Travelling while waiting for green card, on stamped immigration visa?

[irertwert 1]

If someone got a valid immigration visa (IR-5 in this case), arrives to the US, presumably they can wait up to 90 days for the physical green card to arrive.

Can they leave and come back on the same visa before receiving the green card?

[OldUser 6,636]

24 minutes ago, irertwert said:

If someone got a valid immigration visa (IR-5 in this case), arrives to the US, presumably they can wait up to 90 days for the physical green card to arrive.

Can they leave and come back on the same visa before receiving the green card?

Yes, endorsed visa is valid for a year for travel.

GC can take longer than 90 days to arrive.

Few things to consider:

 

1. Travelling will likely delay your eligibility for naturalization. Say your card will say Resident Since 07/01/2024. But if you left on 07/10/2024 with stamp and entered on 10/10/2024, I'd count 5 years from October 2024 to submit N-400. Otherwise USCIS can say you never started residing in the US until October 2024 and deny N-400.

2. You need to have firm address. If your GC doesn't ger delivered or you don't have access to mail, you'll have to file I-90 and potentially wait long time to get GC replaced.

3. (Only a theory) USCIS now has better awareness of people leaving the US. I won't be surprised when they play games of "sending" GC, but in reality redirecting it back to USCIS knowing you're not in the US.

 

It's always best to have GC in hand before travelling. But if it's urgent - you can travel before.

 

 

Edited July 6 by OldUser