Border crossing with visa or green card

[LSL 3]

Questions:

1) once you cross the border with the CR1/IR1 visa you are supposed to stay in the US until you get the green card? or is it possible to go back to Canada for a short visit?

2) once you have the green card can you travel between the Canada/US without restrictions or is there a specific travel document or a rule about exit and entry?

I mean if I want to go visit my family and friends in Canada...

Thanks in advance

L.

[David & Diana R 1,005]

IMHO I would never leave the country without having the Green card in my possession. The US might not let you back in. Just my thoughts, but then I am very careful.

[LSL 3]

Yah, I will probably wait for the green card to arrive, but once I have it can I travel without any specific limitations or do I need to get some form of additional US travel document ?

[florida4life 29]

This is an "Immigrant" Visa and will as such allow the applicant to arrive in the US as a Legal Permanent Resident.

After entry into the US, as a Permanent Resident they will not require special permission to leave the US for travel. No Advance Parole (AP) document is required.

IR1/CR1 Visas

[JayJayH 546]

IMHO I would never leave the country without having the Green card in my possession. The US might not let you back in. Just my thoughts, but then I am very careful.

Yah, I will probably wait for the green card to arrive, but once I have it can I travel without any specific limitations or do I need to get some form of additional US travel document ?

Your immigrant visa, once stamped by the CBP officer will act as temporary evidence of your permanent resident status for one year. It is safe to go back to Canada with a stamped/endorsed immigrant visa. Once you get the physical green card, use that along with your Canadian passport.

In fact, the bottom of an immigrant visa reads "Upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year." The "endorsement" is the stamp you get the first time you enter the US on the visa.

In the future, no other document than your Canadian passport and US green card are required for entry.

The only restriction is that you have to live in the US. You can't have permanent resident status in the US if you don't reside in the US. This only becomes relevant if you plan on taking very extended vacations.

Edited November 21, 2013 by Yang-Ja

[David & Diana R 1,005]

Yah, I will probably wait for the green card to arrive, but once I have it can I travel without any specific limitations or do I need to get some form of additional US travel document ?

I would carry every ID I have to be safe. Passport, Green card, drivers license....you can never have too many ID's.

[LSL 3]

Thank you so much! This is all very important information to know. Obviously I will have my IDs with me when traveling, I simply wanted to make sure I could travel if I needed or wanted to.

[Lemonslice 4,712]

You can get back to Canada the next day... that's no problem; a friend of mine moved over a weekend, doing many trips in and out - the stamp in your passport is the evidence of your status.

see: www.getyouhome.gov

U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents: Document requirements for Lawful Permanent Residents will not change under WHTI. U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents can continue to use their permanent resident card (Form I-551) or other valid evidence of permanent residence status.

[christeen 966]

The stamp in your passport (I551) stamp will let you back in... My hubby traveled internationally only days after he arrived for work.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Yep like the informed people have stated, the I-551 that is endorsed in your passport acts as the "greencard" Travel all you want, (up to a certain amount of time,without having to file more paperwork, think it is a year) 1 of the benefits of the Cr-1/Ir-1

[LSL 3]

Great! thank you everyone!