IR-1, global entry, ESTA, travel whilst waiting for green card

[visacats 9]

Hi,

All being well, I will soon have my interview and be granted my spouse visa.

My understanding is that after the interview:

1. I will receive my passport back (via courier) with my visa in it, along with a sealed package of documents (not to be opened)
2. I have six months to enter the US (well, technically six months from the date of my medical)
3. I pay the USCIS Immigration Fee, preferably before entering the US
4. when I enter the US, I present my passport with visa and the sealed package of docs received from the embassy
5. my entry to the US then triggers the process for generating and sending my my actual green card.

 

My questions are:

1. can I travel in and out of the US using my passport and CR visa prior to me receiving the green card? My understanding is that I can do so for the first 12 months
2. how long should I expect the arrival of the green card to take?
3. after that first entry on the visa, am I eligible to seek work etc. before my green card has arrived?
4. I currently travel into the US via ESTA, and I also have global entry. I am assuming that I will not continue to need an ESTA once I have the CR visa, but will I keep my global entry? I should do, right?

[Dashinka 24,493]

2 minutes ago, visacats said:

Hi,

All being well, I will soon have my interview and be granted my spouse visa.

My understanding is that after the interview:

1. I will receive my passport back (via courier) with my visa in it, along with a sealed package of documents (not to be opened)
2. I have six months to enter the US (well, technically six months from the date of my medical)
3. I pay the USCIS Immigration Fee, preferably before entering the US
4. when I enter the US, I present my passport with visa and the sealed package of docs received from the embassy
5. my entry to the US then triggers the process for generating and sending my my actual green card.

 

My questions are:

1. can I travel in and out of the US using my passport and CR visa prior to me receiving the green card? My understanding is that I can do so for the first 12 months

Yes, the CBP endorsed visa will serve as a temporary GC for 12 months and is just as good as a physical GC.  One note, when you do enter the first time using your visa, remind CBP to stamp it, there have been a few stories recently where this did not happen- and people had to go back to CBP to get it done.

2 minutes ago, visacats said:

1. how long should I expect the arrival of the green card to take?

3-6 weeks, maybe more.

2 minutes ago, visacats said:

1. after that first entry on the visa, am I eligible to seek work etc. before my green card has arrived?

Yes.

2 minutes ago, visacats said:

1. I currently travel into the US via ESTA, and I also have global entry. I am assuming that I will not continue to need an ESTA once I have the CR visa, but will I keep my global entry? I should do, right?

I believe your GE will continue, but I am not sure if you need to update anything regarding your status once you actually become an LPR.  Might be another question to ask at CBP when you enter.  Also, no need to continue with ESTA once an LPR.

 

Good Luck!

[visacats 9]

2 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

Yes, the CBP endorsed visa will serve as a temporary GC for 12 months and is just as good as a physical GC.  One note, when you do enter the first time using your visa, remind CBP to stamp it, there have been a few stories recently where this did not happen- and people had to go back to CBP to get it done.

3-6 weeks, maybe more.

Yes.

I believe your GE will continue, but I am not sure if you need to update anything regarding your status once you actually become an LPR.  Might be another question to ask at CBP when you enter.  Also, no need to continue with ESTA once an LPR.

 

Good Luck!

Great, thank you!

 

One more question - I have two passports. I have obviously listed them both in the various application forms throughout the process, but I believe I have nominated one of them as the "applying" passport.

 

Do you know if the visa will/can be applied to both passports, so that either of them can be used for entry? Or will it just be limited to the one I have nominated? 

 

Not a big deal, but just curious.

[Dashinka 24,493]

6 minutes ago, visacats said:

Great, thank you!

 

One more question - I have two passports. I have obviously listed them both in the various application forms throughout the process, but I believe I have nominated one of them as the "applying" passport.

 

Do you know if the visa will/can be applied to both passports, so that either of them can be used for entry? Or will it just be limited to the one I have nominated? 

 

Not a big deal, but just curious.

To my knowledge, the consulate will only put the visa in one passport (did they keep both?) and that is the one you want to use when re-entering the US at least until you get your physical GC.

 

Good Luck!

[visacats 9]

2 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

To my knowledge, the consulate will only put the visa in one passport (did they keep both?) and that is the one you want to use when re-entering the US at least until you get your physical GC.

 

Good Luck!

Oh, I haven't had the interview yet - it's in a couple of weeks.

No worries, I will ask them at the time.

Cheers!

[jan22 3,053]

It's worth noting, I think, that there is most likely is one inaccuracy in your summary of the process.  Depending on the embassy, you will likely not receive a sealed envelope with your documents.  Almost all (maybe all by now, I'm not sure) US embassies have gone to digitized copies of all the documents and your visa will be noted that the documrnts are in the CCD (Consular Consolidated Database).  So, don't panic if you don't get that sealed envelope -- it's normal!

 

You will definitely need to uodate your Global Entry.  You are required to use your green card for Global Entry after you become an LPR -- otherwise, your admittance information will be recorded as it is now, i.e., a visitor.  You, of course, will have also have to update your personal infotmation, such as your address.  Per the answer to a FAQ (https://ttp.dhs.gov/faq?lang=en) on the DHS website,  you will likely need to go to a Trusted Traveler Enrollment Center to add your LPR information. You can update information on documents that are already associated with your TTP membership but cannot add anything new without a personal visit. Take a look at the question "Can I update my passport/lawful permanent resident card information in TTP?" under the "Programs" section.  If you're lucky and are entering at an airport that has a Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival office (https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/enrollment-arrival), you might be able to do it on the day of your arrival -- not sure about that, but it's worth asking!

Edited April 3, 2023 by jan22

[visacats 9]

2 hours ago, jan22 said:

It's worth noting, I think, that there is most likely is one inaccuracy in your summary of the process.  Depending on the embassy, you will likely not receive a sealed envelope with your documents.  Almost all (maybe all by now, I'm not sure) US embassies have gone to digitized copies of all the documents and your visa will be noted that the documrnts are in the CCD (Consular Consolidated Database).  So, don't panic if you don't get that sealed envelope -- it's normal!

 

You will definitely need to uodate your Global Entry.  You are required to use your green card for Global Entry after you become an LPR -- otherwise, your admittance information will be recorded as it is now, i.e., a visitor.  You, of course, will have also have to update your personal infotmation, such as your address.  Per the answer to a FAQ (https://ttp.dhs.gov/faq?lang=en) on the DHS website,  you will likely need to go to a Trusted Traveler Enrollment Center to add your LPR information. You can update information on documents that are already associated with your TTP membership but cannot add anything new without a personal visit. Take a look at the question "Can I update my passport/lawful permanent resident card information in TTP?" under the "Programs" section.  If you're lucky and are entering at an airport that has a Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival office (https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/enrollment-arrival), you might be able to do it on the day of your arrival -- not sure about that, but it's worth asking!

Thanks for the clarification about the sealed documents. One less thing to worry about losing!

 

Also thank you for the insight regarding Global Entry. I’ll be arriving at SFO when the time comes so I’ll try to get it all sorted out there.

 

Cheers!

[pushbrk 12,882]

9 hours ago, Dashinka said:

Yes, the CBP endorsed visa will serve as a temporary GC for 12 months and is just as good as a physical GC.  One note, when you do enter the first time

I believe your GE will continue, but I am not sure if you need to update anything regarding your status once you actually become an LPR.  Might be another question to ask at CBP when you enter.  Also, no need to continue with ESTA once an LPR.

 

Good Luck!

Definitely ask CBP about the global entry.  Don't expect a packet to hand over.  Almost all are electronic now.

[TBoneTX 45,287]

visacats, you've had the fortune to have had your questions answered by three of our most premier members.  Fingers are crossed for a successful visa interview and an uneventful entry.

[Mike E 11,739]

17 hours ago, visacats said:

currently travel into the US via ESTA, and I also have global entry. I am assuming that I will not continue to need an ESTA once I have the CR visa, but will I keep my global entry? I should do, right?

You will keep it, but won’t able to use when entering the U.S. the first time on your CR-1 visa. After you get your green card, you will need to visit a global entry office to upgrade your status in the system to an LPR. Thereafter, whenever a kiosk asks for a passport, you will use your green card instead.

[visacats 9]

3 hours ago, Mike E said:

You will keep it, but won’t able to use when entering the U.S. the first time on your CR-1 visa. After you get your green card, you will need to visit a global entry office to upgrade your status in the system to an LPR. Thereafter, whenever a kiosk asks for a passport, you will use your green card instead.

 

Understood, yes, it figures that I wouldn't be able to use it at least on first entry. Thanks!

[visacats 9]

11 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

visacats, you've had the fortune to have had your questions answered by three of our most premier members.  Fingers are crossed for a successful visa interview and an uneventful entry.

Feeling the love, haha! Thank you very much everyone 💙

[Chancy 6,241]

*** Moved from IR1/CR1 Process & Procedures to Moving to the US & Your New Life In America forum -- topic is about processes after US entry with immigrant visa ***

 

[Sofitalian 134]

To the question about two passports - in my process, I used my HK passport. However, at the point of interview, they allowed me to choose which passport to put my IR1 visa. I chose to use my Canadian passport. Once you enter US with the visa and get stamped, it doesn't matter any more.