How long does it take to get Green Card after approval? In a bit of a problem.

[H&G 60]

So my husband and I filed to remove conditions last July and found out last week that they were approving his case to remove conditions. Great! Well the approval letter just got here and I was reading it over.

 

It says we should receive the card within 60 days.

It also says you should not travel outside the United States until you receive your green card as you may have difficulty reentering.

 

My husband already booked a flight a couple weeks back to do a month long visit back home. He is scheduled to leave this coming Monday.

I am supposed to be joining him at the end of the month. Do you think we will get his green card by the end of the month and I can bring it with me? Why can't we travel until we get the card if we have that letter? 

 

Edited September 6, 2023 by H&G

[Crazy Cat 41,772]

31 minutes ago, H&G said:

Why can't we travel until we get the card if we have that letter? 

He can continue to travel with a valid extension letter and the expired 2-year Green Card until the new 10 year card arrives. 

Edited September 6, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Sparkle Sparkle 914]

49 minutes ago, H&G said:

So my husband and I filed to remove conditions last July and found out last week that they were approving his case to remove conditions. Great! Well the approval letter just got here and I was reading it over.

 

It says we should receive the card within 60 days.

It also says you should not travel outside the United States until you receive your green card as you may have difficulty reentering.

 

My husband already booked a flight a couple weeks back to do a month long visit back home. He is scheduled to leave this coming Monday.

I am supposed to be joining him at the end of the month. Do you think we will get his green card by the end of the month and I can bring it with me? Why can't we travel until we get the card if we have that letter? 

 

Why risk it? They have been benevolent enough to grant you approval without interviewing. The least you can do is postpone the trip , like they said he might experience trouble entering. More so, if you don’t have the green card in hand don’t make any plans. What if it gets lost in the mail? 

[Mike E 11,739]

3 hours ago, H&G said:

It also says you should not travel outside the United States until you receive your green card as you may have difficulty reentering

LPRs have to be admitted. This is a scare tactic by USCIS.

 

LPRs who are given a new GC, and do not present it at the port of entry might have to pay the I-193

fee. 

 

I would do the trip, provided the port of entry to U.S. on the return is not pre clearance.

 

 

[Mike E 11,739]

2 hours ago, Sparkle Sparkle said:

Why risk it?

What risk do you see?

[H&G 60]

Just checked case status and it said card was mailed today. Providing it doesn't get lost in the mail..I guess we might have been worried for nothing.

Edited September 7, 2023 by H&G

[SalishSea 17,791]

9 minutes ago, H&G said:

Just checked case status and it said card was mailed today. Providing it doesn't get lost in the mail..I guess we might have been worried for nothing.

Have you signed up for informed delivery with the USPS?  It's a great way to be able to track incoming mail.  It's free.  On the day my husband's new 10 year GC was set to arrive, I was able to plan to fetch  the mail right when it was delivered.

[OldUser 6,589]

1 hour ago, SalishSea said:

Have you signed up for informed delivery with the USPS?  It's a great way to be able to track incoming mail.  It's free. 

That's a good tip. I like this feature and use it regularly. I knew my GC was coming even before USCIS updated case with USPS tracking code.

[Caligirl1 211]

3 hours ago, H&G said:

Just checked case status and it said card was mailed today. Providing it doesn't get lost in the mail..I guess we might have been worried for nothing.

Fingers crossed 🤞 and congratulations!

[P055UM 281]

10 hours ago, Mike E said:

provided the port of entry to U.S. on the return is not pre clearance.

Out of curiosity, why this caveat? I have generally found CBP at pre-clearance (Dublin, specifically) to be more rigorous interviewers, and I’m wondering if this is your reasoning, or if there is something more concrete in CBP policies? 

[Mike E 11,739]

5 minutes ago, AW1704 said:

Out of curiosity, why this caveat? I have generally found CBP at pre-clearance (Dublin, specifically) to be more rigorous interviewers, and I’m wondering if this is your reasoning, or if there is something more concrete in CBP policies? 

LPRs cannot be denied entry at a physical of entry.

 

At Dublin even U.S. citizens can be denied entry

 

 

[P055UM 281]

3 minutes ago, Mike E said:

LPRs cannot be denied entry at a physical of entry.

 

At Dublin even U.S. citizens can be denied entry

 

 

Interesting to know. Thanks!

[Rafagus 64]

It only took a year to approve!  How lucky!  We're still waiting, it will be two years in November.....

[Crazy Cat 41,772]

15 hours ago, Sparkle Sparkle said:

like they said he might experience trouble entering.

Such as?  If he has a valid extension letter and the expired 2-year Green Card, he will be allowed to board a flight, and he will be admitted.  After all, he maintains status as a legal resident.  Some of these USCIS letters are extremely generic in nature.  

[Crazy Cat 41,772]

7 minutes ago, Rafagus said:

It only took a year to approve!  How lucky!  We're still waiting, it will be two years in November.....

Yes.  I know one case (my wife) which took 44 months for approval (NO RFEs).