Travelling Abroad immediately after entering the U.S.

[farida 5]

Hi I would like to ask a question regarding the amount of time one should be in the U.S. before I travel abroad. I was planning on studying in France for 1 month only, but my husband said that since we didn't know the interview date for my CR1 visa, I just had to wait for the whole immigrant visa thing to be processed, go to the States, and then go to France. And we decided that I should go study and fulfill "my dream" before I start working because once I start working, I won't have a chance anymore to take that many days off. My plan is to apply for a Schengen visa immediately as soon as I'm in the U.S. and leave 2-3 weeks after. I'm not familiar on when the green card will be issued but from what I read, you will be given a temporary green card once you arrive in the U.S. A few months later, your plastic green card will arrive.

Here are my questions and please correct any wrong assumptions that I have!

1. My passport is under my maiden name, the visa I don't know yet because I haven't received my packet, but from what I read, it will be under the maiden name

2. From what I read, the Green card will be the married name. Won't I have problems if these documents have different names??

3. Granting that I will be allowed to leave the U.S. after 3 weeks, and I should apply for a visa to France, which name should I use??

4. When applying for a French visa, I need to produce financial evidence, should I use my maiden name instead of my married name when we amend my husband's tax return?

Thanks so much for any reply!!! I'm seriously thinking of scrapping my dream of going there to study the language for a month if it's too complicated.

[Little_My 464]

Once you arrive in the US with your CR-1 visa,you will immediately become a legal permanent resident upon entry. You will get an I-551 stamp in our passport when you arrive, which is essentially as good as a greencard and will function as your greencard until the physical card arrives in the mail. The stamp gives you all the rights - and responsibilities - of a greencard, including the right to travel internationally.

If you used your married name in your visa paperwork, and had a marriage certificate under that new name, your GC will be issued on your married name. If this is the case, it would be a good idea to probably obtain a new passport under that name as well eventually. However, I don't think this will be an issue in terms of your planned trip to France. You will have to book your plane ticket with the exact name that is on your passport though, otherwise they won't allow you to board the plane - so don't use your married name for the ticket, if your passport has your maiden name.

You can travel for a month abroad after getting your I-551 stamp, and a month isn't long enough to raise suspicions.

In terms of the French visa process, I really don't know what their procedures are. I would think you should use the name you currently go by - if that is your married name, then use that. Not sure if it will be an issue that your married name is not the name on your passport though.

[milimelo 4,505]

Hi I would like to ask a question regarding the amount of time one should be in the U.S. before I travel abroad. I was planning on studying in France for 1 month only, but my husband said that since we didn't know the interview date for my CR1 visa, I just had to wait for the whole immigrant visa thing to be processed, go to the States, and then go to France. And we decided that I should go study and fulfill "my dream" before I start working because once I start working, I won't have a chance anymore to take that many days off. My plan is to apply for a Schengen visa immediately as soon as I'm in the U.S. and leave 2-3 weeks after. I'm not familiar on when the green card will be issued but from what I read, you will be given a temporary green card once you arrive in the U.S. A few months later, your plastic green card will arrive.

Here are my questions and please correct any wrong assumptions that I have!

1. My passport is under my maiden name, the visa I don't know yet because I haven't received my packet, but from what I read, it will be under the maiden name

2. From what I read, the Green card will be the married name. Won't I have problems if these documents have different names??

3. Granting that I will be allowed to leave the U.S. after 3 weeks, and I should apply for a visa to France, which name should I use??

4. When applying for a French visa, I need to produce financial evidence, should I use my maiden name instead of my married name when we amend my husband's tax return?

Thanks so much for any reply!!! I'm seriously thinking of scrapping my dream of going there to study the language for a month if it's too complicated.

Your visa will be in whichever name your passport is - if you want GC in married name, should've changed your passport to reflect your new name.

[Rezak and Sharon 0]

My Advice is take it easy .... dont do everything in the same time or you wont get what you want to begin with