Green Card Process I-131 Process Timing

[badshah 1]

Ladies & Gents

I am currently doing job in saudia and plan to travel in USA after getting my CR-1 Visa.How much time it will take in USA to issue for green card and re-entry permit (I-131)?

Actually on the basis of above i can plan my vacations here in saudia for US visit.Afterwards i will move back to my job in saudia.

Please guide my for above questions and also define what are pre-requistics so that i can expedite it in USA and urgently move back to Saudia.

Thanks

Badshah Khan

[Darnell 8,478]

What are your plans for immigrating to the USA ?

[badshah 1]

What are your plans for immigrating to the USA ?

1-Since my wife is studying over there so my future plan is to continue my job here in saudia and visit my wife after

every six months or one year.

2- After 02 to 03 years i will permanant settle in USA.I can use these 02 to 03 years period to find better job in USA and

meanwhile my wife will complete her study.

3-I will also manage to get saudi visa for my US wife to meet me in saudia for her vacations, if i can not manage to travel to

USA.

I hope Darnell you will agree with my plans

[Caryh 5,206]

You might get the CR-1 and green card, if they do not know your plans. But your plans will likely get your green card taken away. Green cards are meant for residents. You're trying to use it as an any time vacation visa for two to three years. When the border patrol agents notice you spend all your time out of country, they'll turn you away at the border and mark your case as you having given up residence. I would say your best option is getting your wife a visa to visit you and apply for the CR-1 when you're ready to take up residence in the USA.

[badshah 1]

You might get the CR-1 and green card, if they do not know your plans. But your plans will likely get your green card taken away. Green cards are meant for residents. You're trying to use it as an any time vacation visa for two to three years. When the border patrol agents notice you spend all your time out of country, they'll turn you away at the border and mark your case as you having given up residence. I would say your best option is getting your wife a visa to visit you and apply for the CR-1 when you're ready to take up residence in the USA.

Caryh I respect your answer but I-131 form meant for such persons who can get re-entry permit

Persons with re-entry permit can stay outside US for 02 years without any problem.

Any one can help me out

[kwara4u 14]

CR-1 takes a year to complete the process but you will get an interview within 9 months. Better to live in US than to visit in 6 months. You want to be a resident and CR1 is a conditional visa which means you must be living with your wife for 2 yrs before you apply for passport. Find a job now so that you can come here and start working rightaway.

[badshah 1]

Caryh I respect your answer but I-131 form meant for such persons who can get re-entry permit

Persons with re-entry permit can stay outside US for 02 years without any problem.

Any one can help me out

Caryh Please read through below:

Re-Entry Permit

Re-entry Overview

How to apply for Re-entry permit

As per the basic rule of Permanent residency ( Green card) Travel for over 6 months may break the continuous residence requirement and you may loose your permanent residency status.

If you a Permanent resplendent( Green card holder) and planning to travel outside of USA, and remain outside for more then 6 months, you must get a Re-entry permit to keep your Green Card alive and prevent any issue to re-enter into USA. Re-entry permits are generally valid for two years from the date of issuance of the re-entry permit.

A re-entry permit can help prevent two types of problems:

(1) Your Permanent Resident Card becoming technically invalid for re-entry into the United States (U.S.), if you are absent from the U.S. for 1 year or more.

(2) Your U.S. permanent residence being considered as abandoned for absences shorter than 1 year, if you take up residence in another country.

A re-entry permit establishes a presumption that you did not abandon status, and it allows you to apply for admission to the U.S. after traveling abroad for up to 2 years, without having to obtain a returning resident visa. Re-entry permits are normally valid for 2 years from the date of issuance. You may also want to get a re-entry permit if you plan

How to get a re-entry permit?

If you want to get a re-entry permit, file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, complete with supporting documentation, photos and applicable fees.

This form can be downloaded from our Forms and Fees page of USCIS website.

You may have to provide the following document along with the application.

A copy of the alien registration receipt card; or

If he has not yet received his alien registration receipt card, a copy of the biographic page of his passport and the page of his passport indicating initial admission as a permanent resident, or other evidence that the alien is a permanent resident; or

A copy of the approval notice of a separate application for replacement of the alien registration receipt card or temporary evidence of permanent resident status.

The address to send the application is given in the form itself. Send the completed form, fee and other required documents through a registered/certified mail.

You should file this application well in advance of your planned trip.

What will happen if you not apply for a re-entry permit before I travel outside of the U.S. ?

If you are a permanent resident who plans to travel outside of the U.S. for one year or more, it is important that you apply for a re-entry permit before you depart the U.S. If you stay outside of the U.S. for one year or more and did not apply for a re-entry permit before you left, then you may be considered to have abandoned your permanent resident status and may be refused entry into the U.S. if you try to return. If you are in this situation, contact the U.S. Consulate about a returning resident visa. Can I apply for the re-entry permit and then leave, even though I don't have the re-entry permit in my possession yet? U.S. immigration law does not require that you have the re-entry document in your possession when you depart, but it does require that you apply for the permit before you leave the U.S. We may be able to send your re-entry permit to the U.S. Consulate or Embassy in the country you plan on visiting, but you'll need to specifically request this when you file your I-131. If you choose this option, you should contact the U.S. Consulate or Embassy in the country you plan on visiting when you arrive, to let them know how to contact you while you are in that country. The US Consulates or Embassy may then contact you if your application is approved and your permit has arrived there.

It is advisable to plan your trip in advance and get this document before traveling for peace of mind.

[badshah 1]

CR-1 takes a year to complete the process but you will get an interview within 9 months. Better to live in US than to visit in 6 months. You want to be a resident and CR1 is a conditional visa which means you must be living with your wife for 2 yrs before you apply for passport. Find a job now so that you can come here and start working rightaway.

Hi Kwara 4U!

I understand that to live continousaly in US untill to get US passport is a far better option, however you can travel from US with Green card.With 02 re entry permit you can legelly away from US and it does not harm your residance (Green card) but it will perlong the US passport getting period.

Hi Kwara 4U!

I understand that to live continousaly in US untill to get US passport is a far better option, however you can travel from US with Green card.With 02 re entry permit you can legelly away from US and it does not harm your residance (Green card) but it will perlong the US passport getting period.

* with re entry permit you can away from US for 02 years.

[Caryh 5,206]

Caryh I respect your answer but I-131 form meant for such persons who can get re-entry permit

Persons with re-entry permit can stay outside US for 02 years without any problem.

Any one can help me out

Re-entry permit or not, the border patrol agents have the final say over who gets in and who is kept out. Maybe I'm reading your intent wrong, but it sounds like you'll only be here a few weeks at a time over the first 3 years. If you've never stayed in the USA long enough to establish residency, your re-entry permit will do you little good in the eyes of the border patrol agent. To him its going to appear you're using the green card as an open ended vacation visa and they have the final authority to turn you away at the border. Not getting the re-entry permit would guarantee you don't get back in, but the re-entry permit is not a guarantee of being let in. The CR-1 is a lot of expense and time to set up. Your plan puts that time and expense at risk. Of course you could always redo a CR-1 if you do get your green card yanked for failing to maintain residency. If you search around on this site, you'll find there are many people who have attempted to do the green card but live and work abroad trick. It generally has not worked out well.

[Darnell 8,478]

Dearest BadShah

My final advice to you is -

do NOT file the I-130 until it's 9 months away from when you are finished working in Saudi Arabia..

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