Logistical question re activating green card and moving

[Shades8 36]

I am wondering if once I have my interview and am (hopefully) approved for a green card, what is actually stamped in my passport?  I assume I don’t really have any visa/residency status until I personally cross the US border and it’s at that point that I am granted residency? The reason I’m wondering is twofold, I need to move my things over to the US shortly after approval, but I need to be able to go overseas for a month at about the same time.  I know I have 6 months from approval date to enter the US and get my green card, but I’m not sure if I should enter the US but then have to almost immediately leave the country for a month, isn’t that frowned upon? If I wait though, and only enter after I know I can stay put in the US for a while, I assume I wouldn’t be able to have my things moved into the US? Not sure what the right approach would be here …

[mam521 2,381]

  On 11/13/2023 at 4:25 PM, Shades8 said:

I am wondering if once I have my interview and am (hopefully) approved for a green card, what is actually stamped in my passport?  I assume I don’t really have any visa/residency status until I personally cross the US border and it’s at that point that I am granted residency? The reason I’m wondering is twofold, I need to move my things over to the US shortly after approval, but I need to be able to go overseas for a month at about the same time.  I know I have 6 months from approval date to enter the US and get my green card, but I’m not sure if I should enter the US but then have to almost immediately leave the country for a month, isn’t that frowned upon? If I wait though, and only enter after I know I can stay put in the US for a while, I assume I wouldn’t be able to have my things moved into the US? Not sure what the right approach would be here …

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When the Consulate takes your passport, they adhere a visa sticker into it with your photo (like many other countries do for a tourist or work visa).  When you appear at the border, the CBP agent will access your electronic records, verify the information and then stamp your passport, validating that visa.  This is what is referred to as your temporary I-551 (greencard).  You can travel for up to a year from the date of that validation stamp without a physical greencard because sometimes the physical cards take some time to get to you (ours took 177 days).  

 

It's not a great idea to leave for long periods of time, but some people flagpole (activate their visa and return to Canada or Mexico right away) to tie up business.  Being in Canada, you have to understand that the expectation is you're a PR of the US and your social benefits will go away.  The biggest thing is to make sure you're not out of the US for too long of a period of time or you may require a re-entry permit and it will impact when you can apply for citizenship, if that's on your radar.  

[Shades8 36]

  On 11/13/2023 at 5:13 PM, mam521 said:

When the Consulate takes your passport, they adhere a visa sticker into it with your photo (like many other countries do for a tourist or work visa).  When you appear at the border, the CBP agent will access your electronic records, verify the information and then stamp your passport, validating that visa.  This is what is referred to as your temporary I-551 (greencard).  You can travel for up to a year from the date of that validation stamp without a physical greencard because sometimes the physical cards take some time to get to you (ours took 177 days).  

 

It's not a great idea to leave for long periods of time, but some people flagpole (activate their visa and return to Canada or Mexico right away) to tie up business.  Being in Canada, you have to understand that the expectation is you're a PR of the US and your social benefits will go away.  The biggest thing is to make sure you're not out of the US for too long of a period of time or you may require a re-entry permit and it will impact when you can apply for citizenship, if that's on your radar.  

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Thank you for that info! So if i enter and then a week later I have leave the US for a month and half, would that be an issue do you think? Citizenship is not something I’ll be going for in the future.  

[mam521 2,381]

I wouldn't imagine it to be a big deal.  People have done far worse and if you can prove you're back to the US to stay, even better. 

[EmilyW 1,548]

We activated, went back to our country of origin for eight months, and returned without problems.  We did maintain a US bank account, address, Amazon deliveries and tax returns during that time: just in case our intent to reside in the US was in question.

 

[Shades8 36]

  On 11/13/2023 at 5:29 PM, EmilyW said:

We activated, went back to our country of origin for eight months, and returned without problems.  We did maintain a US bank account, address, Amazon deliveries and tax returns during that time: just in case our intent to reside in the US was in question.

 

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Oh awesome! ok great, I will have a US residence and bank accounts while I’m gone and for when I return, so hopefully that will solidify things for me when I return. 

[Ontarkie 14,740]

Enter the US with your visa and get your things moved at that time. You are correct you won't be able to move your things until the visa is endorsed.