When do I need to move to USA after Green card approval?(merged)

[Stepp 0]

It doesn't sound like the OP is even in the USA so I wonder if they have an immigrant visa not a green card (yet.)

I went to USA in Feb to get my GC and then left. I did not have a job nor housing and it was expensive waiting around. So I left in order to save money and look for a job in USA. I just finished an acadmic degree outside of USA. Now I must look for a job in USA.

[Stepp 0]

I recently got my green card in the mail and with it came a "welcome to the US" letter, which included a statement that said that if I was planning on being outside the US for longer than a year, I needed to apply for a reentry permit before leaving the US. Might be a difference between a conditional and permanent resident though, as I've seen people on VJ talk about six months.

What do you mean that you went to the US to get your green card but you understand that you had to leave after 180 days??? You haven't filled out your timeline so how did you get your green card; spouse, fiance, adjustment of status, diversity lottery??? If you went to the US to activate your green card, then that made you either a conditional or permanent resident, either way, you're allowed to stay in the US once you activate your green card.

I meant I went to USA to activate my Permanent Green Card (my mother sponsored me) in late Feb and stayed for 3 weeks. I was looking for a USA job, but I did not find one quickly and my money was running out. So I decided to leave and go back to my homeland where I could stay with relatives for cheap, while searching for a USA job online. I also needed to finish an academic degree. Now I am finished, but I have to look for a USA job now. I have not found one yet, but my 180 days time limit outside USA is coming to an end in late August. So I wondered if it is okay to over stay the 180 day limit outside USA and return to USA when I find a job first.

[Stepp 0]

If you are a lottery winner, the officers at the border do understand that we have to settle things at home after activating (selling property, cars, settling affairs etc). We were out of the country for seven (nearly eight) months after our initial activation and had no issues coming back in. Our officer just said 'Welcome home guys' and that was it. That we had one way tickets into the US probably helped. We also had an apartment lease, bank accounts, and mobile phone account to prove that we had not abandoned our GCs, although this was not asked for (it made me feel better to have it with me, just in case).

November 2016 should be fine. But maintain your ties in the meantime. Have a bank account. Address. Even if you're not in the US, you must still comply with all the requirements of being an LPR. And when you're coming back, come in prepared to prove to the officer that you are here to stay.

Re the gender issue, keep on trying. Your stamp in your passport is enough to admit you into the US but the sooner you get the GC, the easier it is in terms of getting a driver's license, work etc. You can do all of that with the passport, but it's just easier from a practical perspective.

Thanks Emily. It seems that some people don't have problems returning to USA after the 180 day limit, while others are not so lucky. I went to USA in late Feb to activate my Green card and stayed for 3 weeks. But it was getting expensive and I was unable to find a job quickly. So I decided to move back to my original homeland where I could stay with relatives and search for a USA job online. I still have not found one, since I was finishing up an academic degree online. Now it is done and I need to start job searching for a USA job. The 180 day limit comes to an end in late August, but I feel that I need a job guaranteed in USA first before I move to USA. It is so expensive there.

As for the gender error on my GC, what do you mean by keep on trying?

Thanks

[Stepp 0]

The best way to save time was to apply for a replacement card (form i-90) at no cost when you first saw the error. Anyway, at this point it's best to make an INFOpass appointment at a local office and talk to them about their so called resolved thing.

It will definitely take lots of months to get a new card, if you need to travel soon, you can have an i-551 stamp on your passport from a local uscis office.

Thanks.

Do I make the INFOpass appointment in USA? What do you mean by local office?

How long will it take to get a new card? Can I travel abroad before I get the new card? Can I travel abroad with my current GC which has the gender error?

What do you mean by local USCIS? Is it only in USA?

Thank you

[Stepp 0]

Arken is correct. You should have filed a I-90 to replace your green card.

When you say that you contacted them online, what do you mean?

Do you mean that you filed an online I-90? If so, then you've done what you need to and it can take several months (sometimes over 6) to get a new card. Do as Arken suggests and make an Infopass appointment so that you can get an I-551 stamp good for one year. This will prove your permanent resident status and you can use it to travel (same restrictions apply as if you had a physical green card). Take any receipt you got from filing the I-90 with you to the appointment. Then you'll just have to wait until you get the actual card.

If you have not filed an I-90, then you need to do so; I believe that the filing fee will still be waived (if I understand the instructions correctly).

Here are the instructions for the paper application, but I assume it's the same for the online form:

https://www.uscis.gov/i-90

I went to the USCIS website and contacted them telling them my GC had a gender related error. I received a reply much later saying they were looking into it. But that was 3 months ago and due to the 180 day abroad limit I need to go to USA by late August. I had gone to USA to activate my GC and then stayed for 3 weeks but left for my homeland in late Feb, because I was running out of money and did not have a job. So I returned to my homeland where I could stay with relatives for cheap and search for a USA job online and also housing. This was cheaper and more realistic, than doing it from USA with limited resources.

1) Can I stay in my homeland over the 180 days I am allowed outside of USA? I just finished my academic degree and only now have time to search for a USA job online. But the 180 day limit is approaching fast. It will come in late August.

2) Can I get an I-551 stamp from outside USA?

Thank you

[zkt101 38]

If you want to stay outside of the US for more than a year, you should file for re-entry permit before you leave.

[Stepp 0]

If you want to stay outside of the US for more than a year, you should file for re-entry permit before you leave.

Do you mean I should file for re-entry permit before I leave USA or my homeland? I am in my homeland now, but the 180 day limit expires in late August.

[EmilyW 1,443]

You can't file for a re-entry permit from your country. You must be in the US to submit it.

Regarding a job, speaking from experience, you will be hard pressed to find a job from your country. US employers (once again, in my experience) like local candidates with a local address and local phone number. I applied for a few roles when I was still in Australia and got no response. When I got to the US, I made looking for a job my full time job. Scoured indeed.com every day, selected jobs I had the qualifications and/or experience for, applied and then followed up. You have to hustle. It won't land in your lap. It took around five weeks to find a role.

One tip is to make sure your resume has, in big and bold letters, 'Lawful Permanent Resident'. This helped me immeasurably as recruiters and employers could see they wouldn't have to file visas for me and that I could start work immediately.

[kris&me 572]

How will he return on current green card if it says he is female and he is a male

He should not have left until he had the corrented green card in his hand

[arken 4,197]

Thanks.

Do I make the INFOpass appointment in USA? What do you mean by local office?

How long will it take to get a new card? Can I travel abroad before I get the new card? Can I travel abroad with my current GC which has the gender error?

What do you mean by local USCIS? Is it only in USA?

Thank you

That was only if you were in the US. Since you are abroad, I think the best option at this point is to contact the embassy and point out the problem. You might encounter problem travelling with the current GC. The embassy will possibly give you a travel document for you to be able to come to US and apply for the replacement card with correction.

Edited June 10, 2016 by arken

[NikLR 13,227]

I assume you still have the endorsed visa and you can enter on that. Send an I-90 to have the green card corrected. You need to look for longer than a few weeks for a job depending on where you're living. Since your mom petitioned you, cant you stay with her to get on your feet?

[Stepp 0]

You can't file for a re-entry permit from your country. You must be in the US to submit it.

Regarding a job, speaking from experience, you will be hard pressed to find a job from your country. US employers (once again, in my experience) like local candidates with a local address and local phone number. I applied for a few roles when I was still in Australia and got no response. When I got to the US, I made looking for a job my full time job. Scoured indeed.com every day, selected jobs I had the qualifications and/or experience for, applied and then followed up. You have to hustle. It won't land in your lap. It took around five weeks to find a role.

One tip is to make sure your resume has, in big and bold letters, 'Lawful Permanent Resident'. This helped me immeasurably as recruiters and employers could see they wouldn't have to file visas for me and that I could start work immediately.

Thank you for your advice Emily.

[Stepp 0]

OK, I need to return to USA in accordance with the 180 days overseas limit. Can I overstay the 180 day limit by a few weeks or days? I left USA in late Feb 2016, but am not sure of the exact date and my departure from USA is not stamped on my passport. So I want to book a flight to USA around August 20th or 24th etc. Can I book my flight that exceeds the 180 day limit or will I risk trouble?

Thanks

Edited June 13, 2016 by Stepp

[NikLR 13,227]

Its not a limit. Its a guideline. Spend more time in the USA than out of it.

[Stepp 0]

Please make sure to return within 180 days. My mother just came back couple days ago after over staying 180 days but they stopped her at the airport and she had to wait 4 hours to see the officer who revoked her greencard but gave entry subject to Immigration Courts decision and now we have to hire an attorney and prepare a case so she can get her greencard back.

These days all the immigration laws are enforced so make sure to return within 180 days.

Hi, how many days did your mother over stay the 180 day limit? I want to return to USA on August 16 which will mean I have been outside of USA for 178 days. I wonder if this is okay?