CR1 visa and travel without GC

[Jon and Fangfang 5]

Hi all,

I understand that the 7158 stamp we got when we entered the USA for my wife's CR1 visa counts as a temp 1 year GC. The stamp is half over her visa and half on the next page, and the officer wrote CR1 inside the 7158 stamp. The stamp is dated June 29 2016, so I understand that it is good for a year after that date. Do I have that all correct? Worst case my mom could mail us the green card. We will live in China for another 4 months. That keeps us under the 6 month limit. Once we come back in December we will stay living in the USA.

Thanks for all the help over the last 8 months!

[newacct 688]

Not sure what you mean by "7158". But yes, you have proof of permanent residency for 1 year after that date and can travel without needing the plastic card or anything else, assuming that your immigrant visa has text on it that says something like "upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year" (which all recent immigrant visas should).

Edited July 26, 2016 by newacct