Travel after Welcome Letter

[chispas 0]

Just need to check for sure,,, and hope I have not misinterpretted what I read. If we have the temporary green card, the one you received after welcome to America letter, do you need to get special permission to leave the US for vacation?

Thanks everyone.

[Anastasia 1]

I don't really understand what you're saying. On the thread topic it says "...before green card is issued" and then you write "we have the temporary green card". So do you have a green card or not?

If you have a green card or a stamp in your passpord from your AOS interview then you can travel and take your green card/passport with you to use it to re-enter the US, no problems there. If you don't have a green card/stamp in the passport you cannot travel outside the US, unless you have AP document which allows you to re-enter the US while your AOS is pending.

[Carola 0]

I don't really understand what you're saying. On the thread topic it says "...before green card is issued" and then you write "we have the temporary green card". So do you have a green card or not?

If you have a green card or a stamp in your passpord from your AOS interview then you can travel and take your green card/passport with you to use it to re-enter the US, no problems there. If you don't have a green card/stamp in the passport you cannot travel outside the US, unless you have AP document which allows you to re-enter the US while your AOS is pending.

Anastasia is totally right

Edited April 9, 2006 by Carola

[chispas 0]

If you have a green card or a stamp in your passport from your AOS interview then you can travel and take your green card/passport with you to use it to re-enter the US, no problems there. If you don't have a green card/stamp in the passport you cannot travel outside the US, unless you have AP document which allows you to re-enter the US while your AOS is pending.

We applied for AOS, was never called for an interview, received the Welcome to America letter stating the AOS was approved and that the card should arrive in 14 days. Not complaining, but it seems a few steps were skipped so I am unclear what is going on. To check we took the INFOPASS appt. went to check and was told that it was on its way. That is why I thought it must be a temporary card as I thought one had to wait two years for the green card.

Thanks again

[meauxna 15]

If you have a green card or a stamp in your passport from your AOS interview then you can travel and take your green card/passport with you to use it to re-enter the US, no problems there. If you don't have a green card/stamp in the passport you cannot travel outside the US, unless you have AP document which allows you to re-enter the US while your AOS is pending.

We applied for AOS, was never called for an interview, received the Welcome to America letter stating the AOS was approved and that the card should arrive in 14 days. Not complaining, but it seems a few steps were skipped so I am unclear what is going on. To check we took the INFOPASS appt. went to check and was told that it was on its way. That is why I thought it must be a temporary card as I thought one had to wait two years for the green card.

Thanks again

The terminology you're using is confusing, that's all. There is no "temporary" Green Card. For newlyweds, there is a Green Card with conditions, that is valid for two years. Just before it expires, you file another form to confirm that you are still married. It's still a Green Card and you are still a Permanent Resident, from the day you were approved (conditions or not).

You can read about your new status and your rights and responsibilities with an explanation of the conditions on your new card here:

Now That You Are A Permanent Resident

http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/PermRes.htm

As for travel, you will have to wait for your Green Card to arrive. If you got the physical Welcome To America letter, your card should not be far behind.

If something goes wrong and you have not received your card within a month of the letter, make an InfoPass appt and ask for the stamp in the passport so that you can travel.