My wife's U.S. visa was approved. How soon can she travel abroad?

[raian 2]

My wife's visa was approved 2 days ago. She will enter the USA in mid-October. How soon is she allowed to travel outside USA? we want to go to Canada to visit some family and friends.

And is there anything we need to do beforehand in preparation for a trip to Canada?

Thank you in advance.

[Que Saudade 284]

Her visa will be stamped with an endorsement that serves as a green card for one year. Your actual card should arrive in about a month. You're free to travel internationally as you please, provided you maintain your US permanent resident status.

Edited August 5, 2012 by Que Saudade

[kweenbee 0]

My wife's visa was approved 2 days ago. She will enter the USA in mid-October. How soon is she allowed to travel outside USA? we want to go to Canada to visit some family and friends.

And is there anything we need to do beforehand in preparation for a trip to Canada?

Thank you in advance.

you might want to check if she her passport allows her to travel to Canada. Since she's not a US citizen yet, and so she has an Indonesian passport. If she does, she might need a visa to enter Canada.

[Que Saudade 284]

Upon entry with the CR1, she is considered a lawful permanent resident of US.

U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents may use their I-551 ("Green Card") -- instead of a passport -- for travel between Canada and the United States, by air, land, or sea. The I-551 is accepted for entry to Canada, from the U.S.; a U.S. permanent resident does not require a visa to visit Canada, regardless of citizenship. When re-entering the U.S., permanent residents must present their I-551.

In her case she will have a stamp on her Visa until she gets her actual GC.

[Ryan H 3,812]

you might want to check if she her passport allows her to travel to Canada. Since she's not a US citizen yet, and so she has an Indonesian passport. If she does, she might need a visa to enter Canada.

Canada allows visa free entry for US Green Card holders.

And is there anything we need to do beforehand in preparation for a trip to Canada?

While Canada does allow visa free entry for green card holders, Canadian border inspection personnel are under no obligation to accept the temporary green card (the visa/entry stamp combination), so you may want to find out if a temporary green card will be accepted or if inspection personnel will insist on seeing the actual green card.