Hello. I will have my visa interview for CR-1 in two weeks, and I have a question.

My husband and I are planning to buy a house, and I would like to visit him for a week to look for a house together after the approval and come back to Japan until the house is ready. Is it possible for me to do it??

If I remember correctly, the green card will be mailed after I arrive in the U.S. right? That means do I have to stay there for a few weeks?? I cannot leave my job for over a week... I would like to come back to Japan and keep my job until the house is ready and I am ready to leave Japan, probably for 6 months or so. Will it be a trouble if I do that??

Sorry if it was a confusing question. Could someone give me some advice??

Thank you.

Hey,
although I don't have even NOA2 yet, that would be my ideal plan of action as well. I would think this should be possible. If GC will be mailed to your US address, may be your husband can then mail it to you or personally jump on the plane and deliver?
Or does the GC require some stamping/registering/looking at the point she is leaving the US and going to Japan?
Senior VJ-ers, please help!
Rika

you will get a stamp in your passport that is good for 1 year that acts like your green card....

Rika and Marilyn, thank you for your responses so that means I can do it!! but should I contact them and double check?? I am kinda scared

Marilyn, that means I can stay in Japan up to a year with the stamp? Like Rika said, my husband can mail the green card to my Japanese address and will it be okay??

Thank you.

I believe you can travel to the U.S. as a tourist without activating your CR-1.

You can use your CR-1 when you're ready.

I have a similar situation - we will be going in May to activate the card and stay in the States for 2 weeks. Then we will go back to my home country so my husband can finish his deployment and I can finish my work but return before 6 months are up. At the embassy, when I asked this question specifically, I was told it is ok because 1. I will have passport stamped with I-551 stamp and 2. my MIL can send me the green card once it arrives so I can use it the next time I come.

Good luck to you!

POE Entry using CR-1 on Feb 9, 2006. I stayed until Feb 24th, 2006 and I flew home. I returned on July 15th, 2006 to US for good and the officer at POE only said welcome back.

My husband Fedexed me my green card.

A cr-1 (ir-1) and a K3 one doesnt need AP, its a multiple entry type visa. When you come into the USA for the 1st time and activate it, they will stamp it and it states right on the visa that it is good for 1 year. So you could goto a POE, activate it and turn around and head back to where ever you want!! I know many canadians, goto a land POE, just to activate it and get the paperwork rolling (SSN) and head back to canada for awhile. Best of luck

I am happy to hear those. Thank you guys!!!!!