Point of Entry (POE) questions

[BahamaBaby 12]

Hoping for insights as to what happens at your point of entry to get your i-551 stamped. 
 

we are expecting our immigrant visa to be granted in the next few weeks. Understand that we will have about 6 months to make our first entry into the USA. We actually need about 9 months to pack up our lives in our home city so plan to make an initial entry within 6 months and then go back permanently a couple of months after that. 
 

if we have a return flight booked when we make our first entry, does that raise questions on our intent to settle permanently? My understanding is that the I-551 acts as the green card until the physical card arrives. Our entry + payment of fees will trigger the production of the card which we will have sent to our lawyers to forward on to us. Once we have the initial stamp we can come and go as we please (noting the requirement of X number of days abroad to keep the green card) 
 

do the immigration officers ask questions about why you didn’t come on a one way ticket? Also would appreciate any other questions you get asked at initial entry. We are on a self sponsored employment visa (EB1A) and therefore do not need to show a job offer or anything specific, other than maybe some funds to show we can manage until we find employment. 

[TBoneTX 45,267]

31 minutes ago, BahamaBaby said:

My understanding is that the I-551 acts as the green card until the physical card arrives.

Correct.

31 minutes ago, BahamaBaby said:

if we have a return flight booked when we make our first entry, does that raise questions on our intent to settle permanently?

Nope.  If they don't ask, no need to volunteer this information; if they do ask, explain the situation.

[SteveInBostonI130 3,434]

Verify the visa expiry date.  It is typically 6 months from the date of the medical, not the date of the interview or when the visa is issued.  Make your plans based on the actual expiration date.

[bakphx1 789]

There really isn’t much to it.  It’s not their role to second guess USCIS.

 

They may ask where you will live. Or to verify a mundane detail.  They generally won’t ask much but just have details to record your entry.  

[BahamaBaby 12]

Thank you for your responses. 
 

Does the officer ask much about where you plan to live? We are initially  staying at a hotel and were planning on giving our lawyers address as postal details so our green card can be sent to them as we won’t have a “home address” for a while. 
 

do you feel this may pose any concerns? Thanks! 

[TBoneTX 45,267]

It shouldn't.  Again, if they ask about it, just explain frankly.

[Ewan 28]

On 3/25/2022 at 10:19 PM, BahamaBaby said:

Hoping for insights as to what happens at your point of entry to get your i-551 stamped. 
 

we are expecting our immigrant visa to be granted in the next few weeks. Understand that we will have about 6 months to make our first entry into the USA. We actually need about 9 months to pack up our lives in our home city so plan to make an initial entry within 6 months and then go back permanently a couple of months after that. 
 

if we have a return flight booked when we make our first entry, does that raise questions on our intent to settle permanently? My understanding is that the I-551 acts as the green card until the physical card arrives. Our entry + payment of fees will trigger the production of the card which we will have sent to our lawyers to forward on to us. Once we have the initial stamp we can come and go as we please (noting the requirement of X number of days abroad to keep the green card) 
 

do the immigration officers ask questions about why you didn’t come on a one way ticket? Also would appreciate any other questions you get asked at initial entry. We are on a self sponsored employment visa (EB1A) and therefore do not need to show a job offer or anything specific, other than maybe some funds to show we can manage until we find employment. 

I did my first point of entry last year - two months before my permanent move, so that I could talk to banks, property agencies etc. I had a return ticket dated only a week later. The immigration officer asked where I would be staying but not much else. I gave my daughter's address and explained that I was looking for a rented property for myself.

You should also bear a couple of things in mind. Your point of entry (not when you actually move to the US) is the date you become a Legal Permanent Resident and therefore the date you are liable for taxation in the US on all worldwide income. And if you sell a non-US property after the PoE date, you could be liable for US capital gains tax. I didn't owe anything because of regulations around how long I'd owned my UK house and the profit I made - but it's best to check it out beforehand. There will be others on VisaJourney who are more expert in these matters, but I'm just flagging them up because of my own experience.

Edited March 29, 2022 by Ewan

[BahamaBaby 12]

Thanks @Ewan great bits of info. Yes usa taxes are a phenomenon unto themselves and something we will learn in detail over the years to come