Remaining in Canada while searching for employment after receiving a Green card

[markmcd85 0]

I have received my visa via CR-1. I plan to enter the USA at the Blaine border crossing. I currently live and work in Vancouver, Canada, and plan to look for work in Seattle while still residing in Canada. Has anyone any experience of crossing the border with a green card while still temporarily residing in Canada. I want to know if I would encounter any problems if I was driving back and forth regularly regarding my plans to permanently reside in the USA. I cannot afford not to work and want to know if it is a better idea not to cross with my Visa Packet until I plan to stay there.

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to Working & Traveling During US Immigration forum.

[Ms Hogan 295]

My situation was not exactly the same but somewhat similar in that I drove back and forth several times after my CR1 (and kids' CR2s became active) before actually moving. You can look at my timeline for date specifics but basically I got my visa "activated" on March 13th of 2013 but didn't actually move until June. The reason for me was because I wanted my kids to finish the entire school year before moving. I only had a hard time once when I crossed a different border than the one I normally cross. But I was honestly going back and forth every other weekend during that time. When I did my POE initially I explained my situation to the officer who was processing my paperwork and he said to be aware of how much time I spend in the U.S. vs Canada so that the time was greater in the U.S. etc. That wasn't going to be a problem for me after June it was just getting through those couple of months in the meantime.

Further to my above babbling... I don't think you have an option because if I remember correctly there is going to be a sticker in your passport showing the visa. My memory is already bad about what the process was but I know that I had to go through the process on that next visit after getting our packets back. So I just got it all done and then did the traveling back and forth until we moved.

I'm sorry if my answer seems scattered. I had no problems. I traveled back and forth almost every other weekend from March until June of 2013 while waiting to make the official move. I was asked a couple times where I was living and I was just honest about the situation. Hope this helps.