When filing from abroad - when is a greencard's official start date?

[misswonder 0]

Hi everyone! I have a fairly straight forward question here... when filing from abroad (London Embassy) and if the interview goes well and I'm granted the 6 month window (I-551) to travel to the states to be with my husband - when does the greencard actually and officially start? The day of the embassy interview when my application is approved or the day I fly in and physically arrive on US soil? My interview date will fall roughly around a time when me and my husband will have been married a year and 9-10 months... so would that mean I will only be given the conditional greencard no matter what (because the greencard start ticking on the Embassy interview day) or does it mean that I could be given the 10 year greencard if I wait 3-4 months to travel to the US (because the greencard starts ticking the day I arrive) - in which case - waiting another few months to travel is obviously a no-brainer if it means receiving the full 10 year greencard instead and not having to go through the hassle of removing the condition of a conditional greencard 2 years down the line. Any fellow Brits on here...? With first hand experience in what your greencard said start date wise... was it your embassy interview date or your US soil arrival date..? Thanks everyone!

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

To get the 10 year card, you need to arrive in the USA after your 2nd anniversary. Be sure to point out to the immigration officer at the border that you are now married longer than 2 years.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

You don't get a greencard from the embassy. You only get a VISA from London. It will have an expiration date 6 months from the date of the visa medical. When you go through immigration POE in the US, you will get an I-551 stamp as permanent resident. Travel after the second wedding anniversary.

[misswonder 0]

You don't get a greencard from the embassy. You only get a VISA from London. It will have an expiration date 6 months from the date of the visa medical. When you go through immigration POE in the US, you will get an I-551 stamp as permanent resident. Travel after the second wedding anniversary.

Thank you so much for your reply Nich-Nick! And thanks for pointing out that it is 6 months from the medical date. That really helps! Any chance the CBP officer will look at my traveling there the day or week after my second anniversary as trying to be sneaky or 'cheat the system' and punish me with a CR-1 stamp anyways..? If traveling there on or after our 2nd anniversary guarantees the full 10 year greencard then that's definitely what I'll do! But if not we'd obviously rather be together as soon as possible. I've just had such a headache processing this application so whatever I can do to eliminate future hoops not to mention application costs! Thank you!!

[misswonder 0]

Thank you so much for your reply Penguin_ie! And thanks for pointing out that I need to notify the immigration officer of this. That really helps! Any chance the CBP officer will look at my traveling there the day or week after my second anniversary as trying to be sneaky or 'cheat the system' and punish me with a CR-1 stamp anyways..? If traveling there on or after our 2nd anniversary guarantees the full 10 year greencard then that's definitely what I'll do! But if not we'd obviously rather be together as soon as possible. I've just had such a headache processing this application so whatever I can do to eliminate future hoops not to mention application costs! Thank you!!

To get the 10 year card, you need to arrive in the USA after your 2nd anniversary. Be sure to point out to the immigration officer at the border that you are now married longer than 2 years.

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

It is totally allowed, and many couples time their travel that way. You won't have an issue at POE because of it.

[misswonder 0]

Aww that's great thank you SO much for your help. You have no idea how long I've been searching for an answer to this as none of the USCIS or NVC "help" lines seem to work these days and getting a human on the line is next to impossible and nothing online is all that clear. Thank you so much!!! Have a wonderful day!

It is totally allowed, and many couples time their travel that way. You won't have an issue at POE because of it.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Thank you so much for your reply Nich-Nick! And thanks for pointing out that it is 6 months from the medical date. That really helps! Any chance the CBP officer will look at my traveling there the day or week after my second anniversary as trying to be sneaky or 'cheat the system' and punish me with a CR-1 stamp anyways..? If traveling there on or after our 2nd anniversary guarantees the full 10 year greencard then that's definitely what I'll do! But if not we'd obviously rather be together as soon as possible. I've just had such a headache processing this application so whatever I can do to eliminate future hoops not to mention application costs! Thank you!!

I don't think the CBP officer is there to decide to punish you or question your motives. There is a cut off date in the law to clearly make those decisions. One day is a 2 yr card, the next day is a 10 yr card. No subjectivity about it. Take your marriage certificate through POE with you. If anything he should say "wow, you were smart to wait u til you were married 2 years."

[misswonder 0]

Thank you Nich-Nick!!! You've been most helpful! I will definitely do that and bring my wedding certificate with me. Have a wonderful day!

I don't think the CBP officer is there to decide to punish you or question your motives. There is a cut off date in the law to clearly make those decisions. One day is a 2 yr card, the next day is a 10 yr card. No subjectivity about it. Take your marriage certificate through POE with you. If anything he should say "wow, you were smart to wait u til you were married 2 years."

[Boiler 45,670]

You are not cheating the system, purely factual.

[misswonder 0]

Thanks Boiler! I just find it bizarre that traveling on monday gives me a 2 year greencard and traveling on tuesday a 10 year one! Undeniable incentive to travel on the latter! Thank you!

You are not cheating the system, purely factual.

[Darnell 8,478]

I-551 doc not in force until poe date.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Thanks Boiler! I just find it bizarre that traveling on monday gives me a 2 year greencard and traveling on tuesday a 10 year one! Undeniable incentive to travel on the latter! Thank you!

Do you find it bizarre that one day you can walk in a bar and order a drink, but the day before you were underage?

Or. buy a ticket to an adult movie?

Join the military?

Get a driver license?

Qualify for a pension?

Life is full of one day you can't and the next day you are eligible lines.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Thanks Boiler! I just find it bizarre that traveling on monday gives me a 2 year greencard and traveling on tuesday a 10 year one! Undeniable incentive to travel on the latter! Thank you!

It as bizarre as any other arbitrary date.

Couldn't legally buy cigarettes when I was 17 years and 364 days old, but could the next day when I turned 18.

Couldn't legally drink at a bar when I was 20 years and 364 days old, but could the next day when I turned 21.

Different but same same.

[misswonder 0]

I-551 doc not in force until poe date.

Thanks Darnell!