Just had my Interview, now what?!?!?

[mcuzin1985 13]

My Wife and I just had our green card interview, adjusting from a K1 Visa. We got the approval stamp on our packet but the lady would not give us the I-151 stamp because there was not a death in her family or we did not have any type of documentation stating what major surgery her parents were going to have so I am in limbo with letting her travel out of the United States. The green card should arrive in approx 7-10 business days. My Wife is attempting to travel and stay in her country for approximately 3 months.

I have 3 questions:

1) Is it a bad idea or nothing to worry about traveling outside of the United States before she has the green card in hand?

2) Is it frowned upon by USCIS to travel without having green card in hand?

3) My last question is it "Authorized" to travel without any documents? My friend will be fedex'n her green card once it arrives at our house

I am hoping people that have some great knowledge about this particular issue will help us out.

Thanks.

[augusta23 8]

does she have her advance parole card?

[Zedayn 485]

Congrats on your approval! Your wife is now a permanent resident! Her status as an LPR began the moment she was approved, not when you receive the green card. The green card is only your proof of her LPR status.

1. You don't necessarily need a green card to leave, but you would need the green card to return--in order to prove your LPR status on arrival. If your wife travels before the green card is in hand, but can receive it before returning I don't see a problem here.

2. USCIS could care less if you travel without your green card, its just that you need to provide some proof you are a permanent resident when you return.

3. At the very least you need some form of ID to travel, such as the passport. I'm not sure you would even get through security if you didn't have some type of identifying documentation.

[mcuzin1985 13]

does she have her advance parole card?

I was hoping the IO didn't take it at the interview, but that was one of the items they took and hole punched to make it no longer valid.

Congrats on your approval! Your wife is now a permanent resident! Her status as an LPR began the moment she was approved, not when you receive the green card. The green card is only your proof of her LPR status.

1. You don't necessarily need a green card to leave, but you would need the green card to return--in order to prove your LPR status on arrival. If your wife travels before the green card is in hand, but can receive it before returning I don't see a problem here.

2. USCIS could care less if you travel without your green card, its just that you need to provide some proof you are a permanent resident when you return.

3. At the very least you need some form of ID to travel, such as the passport. I'm not sure you would even get through security if you didn't have some type of identifying documentation.

That is what I was thinking, I was just hoping someone has dealt with a similar situation

Thanks for your response.

[dodgyJim73 6]

What the heck? They took her AP card and hole punched it? I had my interview on Tuesday and it was a breeze, I still have my EAD and AP card. Maybe it's invalid now, which would make sense, but the officer didn't take it or say anything about it.

You mentioned I-151...do you mean the I-551 passport stamp? Once I was approved I asked the officer if he needed my passport to stamp anything and he said 'no, your green card will be sent out and that is all you need, we don't have to stamp passports'.

[greenalien 3]

My Wife and I just had our green card interview, adjusting from a K1 Visa. We got the approval stamp on our packet but the lady would not give us the I-151 stamp because there was not a death in her family or we did not have any type of documentation stating what major surgery her parents were going to have so I am in limbo with letting her travel out of the United States. The green card should arrive in approx 7-10 business days. My Wife is attempting to travel and stay in her country for approximately 3 months.

I have 3 questions:

1) Is it a bad idea or nothing to worry about traveling outside of the United States before she has the green card in hand?

2) Is it frowned upon by USCIS to travel without having green card in hand?

3) My last question is it "Authorized" to travel without any documents? My friend will be fedex'n her green card once it arrives at our house

I am hoping people that have some great knowledge about this particular issue will help us out.

Thanks.

hrmmm my IO definitely emphasized at the interview that i should not travel until i physically have the green card in my hand...i think verbatim he said something like, "please, please, please, i'm saying please 3 times because i really mean it, do not travel until you get the green card in the mail." i got my approval on a monday and got the green card in the mail by saturday.

[mcuzin1985 13]

What the heck? They took her AP card and hole punched it? I had my interview on Tuesday and it was a breeze, I still have my EAD and AP card. Maybe it's invalid now, which would make sense, but the officer didn't take it or say anything about it.

You mentioned I-151...do you mean the I-551 passport stamp? Once I was approved I asked the officer if he needed my passport to stamp anything and he said 'no, your green card will be sent out and that is all you need, we don't have to stamp passports'.

I believe the reason they took it was because they gave her an automatic approval and mentioned her GC will be delivered in 7-10 business days.

I did mean the I-551 stamp.

[mcuzin1985 13]

hrmmm my IO definitely emphasized at the interview that i should not travel until i physically have the green card in my hand...i think verbatim he said something like, "please, please, please, i'm saying please 3 times because i really mean it, do not travel until you get the green card in the mail." i got my approval on a monday and got the green card in the mail by saturday.

Our's said the same but for what reason i DO NOT see why they would say this other than the fact of people needing to get back into the United States ASAP, soon after leaving.

Maybe this will help for getting the answer that I need. When people traveled outside of the United States lets say for the first time did you have to show your green card to the TSA agent or just your forein passport?

Thanks again for all of your guys repsonses.

Mike

[Darnell 8,479]

TSA at exit not care .

TSA on entry only visible after exiting the Port of Entry.

TSA not get involved in immigration matters.

[mcuzin1985 13]

TSA at exit not care .

TSA on entry only visible after exiting the Port of Entry.

TSA not get involved in immigration matters.

This is all i neeeded to hear. Because I (USC) just traveled outside the US and did not have to deal with any IO, just TSA. So the final answer is she will be good to go.

Thanks Darnell.

Mike

[Darnell 8,479]

well, don't forget CBP - they do stuff on entry into the USA.

On exit - only the passport is looked at by TSA and they will see a valid passport with an expiration date later, so they are OK about letting her exit the USA.

[mcuzin1985 13]

She will have her green card in less than a month in time for her entry back into the US

[Anonymous885 44]

I would wait the GC in hand before traveling outside of US because she has no AP card now.

You are assuming that everything will go fine and she will receive her GC within 7-10 days. What if that is not the case such as :

1) GC is lost on the way to your US- resident address.

2) GC is lost on the way to her home country.

3) GC has error like her name, dob, etc.

I hope she will not have any problem with her GC, but there is bad scenario she might have.

Edited July 13, 2014 by Anonymous885

[Hypnos 6,578]

Hopefully. And hopefully there won't be any mistakes on it.

It's generally a bad idea to travel before the green card is in your hands. Too many things can go wrong (and have, for other people on these forums). Perhaps the green card gets lost in the mail (this has happened several times), perhaps there's a typo or other mistake on it meaning it wouldn't match your passport (this has also happened many times).

I certainly would not chance it, but it's of course ultimately your decision.