CBP officer did not stamp my CR1 visa

[Nika P 23]

I arrived in the US on a CR1 visa yesterday. I did not realize it at the time, but the Washington (IAD) CBP officer did not stamp my visa nor my passport. The stamp was supposed to endorse the visa. Doesn't that mean I don't have a temporary I-551 of one year like it says at the bottom of the visa? I asked the officer to change my mailing address. USCIS' Emma confirmed that the address change went through and that my green card is being processed, but could not tell me if I am a Lawful Permanent Resident and that I should ask an immigration lawyer. Emma further asked if I wanted an appointment to get a stamp. I said yes. However, that can take up to 30 days, apparently? Can I do anything at all without an I-551? I wanted to apply for jobs, and have interviews lined up, but I'm not even sure if I can do that now.

[nastra30 1,968]

7 minutes ago, Nika P said:

I arrived in the US on a CR1 visa yesterday. I did not realize it at the time, but the Washington (IAD) CBP officer did not stamp my visa nor my passport. The stamp was supposed to endorse the visa. Doesn't that mean I don't have a temporary I-551 of one year like it says at the bottom of the visa? I asked the officer to change my mailing address. USCIS' Emma confirmed that the address change went through and that my green card is being processed, but could not tell me if I am a Lawful Permanent Resident and that I should ask an immigration lawyer. Emma further asked if I wanted an appointment to get a stamp. I said yes. However, that can take up to 30 days, apparently? Can I do anything at all without an I-551? I wanted to apply for jobs, and have interviews lined up, but I'm not even sure if I can do that now.

Go to the nearest CBP office and they'll have this corrected for you in no time. We've seen these type of cases pop up once in a while here.

https://www.cbp.gov/contact/ports

Edited September 22, 2022 by nastra30

[Chancy 6,233]

4 minutes ago, Nika P said:

could not tell me if I am a Lawful Permanent Resident

 

Stamp or no stamp, you are already an LPR.  What you do not have is valid proof of your LPR status.  An I-551 stamp from USCIS is the wrong stamp to get if you just arrived with your CR1 visa.  What you need is the entry stamp from CBP.  As mentioned above, contact the nearest CBP deferred inspection site to get the stamp on your visa -- https://www.cbp.gov/contact/ports/deferred-inspection-sites