Travelling before the green card arrives

[Rustbelt 0]

Steve's wife here:

So in my review thread you might remember I was asking about travelling on the I-551 stamp alone because the guy who interviewed us was insistent that you can only travel on it "in an emergency". I called the Peace Bridge today where I'll be crossing and talked to a supervisor who was surprised and (sit down everyone, please to prepare for the shock) apologetic that I'd had incorrect information.

As we all thought, you can travel on the I-551 stamp alone; it acts as your temporary "green card" for up to one year. The only time you have to wait for the green card itself is when you're doing adjustment of status from within the US.

Hope that helps everyone!

[Flames9_RN 358]

states that right on the "visa" as well

[Carlawarla 1]

Steve's wife here:

So in my review thread you might remember I was asking about travelling on the I-551 stamp alone because the guy who interviewed us was insistent that you can only travel on it "in an emergency". I called the Peace Bridge today where I'll be crossing and talked to a supervisor who was surprised and (sit down everyone, please to prepare for the shock) apologetic that I'd had incorrect information.

As we all thought, you can travel on the I-551 stamp alone; it acts as your temporary "green card" for up to one year. The only time you have to wait for the green card itself is when you're doing adjustment of status from within the US.

Hope that helps everyone!

Don't you just love how consulate employees are just as bad as the misinformation line at USCIS? An I-551 is the SAME as a GC, and you can travel or work with it. Sorry I must have missed your question in your review, or I would have mentioned that. Even when you're doing your AOS, if you get an I-551 stamp, which I did, however not a lot of places do it anymore as the GC comes fairly quickly, you can use it then as well.

[mikey78 6]

Yeah, and the same guy in my case mentioned the need for Advance Parol if you want to travel....

I was like 'what?' advance parol is usually for people who do AOS and need to travel before they are approved. Moreover, he said that one needs to aplly for it at the border!!! Where did he get that information?

[redmen99 1]

Isn't it just lovely that the agency's own agents don't even know the process. Thank goodness for VJ! I must remember to thank the person who told me about this site. Its helped more then I ever could have imagined!

[Krikit 1,164]

I'm just happy to have received American citizenship the moment I married my husband!

[mikey78 6]

I'm just happy to have received American citizenship the moment I married my husband!

Kirkit, that's an interesting case Are you one of those special cases where your spouse was leaving to work abroad for the US gov/agency?

[Krikit 1,164]

No no. I didn't receive American citizenship through marriage. That's just another one of those myths that some of us have been told by people who don't know process and regulations.

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

Likewise, I did a similar thing too....Tavelled to Canada and back to the USA...Crossing the peace bridge...

With an I-551 stamp in my passport and an NOA extension letter, while my I-751/10yr green card case was pending...

No problem..except they were asking, "Where is your new green card?"

To which I said..."I've been waiting for 10 months for such (and I'm 8 months pregnant)! You tell me....".... (or something along those lines)

"I guess there are delays then..", they said back...

"Duh...."..

The bottom line...you can travel with an I-551 stamp...no problems..waiting too long for a green card...that's a problem...lol...

Ant

Steve's wife here:

So in my review thread you might remember I was asking about travelling on the I-551 stamp alone because the guy who interviewed us was insistent that you can only travel on it "in an emergency". I called the Peace Bridge today where I'll be crossing and talked to a supervisor who was surprised and (sit down everyone, please to prepare for the shock) apologetic that I'd had incorrect information.

As we all thought, you can travel on the I-551 stamp alone; it acts as your temporary "green card" for up to one year. The only time you have to wait for the green card itself is when you're doing adjustment of status from within the US.

Hope that helps everyone!

Edited November 1, 2009 by Ant+D+A

[trailmix 77]

Well that's not really such a hassle is it? You could have opted for an IR1 or CR1 visa and received your green card almost right away. The AOS procedure is far from perfect, but it's not that horrible

I don't know, i'm not criticizing you Ant, but if you were enough of a free spirit to stumble in to the U.S. and get married on a whim I would expect that you would be easy going about the process that follows - as in, since you stumbled upon it why were your expectations so high?

[Rustbelt 0]

Steve's wife here . . .

Yep, one time I crossed and the guy wanted to know why my green card application was taking so long.

Uh, because that's how long it takes? I'd like to know why too!!!

[antda 13]

:

I don't know, i'm not criticizing you Ant, but if you were enough of a free spirit to stumble in to the U.S. and get married on a whim I would expect that you would be easy going about the process that follows - as in, since you stumbled upon it why were your expectations so high?

Trailmix-Lol...not really high expectations there....had not too many problems with the AOS and the 2yr green card....

Rather, I was referring to the I-751/10yr green card here when I had to travel over the border with the I-551 (had to get a passport stamp, as was being hassled for the expired 2yr green card and NOA before)...really got short-chaged there....Was legally here, Paid the money ($545...not cheap there)..expect to get a new green card renewed....Expected to wait 3-6 months...(as USCIS service expectation guidelines there)...Waited 10 months instead....and that was after 4 expedites/congressional inquiries (see my vj timeline for more info)...waited 10 months for a card I only got/will get to use for 6 months and for 1 trip over the border...What a waste!..and oh..I got to give them back this card too...sigh....

Never mind...I'm almost done with the USCIS....moving on to citizenship....

And no, the immigration process is not easy for everyone, regardless......

Edited November 1, 2009 by Ant+D+A

[mikey78 6]

No no. I didn't receive American citizenship through marriage. That's just another one of those myths that some of us have been told by people who don't know process and regulations.

Krikit, if I may ask, how did you get your citizenship right away then?

The only thing I can think of is if the green card holder is a child (in immigration terms unmarried under 21yo) of a USC...the the moment they get to the US they become LPR and are eligible for citizenship...

[antda 13]

No no. I didn't receive American citizenship through marriage. That's just another one of those myths that some of us have been told by people who don't know process and regulations.

Krikit, if I may ask, how did you get your citizenship right away then?

The only thing I can think of is if the green card holder is a child (in immigration terms unmarried under 21yo) of a USC...the the moment they get to the US they become LPR and are eligible for citizenship...

Ummm....I think Krikit was just kidding there....Don't think they have US Citizenship yet....

(last time I checked, Krikit was still at the Removal of Conditions stage)

I think they were just pointing out the "myth" of US Citizenship for those married to a US Citizen by saying what they did....

Though if this were 50 years ago...The myth would be true...lol....Boy, have immigration rules changed since then...

As for how one can get citizenship right away...

1) Be born in the USA....

2)Or get some special permission from the president or bribe the USCIS...(..lol..just kidding...)...

Everyone else just has to go thorough the immigration process, in some way or other as a LPR then Citizen..yeah that sucks and is somewhat unfair...Oh well....

Ant

Edited November 1, 2009 by Ant+D+A

[antda 13]

Steve's wife here . . .

Yep, one time I crossed and the guy wanted to know why my green card application was taking so long.

Uh, because that's how long it takes? I'd like to know why too!!!

Lol..I think everyone here wants to know that "mysterious answer" as to "Why the green card takes so long?"....

Hmmm....Can have theories about the government too?

(note: check behind the border guard booth when you cross the border next time..the border guard might be hiding card there...just kidding....)

But yeah.."What's up with the delays?"...

And funny too, that the border guard is asking the immigrant the answer to that questions...

Umm..I thought they were the immigration officials and 'experts' here, and not the other way around...lol...?

Ant

Edited November 1, 2009 by Ant+D+A