport before the Green Card arrives and travel in and out as much as desired.

2. No, better two wait until the Green Card comes and then travel.

Which answer, or other, is correct?

Answer 1 is correct.

[Saylin 1,605]

Once our CR-1 is approved and my spouse enters the US, we would like to know how soon she can travel into Canada.

After searching through the forum archives, I see two answers:

1. You can get a I-551 stamp in your passport before the Green Card arrives and travel in and out as much as desired.

2. No, better two wait until the Green Card comes and then travel.

Which answer, or other, is correct?

Also curious how soon the Green Card will arrive after entry. I see numbers ranging from as little as 8 or 9 days to 2 months.

Did I miss something on the Processing Times statistics pages? I would expect to see this reported there but see no mention of it.

Thanks in advance for any answers.

When you go through POE, your passport gets the I-551 stamp without you asking. It acts as a temporary green card while the plastic card is being processed. So, if you want, she can go through POE, get her stamp in the passport, and head to Canada the very same day.

Receiving the green card in the mail varies. Some receive it within a few days, but mostly it's a few weeks. I believe it's due to which POE you go through and USCIS's case load.

[Navyk 78]

Once our CR-1 is approved and my spouse enters the US, we would like to know how soon she can travel into Canada.

After searching through the forum archives, I see two answers:

1. You can get a I-551 stamp in your passport before the Green Card arrives and travel in and out as much as desired.

2. No, better two wait until the Green Card comes and then travel.

Which answer, or other, is correct?

Also curious how soon the Green Card will arrive after entry. I see numbers ranging from as little as 8 or 9 days to 2 months.

Did I miss something on the Processing Times statistics pages? I would expect to see this reported there but see no mention of it.

Thanks in advance for any answers.

My wife entered on 10/30 and we just got the welcome letter yesterday in mail (around 2 - 3 weeks). Based on the previous posts, the Green Card and the SSN are expected in around 4 - 8 weeks.

[BBCC 16]

Thanks everyone!