Have I finished?

[sanderscn 0]

I am trying to get my green card. Last week I had my interview at the US embassy in London. They issued me with a immigrant visa in my passport. It says it is a temporary I-551, for permanent residence for 1 year. They also gave me a package that is to not to be opened, that I give to immigantion in the US.

Am I done? Once I get to the states will I have my greencard? Or are there more steps to complete once I get there?

[Otto 83]

I am trying to get my green card. Last week I had my interview at the US embassy in London. They issued me with a immigrant visa in my passport. It says it is a temporary I-551, for permanent residence for 1 year. They also gave me a package that is to not to be opened, that I give to immigantion in the US.

Am I done? Once I get to the states will I have my greencard? Or are there more steps to complete once I get there?

sanderscn,

I believe you will receive your green card in the mail - no, you're not totally done with USCIS - you'll need to (if you choose of course) file an I-751 no sooner than 90 days before your I-551 expires in order to lift the conditions.

Don't open the package they give you - it is clearly marked and sealed - the officer will take it from you at the POE.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I am trying to get my green card. Last week I had my interview at the US embassy in London. They issued me with a immigrant visa in my passport. It says it is a temporary I-551, for permanent residence for 1 year. They also gave me a package that is to not to be opened, that I give to immigantion in the US.

Am I done? Once I get to the states will I have my greencard? Or are there more steps to complete once I get there?

Congratulations- yes, the I-551 stamp in your passport is your 'temporary' proof of permanent residence status until your Green Card arrives. It should arrive in the mail once you arrive in the US. The stamp is valid for one year but your green card should arrive well before the stamp expires. The envelope contains all of your immigration history up until now - all of the forms you have filed, the information processed by the Embassy, everything that is needed by Immigration when you come to the States. DO NOT OPEN IT! You will hand that over to the immigration officers at your Port of Entry to the US. Your green card, if it is based on a marriage that is less than 2 years old to a US citizen, will be a 'conditional' for 2 years. That means that 2 years from the date you are approved for a green card (less 90 days) you need to file form I-751 - an application to remove the 'conditional' status on your greencard. You will also need to provide evidence that your marriage is bona fide with that application showing co-mingling of financial assets, owning property together, living in the same address and presenting yourselves as husband and wives to the World. But you do have almost a 2 year breather from dealing with Immigration.