Arriving to Cali. with IR1 visa

[shadyzee 7]

Hello there

thanks a lot for your continues support guys , I just have couple of things I need to clarify as am arriving on 20th June as IR1 holder to LAX.

- Am coming to start setup our new life in Cali. sadly I can't stay more than 3 weeks as we couldn't finish some stuff related to work and our daughter's school here in Dubai , and my visa expires in 25th June 2014 and as my wife is a teacher so I have to come by myself .

- what do you think I can accomplished in this 3 weeks ? ( bank account - SSC - GC - ID - drive license etc ) already made an appointment for Drive license on 24th June !! don't ask how ! lol

- my plan is to come back for good on Oct. or Nov. max , do I need to submit a re-entry or apply for anything before I leave the state , how long it will take to do that and how ?

- dose they give me a temporary GC on the airport while they send the perminant by mail ? we have been married for 8 years now , or is it just the stamp on the passport.

- am I allowed to Fly/ Enter Mexico with the US stamp on my passport and no Mexican visa ?

Thanks a lot everyone

[PallasAthena 101]

You will be fine. You can come in here and leave the country to return in October without any problems. They will issue you the 10 year green card since you're an IR-1 holder. I believe that you can enter Mexico if you show your IR-1 visa (which serves as a green card) while you wait for your green card to arrive. Have you paid the ELIS fee to begin green card production? http://www.uscis.gov/uscis-elis Pay it today if you have not.

[JohnR! 5,495]

You will be fine. You can come in here and leave the country to return in October without any problems. They will issue you the 10 year green card since you're an IR-1 holder. I believe that you can enter Mexico if you show your IR-1 visa (which serves as a green card) while you wait for your green card to arrive. Have you paid the ELIS fee to begin green card production? http://www.uscis.gov/uscis-elis Pay it today if you have not.

All this ^^.

The only thing worth checking is whether the Mexican authorities would accept the I-551 stamp instead of the physical green card.

Good luck!

[shadyzee 7]

You will be fine. You can come in here and leave the country to return in October without any problems. They will issue you the 10 year green card since you're an IR-1 holder. I believe that you can enter Mexico if you show your IR-1 visa (which serves as a green card) while you wait for your green card to arrive. Have you paid the ELIS fee to begin green card production? http://www.uscis.gov/uscis-elis Pay it today if you have not.

Hello Sofia

Thanks a lot for your help , I found this on the official Mexican visa website (US Permanent Residents, regardless of nationality, do not require a visa to Mexico. They must carry their valid passport AND valid US Green Card with them) , so I guess I will have a shot to travel.

just to clarify , the stamp I will get on my passport on the POE is going to be my Green Card till I receive the one on the mail right ? I know it could sound like newbie. but hey I am a newbie immigrant

for the ELIS fee !! honestly I have no idea what is that and if I paid it or not. will check the link. thanks a lot again

[shadyzee 7]

All this ^^.

The only thing worth checking is whether the Mexican authorities would accept the I-551 stamp instead of the physical green card.

Good luck!

Thanks Gegel

this is what state at Mexican visa requirements website "US Permanent Residents, regardless of nationality, do not require a visa to Mexico. They must carry their valid passport AND valid US Green Card with them "

guess in this case it's clear that I can make it.

[PallasAthena 101]

The ELIS fee is for production of the green card. You should pay it after you have your passport in hand and prior to your point of entry.

Good luck!

[Darnell 8,478]

Hello there

thanks a lot for your continues support guys , I just have couple of things I need to clarify as am arriving on 20th June as IR1 holder to LAX.

- Am coming to start setup our new life in Cali. sadly I can't stay more than 3 weeks as we couldn't finish some stuff related to work and our daughter's school here in Dubai , and my visa expires in 25th June 2014 and as my wife is a teacher so I have to come by myself .

- what do you think I can accomplished in this 3 weeks ? ( 1. bank account - 2. SSC - 3. GC - 4. ID - 5. drive license etc ) already made an appointment for Drive license on 24th June !! don't ask how ! lol

- my plan is to come back for good on Oct. or Nov. max , do I need to submit a re-entry or apply for anything before I leave the state , how long it will take to do that and how ?

- dose they give me a temporary GC on the airport while they send the perminant by mail ? we have been married for 8 years now , or is it just the stamp on the passport.

- 6. am I allowed to Fly/ Enter Mexico with the US stamp on my passport and no Mexican visa ?

Thanks a lot everyone

1. depends on the bank and the officer's ability to interpret yer passport.

2. not enough time - SAVE database not updated within 3 weeks currently for yer visa type- so no way to get it within 3 weeks at the SSA office.

3. pay at ELIS soon and wait. 3 weeks in hand? no way. 2 to 4 months if no address errors

4. maybe - depends on the ID clerk's ability to interpret yer passport.

5. maybe - depends on the DL clerk's ability to interpret yer passport.

6. yes - see the 'interpret yer passport' section, below. It counts - for Mexico border crossings.

interpret yer passport - what's that mean?

when you come across the border on an IR-1 visa - the CBP goons give you a endorsement stamp in the passport usually next to the IR-1 visa stamp. Combined, visa and endorsement stamps - turns the thing into a temporary, 1 year duration, I-551 document - a temporary green card showing immigration status. Many folk not readers in this country - cannot properly interpret what's in your passport to mean an actual temporary I-551 document.

Now -- with all that said - you can easily turn around and get back on the plane - then when you come INTO the USA again - the CBP goon will see that endorsement stamp and will know that you are a legally admitted immigrant with a 1 year duration from that endorsement stamp date....

Go Get Em - and Good Luck !

Edited June 9, 2014 by Darnell