Travel to Canadian Side - Help!

[LotofPatience 65]

Can you please let me know that the travel to the Canadian side (other side of Niagara Falls) would be ok for my wife with me next weekend with just her IMMIGRANT VISA on her passport?

She just got 6 months (July 2007 - Jan 2008) immigrant visa on her passport, but still waiting for the plastic green card and social security card.

[LotofPatience 65]

Can you please let me know that the travel to the Canadian side (other side of Niagara Falls) would be ok for my wife with me next weekend with just her IMMIGRANT VISA on her passport?

She just got 6 months (July 2007 - Jan 2008) immigrant visa on her passport, but still waiting for the plastic green card and social security card.

Sorry, July 2008 - Jan 2009

[Mononoke28 135]

Diana

[LotofPatience 65]

Diana

That means NO issues... Additional comments, please !!!

[Lona.C. 16]

Diana

That means NO issues... Additional comments, please !!!

am not sure how it works in your case , but in my case i came on a k1 visa and had to aply for a I 131 ( advanced parole for travel ) when i aplied for the AOS , and couldnt travel till i had the I 131 , or the GC

but maybe its differant in your case and someone can help you more , this is just my experience

[LotofPatience 65]

Any other feedback on travel to Canadian side on immigrant visa (6 months validity) before getting the plastic card ??? I don't see any I-551 stamp on the immigrant visa at POE, other than the arrival stamp. We're still waiting for the plastic card by mail...

[MsZ 6]

Take whatever you have that proves she's here on an IR1 and then print out whatever it is that you can find that documents what an IR1 means. I'm assuming you're not worried about getting back into the US again, but you are concerned with getting her into Canada?

If the prior, print out where it says that an IR1 is a multientry visa.

If the latter, it might be more difficult but most of the time I've found the border guys to be very reasonable.

[LotofPatience 65]

Take whatever you have that proves she's here on an IR1 and then print out whatever it is that you can find that documents what an IR1 means. I'm assuming you're not worried about getting back into the US again, but you are concerned with getting her into Canada?

If the prior, print out where it says that an IR1 is a multientry visa.

If the latter, it might be more difficult but most of the time I've found the border guys to be very reasonable.

Thanks MsZ I am worried in both cases - Entry into Canada and come back to the U.S. Ours is CR1 (hope it is more or less similar to IR1).

I had visited these 2 links too, and seems there shouldn't be any issues in above 2 cases,

http://www.traveldocs.com/ca/countries.htm#exemptions

http://web.mit.edu/scholars/travelca.html

[rajee 1]

Loto --

From what I've learned (I asked the same question before), the STAMP alone is the SAME as a GC ... it's just in place of the GC until you receive the GC. Both are an "I-551", one is just temporary until the "permanent" one arrives

That means NO issues for travel ... that's what I've learned, at least.

[LotofPatience 65]

Loto --

From what I've learned (I asked the same question before), the STAMP alone is the SAME as a GC ... it's just in place of the GC until you receive the GC. Both are an "I-551", one is just temporary until the "permanent" one arrives

That means NO issues for travel ... that's what I've learned, at least.

Thanks rajee The problem is I don't see I-551 stamp except arrival stamp. It is totally different. When I had my I-485 AOS approval back in 2002, I had I-551 temporary red stamp on my passport until I get plastic green card. Here the case is different. There is only immigrant visa and arrival stamp, that's all. But, I also figure out it shouldn't be an issue out of and into the U.S.

I think this immigrant visa replaces I-551 stamp, if I do a logical comparison.

[chintan 0]

You might have a problem, as only US citizens can enter Canada without a visa, and anyone with Green Card needs something else to enter Canada, you better check the dept of state site for more info, as one of family members was not allowed to enter canada who was on green card, it happen when we were on vacation last year and decided to enter Canada.

Check before you leave

[Mononoke28 135]

Diana

That means NO issues... Additional comments, please !!!

LOL!!! Oh I'm sorry, I thought you meant you had only made a mistake about the dates and that was that.

Anyway, the stamp that your wife got has to have an expiration date on it. This is the stamp you need to make her residency valid. In her case, it should be valid until January 2009. With this stamp she can travel anywhere she wants and come back to the US without a problem. I know this because the POE officer told us this and I asked him "So if we leave for Paris tomorrow and come back next week, all my husband needs is this stamp to get back to the States??" and he said "Yes, that's correct".

The stamp is all she has for now to show she's a permanent resident until her green card arrives in a few weeks. It's 100% valid.

Also, if you don't feel comfortable with the stamp your wife has on her passport, make an Infopass appointment with your local USCIS office so they can verify it. If it's not the stamp you need, they will stamp her passport.

Diana

Edited July 18, 2008 by Mononoke28

[cmnb 0]

You might have a problem, as only US citizens can enter Canada without a visa, and anyone with Green Card needs something else to enter Canada, you better check the dept of state site for more info, as one of family members was not allowed to enter canada who was on green card, it happen when we were on vacation last year and decided to enter Canada.

Check before you leave

a US Permanent Resident card is enough to enter canada. I have travelled to canada a lot of times using my green card without any issues. My parents also travelled with me once without any issues. so Loto, green card entrants should be fine. but, a lot of times the immigration officers have no clue what they are doing there. you would be surprised, the last time i went to canada, i was not asked for any proff of ID and got in without any ID at 1 AM. this was the most surprising incident that i have ever witnessed at a western country. so its all about u getting lucky....cutting the chase, i would wait until getting the green card before you travel to canada.

plus its filty hot outside, stay cool at home

[spencer2 0]

Any other feedback on travel to Canadian side on immigrant visa (6 months validity) before getting the plastic card ??? I don't see any I-551 stamp on the immigrant visa at POE, other than the arrival stamp. We're still waiting for the plastic card by mail...

You guys should be fine. The canadian embassy's website clearly states that an I-551 stamp will work in lieu of an actual green card. Canadian officials are well aware of the I551 and recognize it as a valid Official stamp for admitance. That having been said , do enjoy your vacation.

[Steve Y Jessica 1]

But to travel to Canada, She still needs a visa doen't she? Because she is not a US Citizen. Because I was thinking about the same thing when my wife arrives, since we live so close to Canada. Because, it shows that Citizens of India need a visa