how long do i have to stay in the US

[curoius84 0]

I just want to know how long does one HAVE TO stay in the US after receiving immigrant visa? can one stay for 2-4 weeks then back out again? reason for asking is a friend of mine recently received his immigrant visa but he doesn't want to leave "for good" AS YET, however he has to go shortly so he wants to know if he has to be in the US for a certain amount of time before he can come back out. does he have to receieve his green card and ssn first before he can leave the US?

thanks for whatever info u can give him

[payxibka 10,045]

he can leave the next day... as an immigrant they place a stamp in the passport that acts as a temporary greencard for up to one year

FWIW, an SSN has nothing to do with someone's ability to enter the USA

[curoius84 0]

he can leave the next day... as an immigrant they place a stamp in the passport that acts as a temporary greencard for up to one year

FWIW, an SSN has nothing to do with someone's ability to enter the USA

thanks very much payxibka,

he'll be glad to hear beacause he has a job he's not ready to let go just yet and he will only get two weeks paid leave at most 4 weeks and he just wanted to know if he can come there without staying too long out of his job. he's happy for his immigrant status but i guess he's not quite ready to leave permanently yet. as for me i'm awaiting an interview scheduling and will be well on my way to my mom with my son when it comes through

[Lansbury 19]

The question should really be how long can he stay out once he has left.

6 - 12 months without a reentry permit and 12 - 24 months with one.

[curoius84 0]

The question should really be how long can he stay out once he has left.

6 - 12 months without a reentry permit and 12 - 24 months with one.

i guess he's gonna need to be making some trips.

thanks Lansbury

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

i guess he's gonna need to be making some trips.

thanks Lansbury

Making trips does not mean that he gets to keep his immigrant status. Unless he is here "most" of the time then they may declare that he has abandoned his status and refuse his entry. No one should count on keeping immigrant status by dropping in for a few weeks every 6 or 12 months

[curoius84 0]

Making trips does not mean that he gets to keep his immigrant status. Unless he is here "most" of the time then they may declare that he has abandoned his status and refuse his entry. No one should count on keeping immigrant status by dropping in for a few weeks every 6 or 12 months

thanks for the heads up Nigeriaorbust but i think by late 2010 early 2011 he will live permanently in the US, after i tell him all of these finding he should make a decision.

[NikkiUK 1]

I thought it was only a one-time entry until GC is received?!?!?

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

I thought it was only a one-time entry until GC is received?!?!?

On your visa (K1) yes. That is technically a non-immigrant visa which requires AOS. An immigrant visa such as CR-1 gets an automatic green crad upon entry to the USA; as it can take up to three months to get the physical green card in the mail, a stamp on the visa page of your passport will serve as a temp greencard until then, allowing travel, work etc.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I just want to know how long does one HAVE TO stay in the US after receiving immigrant visa? can one stay for 2-4 weeks then back out again? reason for asking is a friend of mine recently received his immigrant visa but he doesn't want to leave "for good" AS YET, however he has to go shortly so he wants to know if he has to be in the US for a certain amount of time before he can come back out. does he have to receieve his green card and ssn first before he can leave the US?

thanks for whatever info u can give him

People always get the terms confused so the first qn is:

Is he on a K1 visa? or a CR1/IR1 visa?

Everyone's answers are based on your friend being on a CR1/IR1 visa where you get an automatic greencard when you apply (as said above)

As someone stated above, if you're a K1, you cannot leave until you marry, adjust status and get your greencard (or AP).

I know you SAID immigrant visa but people get these confused all the time thinking that because you immigrate as a fiancee that it's an immigrant visa, when it's non-immigrant and you can only immigrate once you've married etc...

[curoius84 0]

Is he on a K1 visa? or a CR1/IR1 visa?

His mother filed for him like myself

[Jasman0717 9]

he can leave the next day... as an immigrant they place a stamp in the passport that acts as a temporary greencard for up to one year

FWIW, an SSN has nothing to do with someone's ability to enter the USA

I wouldn't recommend leaving the country for a year on a restricted green card. The whole idea of getting a green card is to live here and there are requirements about lengths of time in country as opposed to abroad. I suggest you read up on the regulations governing green cards at the USCIS site

[payxibka 10,045]

I wouldn't recommend leaving the country for a year on a restricted green card. The whole idea of getting a green card is to live here and there are requirements about lengths of time in country as opposed to abroad. I suggest you read up on the regulations governing green cards at the USCIS site

requirements to maintain residency is the same for a conditional card or 10 yr card...

a conditional card is about a bonafide marriage relationship not about trips outside the USA