Landing into US with US visa

[KL76 0]

HI,

My family and I have just received our US visas (I551) in our passports with 6 month expiry (20 Nov 2014) in order to 'land' at the border. I'm unsure what happens after we land, how long do we need to stay in the country for in order to receive our Greencards, are we then able to go back and forth at the border? We are coming from Canada and don't have a job yet to go to in the US. Our big worry is having to be to US before our expiry and having to stay there to meet PR requirements. We still have a job in Canada so would be good to find a job first in US then move. Anyone done a similar visa experience?

Thanks

Kathryn

[Ryan H 3,834]

Moved from Work Visas forum to General Immigration-Related Discussion.

[Boiler 46,322]

EB 1 is an Immigrant Visa based on work, so something seems odd.

Once you activate your Permanent Residency, within 6 months, you then need to maintain you residency in the US.

[KL76 0]

Hi, what do you mean by maintain? My husband who got the US visa came from England on a PR to Canada, so needed to spend 3 in 5 years in Canada to maintain PR, do you know if that is the same for U.S.?

It's an EB1 national interest waiver so doesn't necessarily need a job offer or PERM.

[Boiler 46,322]

USA and Canada are separate countries and have different laws including those covering immigration.

To go through an EB1 suggests he some plans otherwise why bother.

Sounds like he needs to consult with an Immigration Lawyer, preferably one who specialises in abandonment issues.

Edited June 23, 2014 by Boiler

[KL76 0]

Hmm, well thanks for that, yes completely aware they are 2 separate countries or we wouldn't be leaving one, bleeding obvious (I was using the CDN PR as an example), I'm asking for advice on a certain issue not stating the obvious

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

A little bit of googling can go a long way. Here's an example.

http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/after-green-card-granted/maintaining-permanent-residence

Check the links on the right hand side as well.

http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/B4en.pdf

Edited June 23, 2014 by SusieQQQ

[KL76 0]

Thanks Suzie QQQ, I had already seen those links too so was looking for any personal experiences of people doing the same or similar but prob not that common.

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

Thanks Suzie QQQ, I had already seen those links too so was looking for any personal experiences of people doing the same or similar but prob not that common.

Ok... Well when you said "My husband who got the US visa came from England on a PR to Canada, so needed to spend 3 in 5 years in Canada to maintain PR, do you know if that is the same for U.S.? " in post 4 it sounded like you were not in fact aware of the US requirements for maintaining residency.

[NikLR 13,232]

You need to spend more time in the USA than out of it. If you are gone for more than 1 year you should obtain a re-entry permit. That doesn't mean you need to immediately move to the USA but you should be making plans to do so when you activate your visa.

Remember that when you become a US permanent resident you are no longer considered a resident of Canada. You are not eligible for provincial health care. You should obtain health insurance both locations should you be bouncing back and forth.

Edited June 29, 2014 by NLR

[KL76 0]

Thanks NLR, good point about health insurance, one of the concerns about moving without a job to USA! Hopefully we will get a job in the next few months and all will be well, just trying to prepare in case doesn't go to plan