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Can an immigrant visa holder travel back to home country before he/she receives a green card?

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Ethiopia
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Can an immigrant visa holder return back  from US to home country after he/she pays USCIS but before he/she receives a green card?

 

Meanwhile, would USCIS still count the waiting time for receiving the green card whille he/ she still in home country?

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
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For a visit, yes.  But to live, no.  The expectation is when one receives a green card, be it the temporary I-551 in their passport or their physical card, they are to enter the US to become permanent residents of the United States. TIme spent away, irrespective of physical green card in hand, is still time away and impacts that residency status. 

 

If there is some compelling reason a permanent resident must be outside of the US for an extended period of time, they must apply and be approved for a reentry permit. 

Montreal IR-1/CR-1 FAQ

 

Montreal IR-1/CR-1 Visa spreadsheet: follow directions at top of page for data to be added

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Ethiopia
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1 minute ago, mam521 said:

For a visit, yes.  But to live, no.  The expectation is when one receives a green card, be it the temporary I-551 in their passport or their physical card, they are to enter the US to become permanent residents of the United States. TIme spent away, irrespective of physical green card in hand, is still time away and impacts that residency status. 

 

If there is some compelling reason a permanent resident must be outside of the US for an extended period of time, they must apply and be approved for a reentry permit. 

The question was for a person who just got an immigrant visa and required to pay USCIS so that he/she will get a Green card . Usually the green card may take up to 3 months to be issued. So the person want to travel to US and pay USCIS but he want to go back to home country instead of waiting the green card to be issued.

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
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3 minutes ago, kemalali15@gmail. said:

The question was for a person who just got an immigrant visa and required to pay USCIS so that he/she will get a Green card . Usually the green card may take up to 3 months to be issued. So the person want to travel to US and pay USCIS but he want to go back to home country instead of waiting the green card to be issued.

And the answer is the I-551 temporary green card in one's passport serves as their green card until the physical green card is issued.  So, yes, one can travel to visit.  

Montreal IR-1/CR-1 FAQ

 

Montreal IR-1/CR-1 Visa spreadsheet: follow directions at top of page for data to be added

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
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27 minutes ago, kemalali15@gmail. said:

Meanwhile, would USCIS still count the waiting time for receiving the green card whille he/ she still in home country?

What does that even mean? 

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

August 7, 2022: Wife filed N-400 Online under 5 year rule.

November 10, 2022: Received "Interview is scheduled" letter.

December 12, 2022:  Received email from Dallas office informing me (spouse) to be there for combo interview.

December 14, 2022: Combo Interview for I-751 and N-400 Conducted.

January 26, 2023: Wife's Oath Ceremony completed at the Plano Event Center, Plano, Texas!!!😁

February 6, 2023: Wife's Passport Application submitted in Dallas, Texas.

March 21, 2023:   Wife's Passport Delivered!!!!

May 15, 2023 (about):  Naturalization Certificate returned from Passport agency!!

 

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
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1 hour ago, kemalali15@gmail. said:

Can an immigrant visa holder return back  from US to home country after he/she pays USCIS but before he/she receives a green card?

 

Meanwhile, would USCIS still count the waiting time for receiving the green card whille he/ she still in home country?

The minute after CBP stamps your passport with the valid immigration visa, you are an LPR (i.e. this does not start when you receive you physical card).  As @mam521 stated, the CBP endorsed immigration visa will serve as a temporary proof of LPR status (green card) allowing you to travel outside of the US and re-enter along the requirements of an LPR.

Visa Received : 2014-04-04 (K1 - see timeline for details)

US Entry : 2014-09-12

POE: Detroit

Marriage : 2014-09-27

I-765 Approved: 2015-01-09

I-485 Interview: 2015-03-11

I-485 Approved: 2015-03-13

Green Card Received: 2015-03-24 Yeah!!!

I-751 ROC Submitted: 2016-12-20

I-751 NOA Received:  2016-12-29

I-751 Biometrics Appt.:  2017-01-26

I-751 Interview:  2018-04-10

I-751 Approved:  2018-05-04

N400 Filed:  2018-01-13

N400 Biometrics:  2018-02-22

N400 Interview:  2018-04-10

N400 Approved:  2018-04-10

Oath Ceremony:  2018-06-11 - DONE!!!!!!!

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Ethiopia
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12 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

What does that even mean? 

The rule of USCIS states that after someone get an immigrant VISA on his passport, he/she must travel to USA to get the physical greencard regardless of whether the payment to USCIS to get the physical greencard was made before/after traveling to US.... That physical greencard needs upto 90days to be delivered to the Immigrant through mail..So my question was,  after an immigrant travel to US but if he/she want to travel back to home country before he gets the physical greencard, would USCIS still process the physical greencard as if the person is still in US?

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You are lucky to get a green card within 90 days.   

You can travel on the Visa stamp for the first year.   Mary and I went back to Mexico a few times before she got her card.  No problems.

March 2, 2018  Married In Hong Kong

April 30, 2018  Mary moves from the Philippines to Mexico, Husband has MX Permanent Residency

June 13, 2018 Mary receives Mexican Residency Card

June 15, 2018  I-130 DCF Appointment in Juarez  -  June 18, 2018  Approval E-Mail

August 2, 2018 Case Complete At Consulate

September 25, 2018 Interview in CDJ and Approved!

October 7, 2018 In the USA

October 27, 2018 Green Card received 

October 29, 2018 Applied for Social Security Card - November 5, 2018 Social Security Card received

November 6th, 2018 State ID Card Received, Applied for Global Entry - Feb 8,2019 Approved.

July 14, 2020 Removal of Conditions submitted by mail  July 12, 2021 Biometrics Completed

August 6, 2021 N-400 submitted by mail

September 7, 2021 I-751 Interview, Sept 8 Approved and Card Being Produced

October 21, 2021 N-400 Biometrics Completed  

November 30,2021  Interview, Approval and Oath

December 10, 2021 US Passport Issued

August 12, 2022 PHL Dual Nationality Re-established & Passport Approved 

April 6,2023 Legally Separated - Oh well

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Ghana
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5 hours ago, kemalali15@gmail. said:

The rule of USCIS states that after someone get an immigrant VISA on his passport, he/she must travel to USA to get the physical greencard regardless of whether the payment to USCIS to get the physical greencard was made before/after traveling to US.... That physical greencard needs upto 90days to be delivered to the Immigrant through mail..So my question was,  after an immigrant travel to US but if he/she want to travel back to home country before he gets the physical greencard, would USCIS still process the physical greencard as if the person is still in US?

Yes as long as you've the immigrant fee. 

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Myanmar
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9 hours ago, kemalali15@gmail. said:

So my question was,  after an immigrant travel to US but if he/she want to travel back to home country before he gets the physical greencard, would USCIS still process the physical greencard as if the person is still in US

Yes

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