Rules on entering the US

[Cosmic 0]

Hi all,

A friend of mine is getting married in Canada at the end of June and I'm one of her bridesmaids. I figured that I should already be in the USA by then.... however the CSC has been super slow (I'm a July filer for CR1) and now I estimate that I'll be arriving just before the wedding.

My question is this: What are the rules for entering the US with your green card?

I understand that they post it out to you which means that I won't be able to leave and go to Canada until the green card arrives, correct?

Am I allowed to "transit" through LA and fly direct to Canada without using my green card entry, and instead use it when I return from Canada?

Any help would be appreciated (including who to call!)

-S

[Cosmic 0]

*To clarify, I understand that they post it out to you (upon arrival in the USA) which means that I won't be able to leave the USA and go to Canada until the green card arrives, correct?

[aaron2020 11,651]

Hi all,

A friend of mine is getting married in Canada at the end of June and I'm one of her bridesmaids. I figured that I should already be in the USA by then.... however the CSC has been super slow (I'm a July filer for CR1) and now I estimate that I'll be arriving just before the wedding.

My question is this: What are the rules for entering the US with your green card? See below.

I understand that they post it out to you which means that I won't be able to leave and go to Canada until the green card arrives, correct? No. You will be able to leave and come back to the US.

Am I allowed to "transit" through LA and fly direct to Canada without using my green card entry, and instead use it when I return from Canada? It's better for you to use the CR-1 visa. It becomes your temporary green card.

Any help would be appreciated (including who to call!)

-S

Don't worry at all.

Enter the US on the CR-1 visa. As soon as CBP stamps the visa in your Aussie passport, it becomes a temporary green card that's valid for one year. You can use the stamped CR-1 visa to travel to Canada and return to the US.

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http://www.***removed***/greencard/retain-greencard.html

Temporary Stamp

When you enter the U.S. with an immigration visa, your passport will be stamped as a temporary evidence of permanent resident status. When you go to the local USCIS office[2] after I-485 is approved, you get the same stamp.

It serves the same purpose as the actual green card for employment and travel purposes, except that it is valid for 1 year until the actual card arrives in mail. Even though it is valid to travel back to the U.S., some airlines may incorrectly ask you to apply for advance parole to return to the U.S., if they are not fully aware of U.S. immigration laws.

Even though it is such a simple looking stamp, immigration officers at port of entry can quickly determine whether the stamp is genuine, as the ink used is a security ink. Some port of entry inspectors at a U.S. international airports require a person with the temporary stamp in the passport to go into secondary inspection. It may be helpful to keep the copy of the immigrant visa petition (I-140 for employment based, I-130 for family based etc.) handy.

The temporary stamp can be renewed if needed.

It is best not to move until the actual plastic green card arrives in the mail. If you must your change address, follow change of address[3] procedures. However, there is no guarantee that your mail will be properly routed even after that.

If you never received the card, follow the procedure to replace green card[4].

[Cosmic 0]

Thank you! Big big big sigh of relief. :-)

[aaron2020 11,651]

Thank you! Big big big sigh of relief. :-)

You're welcome. Best of luck and have fun at the wedding.