Entering US with stamp in passport

[hannac 37]

I will be entering the US in a couple of days with my packet, but only for a few days to carry our first set of belongings then returning back to our home country to continue with giving up apartment, closing accounts etc. When I'm returning back to the US, I won't have the green card yet, but have the stamp in my passport. The question is will they give me a hard time entering the US? Will they let me through with the stamp? Any answer would be helpful. Thanks

[Crazy Cat 42,320]

When you enter the US for the first time with your CR-1 visa, the officer will enter an I-551 stamp in your passport.  That will serve as your Green Card until the actual plasic card arrives.  You can freely exit and re-enter the US with that I-551 stamp.

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

No problem entering wth the stamp. Occasionally problems with airline employees who don’t understand the stamp. If you get one of those insist they go higher or call whoever they need to to confirm it’s ok. 

[Txub 2]

You will have to go through secondary but should not be an issue.

[Dashinka 24,800]

As @SusieQQQ said, occasionally the airlines will ask questions.  Here is a handy guide that shows the stamp is an approved form of the GC (page 39).

 

https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2017-Nov/carrier-information-guide-english.pdf

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

1 hour ago, Txub said:

You will have to go through secondary but should not be an issue.

Nonsense ! No need for secondary. 

[Txub 2]

5 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

Nonsense ! No need for secondary. 

I have an I-551 stamp in my passport (due to an i-90 being filed). NOTE: I said I-551 and not CR1 or anything else. I have entered the US four times and been through secondary each time. Its a formality but it is done every time.

 

So, yes, there is a very high chance he will have to go through secondary. Your personal experience does not render others invalid....

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

56 minutes ago, Txub said:

I have an I-551 stamp in my passport (due to an i-90 being filed). NOTE: I said I-551 and not CR1 or anything else. I have entered the US four times and been through secondary each time. Its a formality but it is done every time.

 

So, yes, there is a very high chance he will have to go through secondary. Your personal experience does not render others invalid....

It’s not an I551 stamp. It’s an entry stamp that endorses an immigrant visa. There is a difference. I, my whole family and others I know have used these for entry and never gone through secondary. 

 

Edit: it is on page 40, not page 39, of the link in bill and katyas post. Some slightly misleading info earlier in the thread though end result is the same. 

Edited June 24, 2018 by SusieQQQ

[WeGuyGal 1,052]

12 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

It’s not an I551 stamp. It’s an entry stamp that endorses an immigrant visa. There is a difference. I, my whole family and others I know have used these for entry and never gone through secondary. 

 

Edit: it is on page 40, not page 39, of the link in bill and katyas post. Some slightly misleading info earlier in the thread though end result is the same. 

Ya never know when you'd land in secondary in this current climate. CR/IR1s are likely to (though we didn't), i551s may land one in Secondary if the Officer wants to verify the stamp's authenticity. 

[hannac 37]

Thanks everyone for the answers.

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

41 minutes ago, WeGuyGal said:

 i551s may land one in Secondary if the Officer wants to verify the stamp's authenticity. 

Yup, stamped visas are much more “obviously” authentic than just a wet-ink stamp in the passport, I guess that’s why they don’t tend to go to secondary.