Travel before receiving physical Green Card

[MarriageEquality2 8]

Hey guys,

 

 

Does anyone here have any experience traveling in and out of the country before receiving the physical green card?

 

I entered the US on a CR1 Immigrant visa that has the following statement: "Upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year"

 

However, I am not sure wether I should apply for a travel document or re entry permit before exiting the country. Does my passport and endorsement suffice the US travel requirements?

 

How familiar are airlines (American Airlines specifically) when it comes to those procedures? I've heard stories of people being denied boarding by an uniformed airline staff when trying to ....

 

 

I'll be flying in and out of Mexico City if that matters. e

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 24, 2022 by MarriageEquality2
grammar erros

[powerpuff 6,697]

~~ Topic moved from General Immigration discussion to Working & Traveling during US immigration ~~
 

you’re completely fine with traveling with the I-551 stamp. 

[Crazy Cat 41,851]

53 minutes ago, MarriageEquality2 said:

Hey guys,

 

 

Does anyone here have any experience traveling in and out of the country before receiving the physical green card?

 

I entered the US on a CR1 Immigrant visa that has the following statement: "Upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year"

 

However, I am not sure wether I should apply for a travel document or re entry permit before exiting the country. Does my passport and endorsement suffice the US travel requirements?

 

How familiar are airlines (American Airlines specifically) when it comes to those procedures? I've heard stories of people being denied boarding by an uniformed airline staff when trying to ....

 

 

I'll be flying in and out of Mexico City if that matters. e

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have never heard of anyone being denied boarding with that stamp in their passport.  That serves as your Green Card.  You're fine.

[MarriageEquality2 8]

1 hour ago, Crazy Cat said:

I have never heard of anyone being denied boarding with that stamp in their passport.  That serves as your Green Card.  You're fine.

Thank you for your reply!
 

A couple posted their experience with Spirit and American Airlines when trying to board a flight from Cancun back to the US. The ground staff didn't know anything about the endorsement on the visa. That's what worries me the most. 🤷🏻🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

[Mike E 11,739]

1 hour ago, Crazy Cat said:

I have never heard of anyone being denied boarding with that stamp in their passport.  That serves as your Green Card.  You're fine.

 

17 minutes ago, MarriageEquality2 said:

Thank you for your reply!
 

A couple posted their experience with Spirit and American Airlines when trying to board a flight from Cancun back to the US. The ground staff didn't know anything about the endorsement on the visa. That's what worries me the most. 🤷🏻🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

Yes. 
 

This was out of Cancun. Spirit Airlines outright refused to board. American Airlines did after called CBP. 
 

 

[Palawan 131]

17 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

I have never heard of anyone being denied boarding with that stamp in their passport.  That serves as your Green Card.  You're fine.

I have heard of them on VJ before

 

 

[Palawan 131]

18 hours ago, MarriageEquality2 said:

Hey guys,

 

 

Does anyone here have any experience traveling in and out of the country before receiving the physical green card?

 

I entered the US on a CR1 Immigrant visa that has the following statement: "Upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year"

 

However, I am not sure wether I should apply for a travel document or re entry permit before exiting the country. Does my passport and endorsement suffice the US travel requirements?

 

How familiar are airlines (American Airlines specifically) when it comes to those procedures? I've heard stories of people being denied boarding by an uniformed airline staff when trying to ....

 

 

I'll be flying in and out of Mexico City if that matters. e

 

Mexico you are probably fine

 

My wife used the stamp to fly out of Cancun airport a few year ago, but we were on American Airlines who is pretty familiar with the stamp.

[JKLSemicolon 413]

19 hours ago, MarriageEquality2 said:

Hey guys,

 

 

Does anyone here have any experience traveling in and out of the country before receiving the physical green card?

 

I entered the US on a CR1 Immigrant visa that has the following statement: "Upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year"

 

However, I am not sure wether I should apply for a travel document or re entry permit before exiting the country. Does my passport and endorsement suffice the US travel requirements?

 

How familiar are airlines (American Airlines specifically) when it comes to those procedures? I've heard stories of people being denied boarding by an uniformed airline staff when trying to ....

 

 

I'll be flying in and out of Mexico City if that matters. e

 

 

 

 

 

 

My wife did this twice. The second time there was some confusion when checking in at the airline counter for the return trip to the US because the airline officials were not familiar with the use of the endorsed visa as I-551 evidence. This caused a slight delay while the airline officials made some phone calls to figure things out, but in the end she was able to board. So if anything I would just make sure to arrive to the airport with plenty of time.

 

If the current stamp were close to expiration, you could get another (before traveling) by calling and getting an appointment at the local USCIS office.

[MarriageEquality2 8]

1 minute ago, JKLSemicolon said:

My wife did this twice. The second time there was some confusion when checking in at the airline counter for the return trip to the US because the airline officials were not familiar with the use of the endorsed visa as I-551 evidence. This caused a slight delay while the airline officials made some phone calls to figure things out, but in the end she was able to board. So if anything I would just make sure to arrive to the airport with plenty of time.

 

If the current stamp were close to expiration, you could get another (before traveling) by calling and getting an appointment at the local USCIS office.

Thank you! My passport was stamped on September 11, 2022. 

[Chancy 6,241]

21 hours ago, MarriageEquality2 said:

Does my passport and endorsement suffice the US travel requirements?

 

If you would like extra assurance when you travel, bring a printed copy of pages 2 & 32 of the official CBP Carrier Information Guide.  Those pages state that an endorsed immigrant visa is an acceptable travel document into the US -- https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2019-Mar/2019 Carrier Information Guide - ENGLISH.pdf

 

 

[MarriageEquality2 8]

27 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

If you would like extra assurance when you travel, bring a printed copy of pages 2 & 32 of the official CBP Carrier Information Guide.  Those pages state that an endorsed immigrant visa is an acceptable travel document into the US -- https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2019-Mar/2019 Carrier Information Guide - ENGLISH.pdf

 

 

 

Great!!! I will keep a copy on my laptop. I always imagined that airline staff would be aware of those procedures with so much travel between the US and Mexico. But you never know!!!! Thank you for the link.

[MarriageEquality2 8]

On 9/25/2022 at 11:11 AM, Chancy said:

 

If you would like extra assurance when you travel, bring a printed copy of pages 2 & 32 of the official CBP Carrier Information Guide.  Those pages state that an endorsed immigrant visa is an acceptable travel document into the US -- https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2019-Mar/2019 Carrier Information Guide - ENGLISH.pdf

 

 

Hi,

 

just one silly question...

 

My admission stamp, however, only has "CR1" written in ink on it.  No expiry date or signature from the CBP officer whatsoever... so it looks slightly different than the image above from the CBP guidelines. Do you think I will have any trouble? :3 

[Lil bear 4,207]

45 minutes ago, MarriageEquality2 said:

Hi,

 

just one silly question...

 

My admission stamp, however, only has "CR1" written in ink on it.  No expiry date or signature from the CBP officer whatsoever... so it looks slightly different than the image above from the CBP guidelines. Do you think I will have any trouble? :3 

There needs to be a date somewhere on it .. date of entry .. so that the 12 month validity as temp GC is known 

[MarriageEquality2 8]

10 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

There needs to be a date somewhere on it .. date of entry .. so that the 12 month validity as temp GC is known 

there is a date of entry, however, on the CBP example, there's something other than CR1 written in ink. Mine only has cr1 in ink...

[Lil bear 4,207]

3 minutes ago, MarriageEquality2 said:

there is a date of entry, however, on the CBP example, there's something other than CR1 written in ink. Mine only has cr1 in ink...

As long as yours has entry date and visa category and it slightly overlaps  the actual visa foil… thats all thats needed. Some officers initial theirs , write the  letter airport code eg LAX.. but thats not consistent . Date and visa type are all thats needed