Possibly silly question, but why does it expire in one year?

[laura428 0]

So, upon reading...

"upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent resident status for 1 year"

on my husband's visa stamp in his passport, we're a bit confused. What happens at one year? What next steps do you we need to take to secure his permanent residency in the States?

We're heading down to the border (Sweetgrass, Montana) so as to kick-start his social security number processing, and figured we'd ask there, but I thought I'd put a question into you knowledgeable folks first.

[JenT 0]

According to the Guides:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...om&page=dcf

"Note: If you have been married for less than 2 years when you enter the US, your Permanent Resident status has “conditions”. A CR-1 PR is no less a PR than anyone else, but they do have an additional step to take 2 years after they enter the US. Please see the Guides for Removal of Conditions (form I-751)."

Jen

[laura428 0]

According to the Guides:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...om&page=dcf

"Note: If you have been married for less than 2 years when you enter the US, your Permanent Resident status has “conditions”. A CR-1 PR is no less a PR than anyone else, but they do have an additional step to take 2 years after they enter the US. Please see the Guides for Removal of Conditions (form I-751)."

Jen

Well, that would seem strange as we've been married over five and have two children...

And if it's an additional step two years after he enters the US, why does the stamp say one year?

Edited September 14, 2006 by laura428

[JenT 0]

According to the Guides:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...om&page=dcf

"Note: If you have been married for less than 2 years when you enter the US, your Permanent Resident status has “conditions”. A CR-1 PR is no less a PR than anyone else, but they do have an additional step to take 2 years after they enter the US. Please see the Guides for Removal of Conditions (form I-751)."

Jen

Well, that would seem strange as we've been married over five and have two children...

Hmmm... sorry. Missed that part of your timeline. Guess I'm not much help... I'm sure someone here can answer it though!

[SuzyBandseer 0]

Nothing happens in a year for you. The I-551 is just something temporary to show until you have his green card in hand, mailed to your US address, which should be within a year anyway. You should be getting the 10 year green card and don't have to worry about anything other than filing change of address forms, as far as I understand.

[meauxna 15]

So, upon reading...

"upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent resident status for 1 year"

on my husband's visa stamp in his passport, we're a bit confused. What happens at one year? What next steps do you we need to take to secure his permanent residency in the States?

We're heading down to the border (Sweetgrass, Montana) so as to kick-start his social security number processing, and figured we'd ask there, but I thought I'd put a question into you knowledgeable folks first.

Try this part of the Guide...

5- The foreign spouse enters the US, and at the port of entry will have their MRIV endorsed with a stamp. That is now proof of the immigrant’s new status: Permanent Resident. It is adequate evidence for most purposes and is equal to the I-551 card that will be mailed to them, also known as the Green Card.

The foreign spouse receives immediate work and travel authorization from the “green card stamp”, and will only need their social security card before starting to work. You may have already applied for this on the visa application DS-230 II. If you have applied for the Social Security number via the visa application, your SS Card s mailed to you separately within a month. Your Green Card will be mailed to you in the same time frame.If you haven’t received anything within a month, it’s time for follow up.

Note: If you have been married for less than 2 years when you enter the US, your Permanent Resident status has “conditions”. A CR-1 PR is no less a PR than anyone else, but they do have an additional step to take 2 years after they enter the US. Please see the Guides for Removal of Conditions (form I-751).

The visa resulting from a DCF case is the same Immigrant Visa that one would get by filing I-130 in the US: CR-1 or IR-1.

I recommend the following reads to anyone who is becoming a Permanent Resident, so you can better understand your rights and responsibilities.

Now That You Are A Permanent Resident

http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/PermRes.htm

Welcome to the United States:

A Guide for New Immigrants

http://uscis.gov/graphics/citizenship/imm_guide.htm

[AussieDude 0]

As meauxna has pointed out, the green card is also known as the I-551. The little blurb at the bottom of the visa basically means "This visa serves as your temporary green card for one year after entry". During that year, your actual green card is supposed to arrive.

AussieDude

[laura428 0]

Try this part of the Guide...

5- The foreign spouse enters the US, and at the port of entry will have their MRIV endorsed with a stamp. That is now proof of the immigrant’s new status: Permanent Resident. It is adequate evidence for most purposes and is equal to the I-551 card that will be mailed to them, also known as the Green Card.

The foreign spouse receives immediate work and travel authorization from the “green card stamp”, and will only need their social security card before starting to work. You may have already applied for this on the visa application DS-230 II. If you have applied for the Social Security number via the visa application, your SS Card s mailed to you separately within a month. Your Green Card will be mailed to you in the same time frame.If you haven’t received anything within a month, it’s time for follow up.

I actually read that, but it wasn't clear to me that the actual Green Card would be valid for longer than that year. Should have been, now that I'm re-reading it... chalk it up to mommy brain.

[meauxna 15]

Try this part of the Guide...

5- The foreign spouse enters the US, and at the port of entry will have their MRIV endorsed with a stamp. That is now proof of the immigrant’s new status: Permanent Resident. It is adequate evidence for most purposes and is equal to the I-551 card that will be mailed to them, also known as the Green Card.

The foreign spouse receives immediate work and travel authorization from the “green card stamp”, and will only need their social security card before starting to work. You may have already applied for this on the visa application DS-230 II. If you have applied for the Social Security number via the visa application, your SS Card s mailed to you separately within a month. Your Green Card will be mailed to you in the same time frame.If you haven’t received anything within a month, it’s time for follow up.

I actually read that, but it wasn't clear to me that the actual Green Card would be valid for longer than that year. Should have been, now that I'm re-reading it... chalk it up to mommy brain.

heheh.. mommy brain.

The stamp should show class 'IR-1' which indicates that the card to be produced and mailed will be the 10-year flavor.

They don't seem to like to give you "more" stamp than you'll need.. when we were waiting for the 10 year card post-I-751, the DAH was given only a 6 months' validity stamp. They assured us the new card would arrive within that time.

New arrivals always get a one year stamp.