Travelling to the US for a Couple of Days to "Activate GC"

[Kingsrish 41]

Hello All!

  I had an interview on Decemeber 11th and was approved! I picked up my passport with my visa inside the following week. 

  My question is : my visa expires in 6 months ( May 20th) but I have a contract with my current employer until June 30th. I'm not sure what to do, I was planning on flying to the States in March for a couple of days and then coming back and finishing my contract( not sure if this is ok), but now I dont know if this is an option given the fact that now everyone entering Canada is required to produce a negative Covid test( the issue with that is if im staying for a couple of days where would I get a test and what is the possibilty it would come back in time). What should I do?

[Chancy 6,241]

2 minutes ago, Kingsrish said:

I was planning on flying to the States in March for a couple of days and then coming back and finishing my contract( not sure if this is ok)

 

As far as your US immigration is concerned, entering for a short visit (could be as short as a few hours) to "activate" your visa is perfectly fine.  Then it's up to you to decide after factoring in how testing and quarantine requirements fit in your schedule.  If you do not use your visa before it expires, you will need to repeat your medical, pay the visa fee again, and request the consulate to re-issue your visa.  The timeline for re-issue will be at the consulate's discretion.

 

I highly recommend you work out the logistics for a short visit, instead of going through the re-issue route that has no guaranteed timeline.

 

[Ed&Midori1031 330]

Congrats on your approval!  

 

[aaron2020 11,651]

Hi,

Once you activate your green card, you need to be aware of two things.

A US green card holder is required to report their worldwide income on their US tax return.  You will need to declare your Canadian income earned after activating your green card on your 2021 US tax return.

A US green card holder is not eligible for Canadian provincial health care.  You could be required to reimburse the province for any benefits received.  

[Kingsrish 41]

2 hours ago, Chancy said:

 

As far as your US immigration is concerned, entering for a short visit (could be as short as a few hours) to "activate" your visa is perfectly fine.  Then it's up to you to decide after factoring in how testing and quarantine requirements fit in your schedule.  If you do not use your visa before it expires, you will need to repeat your medical, pay the visa fee again, and request the consulate to re-issue your visa.  The timeline for re-issue will be at the consulate's discretion.

 

I highly recommend you work out the logistics for a short visit, instead of going through the re-issue route that has no guaranteed timeline.

 

Yes, I am definetly not trying to redo everything.Also, it is good to know that coming in for a hort period of time is fine! 

Thanks for your help

17 minutes ago, aaron2020 said:

Hi,

Once you activate your green card, you need to be aware of two things.

A US green card holder is required to report their worldwide income on their US tax return.  You will need to declare your Canadian income earned after activating your green card on your 2021 US tax return.

A US green card holder is not eligible for Canadian provincial health care.  You could be required to reimburse the province for any benefits received.  

Thank you for this information , I had no idea!

[carmel34 3,639]

3 hours ago, Kingsrish said:

I dont know if this is an option given the fact that now everyone entering Canada is required to produce a negative Covid test( the issue with that is if im staying for a couple of days where would I get a test and what is the possibilty it would come back in time). What should I do?

Lots of places to get a test, depending on where you will be in the US.  So time to do research on testing where you will be, the costs, time to get results back, etc.  One issue is if the current 14-day quarantine order will apply on returning to Canada to finish your work contract, with steep fines for violations.  If your work is remote that's not an issue but in that case you could simply enter the US and not have to go back.  Getting a test in the US will likely be easier than the 14-day quarantine problem on your return to Canada which will likely be in place for many months based on recent events.  Congrats on the visa, and good luck!

[retheem 568]

Get to the USA today, activate your green card, go back to Canada tomorrow. Chapter closed

[Scandi 4,168]

I gave my 30 day notice to my job that I was leaving Sweden (and therefore had to quit my job) on a Monday and left the country the following Wednesday (ie two days later). It was very simple.

Edited January 2, 2021 by Scandi

[Kingsrish 41]

13 hours ago, retheem said:

Get to the USA today, activate your green card, go back to Canada tomorrow. Chapter closed

So there is little more to it than that. My husband and I will be married for two years on January 19th. Therefore ,I would like to travel after that date inorder to get a 10 yr green card rather than a 2 yr one. So that is why I did not travel over my winter break and can't go today.

[retheem 568]

39 minutes ago, Kingsrish said:

So there is little more to it than that. My husband and I will be married for two years on January 19th. Therefore ,I would like to travel after that date inorder to get a 10 yr green card rather than a 2 yr one. So that is why I did not travel over my winter break and can't go today.

You get the point though. It's that simple

[Babu Frik 1,162]

most urgent care places do them, the problem is the lines are long these days and it often takes longer than they say to get the results

[pushbrk 12,979]

1 hour ago, retheem said:

You get the point though. It's that simple

Due to the COVID 19 and quarantine issues, it is not that simple now, but it used to be.

[Kingsrish 41]

2 hours ago, pushbrk said:

Due to the COVID 19 and quarantine issues, it is not that simple now, but it used to be.

THANK- YOU it is NOT that simple. There are obviously factors beyond everyone's control!!

[cbro 59]

We're in a very similar boat but my spouse already has her ir1 visa...however we live in Hong Kong and there is a 3 week hotel quarantine required upon arrival from the US.  We are asking the consulate about the process.  It sucks.