Entering and leaving the US once visa granted

[mdlyons 0]

Greetings to all!

My wife and I (she is the USC) are about to commence my application for a visa through the London embassy. I have a been a keen reader of this forum and it is incredibly helpful for people like us about to embark on this journey, so thanks to everyone who contributes.

We are slightly worried about timings for my application and I have a question relating to how things work once the visa is granted. Once I am granted the visa, I understand that I will have a certain time in which to move to the US (6 months from the medical date??).

However, if we are not quite ready for me to move at that time as I am still finishing off a job for example, what are the rules around me entering on the visa, activating the visa and then returning back to the UK for a period to finish off work and tie up loose ends? Are there any rules / restrictions around this that could cause me problems in the future?

I would be most grateful if anyone could shed any light on this or share any experiences. Having a bit more flexibility around the 'final' move date would make things much smoother us.

thanks

[Hypnos 6,578]

Provided you intend to return within six months of your initial entry then it won't be a problem.

Your immigrant visa, once endorsed by CBP at PoE, itself becomes temporary proof of LPR status and can be used for all purposes, including travel and employment, for a period of one year.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Why not just delay your medical and interview until you are ready to move? That would be simpler than coming to activate your green card and then going back to tie up loose ends.

[mdlyons 0]

Why not just delay your medical and interview until you are ready to move? That would be simpler than coming to activate your green card and then going back to tie up loose ends.

That was another thing we are considering. So once the I130 is approved, it is possible to slow things up at the medical and interview stage? I would assume there are some maximum limits within which you need to book the medical and the interview?

Many thanks

[JFH 12,191]

Are you doing DCF through the London embassy? That will go very quickly. If you are doing the standard processing though USCIS via the lock box then you can do a few things to slow it down at the NVC stage. It might be possible to do a similar thing and slow down the DCF route too.

I am also considering entering to activate it and then returning a month later or so. Might be beneficial to me work-wise.

[mdlyons 0]

Are you doing DCF through the London embassy? That will go very quickly. If you are doing the standard processing though USCIS via the lock box then you can do a few things to slow it down at the NVC stage. It might be possible to do a similar thing and slow down the DCF route too.

I am also considering entering to activate it and then returning a month later or so. Might be beneficial to me work-wise.

Yes correct we are going to apply through the London embassy, at the moment the processing seems to be taking 2 months. We want to get it started asap, but are a bit worried if it all goes too quickly and we are not ready, but it seems there are plenty of options for either going a little bit slower or entering at the end and coming back, so I think we will go ahead and apply soon!

[mlh 93]

We did this for my husband last year. He entered the US in July to help me move into our new house and activated his visa, stayed for 10 days, and then returned to the UK to finish out his work contract. He then permanently moved over in Nov and we had no problems.

Edited April 23, 2016 by mlh

[Damilolly 1]

I'm also looking to travel to the US, perhaps get my SSN and drivers licence so stay for about 2 months then return to London for another couple of months to tidy up and then move finally.

I have so much stuff to move!

[JFH 12,191]

I'm also looking to travel to the US, perhaps get my SSN and drivers licence so stay for about 2 months then return to London for another couple of months to tidy up and then move finally.

I have so much stuff to move!

I'm torn between taking everything and taking nothing. One week I think one thing and the next week I change my mind again. On the one hand it's a new start, a new life and I can get everything I need there but on the other hand I was looking through all my Chinese books the other day and decided I have to take them with me, cost what it may. Husband will be thrilled, I'm sure.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I'm torn between taking everything and taking nothing. One week I think one thing and the next week I change my mind again. On the one hand it's a new start, a new life and I can get everything I need there but on the other hand I was looking through all my Chinese books the other day and decided I have to take them with me, cost what it may. Husband will be thrilled, I'm sure.

My personal advice is take everything that means something to you. Don't leave everything that is "you" behind. It's rough to start anew and just throw away part of yourself as well. It's only money and you'll soon make more and forget the expense. But you may find joy in your Chinese books or your tatty stuffed rabbit or childhood scrapbook or report cards or whatever. My husband shipped 23 boxes of "stuff" besides the six pieces of luggage between us on the plane. He is happy with all of it, even though some is still packed eight years later.

[JFH 12,191]

That's what I'm thinking too - I'll take all this stuff and years later it will still be in boxes. I do have to leave some stuff behind. We will be living in one room when I first arrive and then moving into a fifth wheel. So I dint want to pay too much for storage. I'm sure I'll accumulate more stuff too. I moved to the UK with two suitcases when I was 25. Now I have all this.

Edited May 19, 2016 by JFH

[Damilolly 1]

That's what I'm thinking too - I'll take all this stuff and years later it will still be in boxes. I do have to leave some stuff behind. We will be living in one room when I first arrive and then moving into a fifth wheel. So I dint want to pay too much for storage. I'm sure I'll accumulate more stuff too. I moved to the UK with two suitcases when I was 25. Now I have all this.

Similar to me, I move to the Uk at 28 with 3 suit cases. Lol

I' gonna see if I can find a one way cruise from Southampton to NY and use that for my final trip.

I'm miss England but pray the US is good to me.

[JFH 12,191]

Going by ship is a nice way to go. It's like the old days of immigrants arriving for a new life. Has an air of nostalgia about it. I did think of doing that too but it's 18 nights Southampton to San Francisco and then I'd still need to get to Seattle and I'd be so impatient on the ship to see my husband. So I'm going to fly, purely for the speed.

[Sand1818 3]

We are going by boat! Only seven nights to NYC from Southampton. It is a great option if you have a dog to bring!

[mdlyons 0]

We are going by boat! Only seven nights to NYC from Southampton. It is a great option if you have a dog to bring!

Are you going by the Queen Mary II or is there another carrier that allows pets??

When my wife originally moved here from the US she flew to Paris and I picked her up with our chihuahuas! They allow them to fly in the cabin with you between the US and other EU countries. Now we are moving to the US I was thinking of doing the reverse, unless there are other options.