What does an i 551 stamp look like?

[TJandJR 69]

My husband's passport was stamped at the Atlanta poe. It's an oval stamp that says admitted and the date then in ink it has cr1 and a number under it. She said with this you can work, get a driver's license, and some other things. But I don't see anything that says I 551. Is he missing a stamp? Thanks.

[Hypnos 6,576]

No.

[EM_Vandaveer 2,369]

What he has is an endorsed immigrant visa. It serves as a temporary proof of LPR status for 1 year after POE.

[TJandJR 69]

I just read another post that said the oval stamp is it. And beneath his photo on the visa it says upon endorsement serves as a temp I 551 evidence for permanent residence for one year. But I don't understand why it says one year and it's really 2 years. That part confuses me.

[TJandJR 69]

What he has is an endorsed immigrant visa. It serves as a temporary proof of LPR status for 1 year after POE.

Can you explain what that is? Can he work? Does he still need the i 551 something?

[Hypnos 6,576]

It's not two years, it's one year.

[EM_Vandaveer 2,369]

Same as a GC, is good for a year. He should get his physical GC before the stamp expires.

[TJandJR 69]

It's not two years, it's one year.

Sorry for all the questions. They have him a paper that said he had to remove conditions with an i 751 before Aug 2018. One year, two years...so confused

[dwheels76 5,461]

Can you explain what that is? Can he work? Does he still need the i 551 something?

You are getting things mixed up. The stamp in the passport is a temp green card good for 1 year (they figure you should get the green card by then). Your green card you will receive s for 2 years since you were marred under 2 years at time of POE.

Yes he can work he is a LPR. All he needs is his SSN and he is god to go get job and drivers license.

[TJandJR 69]

Ok, got it. Thank you.

[Hypnos 6,576]

When he entered on his immigrant visa he automatically became an LPR. The proof of his LPR status is the endorsed immigrant visa that was stamped and signed at PoE. The stamp is equivalent to a green card, is valid for one year, and authorises him to both work and travel internationally if he so wishes.

Since he entered before your two year wedding anniversary, he is a conditional permanent resident. This means that he needs to file an I-751 within the 90 day window before his physical plastic green card expires. You would normally file this application together, and once approved he will receive a new, unconditional ten year green card.

You should receive his plastic green card in the mail within 60-90 days from PoE. Until then, the stamp in his passport serves the same purpose.

An I-551 is the technical name of the green card document. An I-551 stamp is sometimes given to people who have had their green card applications approved through adjustment of status but for whom the card has not yet arrived and they expressly need proof right now. These people didn't enter on immigrant visas, so they don't have the stamp that your husband does. Therefore, they sometimes get an I-551 stamp in their passports. Your husband doesn't need this because he already has the equivalent of the stamp: his endorsed immigrant visa in his passport.

[TJandJR 69]

Hypnos, you explained that so well. I appreciate it. Thank you so much.

[Hypnos 6,576]

Not a problem. It's a very confusing process.