Question:
Once you get that green card via DCF (after the I-130, I-864, the
infamous "interview date") you have six months from the time of the
interview date to get to the U.S. and get that stamp/temp. green card.
Once you have your permanent G.C. do you have to stay in the U.S. for an
length of time? Is there "adjustment of period" if you go the DCF way?
Answer:
It is a resisdence card, you will have to actually live here once you
get it, but you will be allowed to travel once you get the card to
finalise things, just don't be gone for longer than 6 months would be
the rule of thumb from what I've read. If you need to spend much longer,
it might be worth looking into a re-entry permit...??..
Love it ... an adjustment period ;-) Are you thinking perhaps of
conditions? If you were granted residency before your second year of
marriage then you were made a conditional permanent resident and only
were give a green card with a two year expiration date. That would mean
that 90 days before the expiration of the card you and your wife have to
file for the removal of your conditions. If you were granted residency
after your second wedding anniversary or if in the case of DFC you
interviewed before the second wedding anniversary but do not enter the
US to activate the residency until after your second wedding anniversary
then you will be a lawful permanent resident and your green card will be
unconditional and good for ten years.
You got the use and entry part right. As Bob said, the PR status is
for you to live and make the US your home. You don't have to stay here
365 days a year but if you are going to be away for a year or more
apply for an re-entry document/travel document by filing an I-131
before you leave the US.
Well we're married a year and a half. Maybe I used the wrong
terminology with "adjustment period". What I mean is once we're in NY
and he has his green card or residency card (I'm assuming a residency
card is a green card, don't know perhaps I'm wrong) can he travel? That
is my question. A friend of mine said her husband was not aloud to
leave the U.S. for a year (only for business). Now maybe that was
because they did their visa in the States whereas we are doing it in
London, I don't know.
The reason why I'm asking is because our interview date will be very
fast and I need to time this just right. So let's say we get our
interview in February/March. We are planning on taking a couple of
weeks in NY to look for a house to buy. Once we find something we'll
buy it, then come back to the UK to tie up the "loose ends". Will he be
able to do that after his "initial arrival" in the U.S. after his
visa/temporary card? That is my concern because I am under the
impression he can't. This is what my friend is telling me.
I hope I made some sense there.
One other thing, is it a pain to remove the conditions right before the
G.C. expires? Or is that relatively painfree? I understand why and
don't have a problem with it at all (and am all for it to make sure the
marriage is legit and not a fake).
As your DCF....he'll get the greencard in a couple weeks of entering, or
however long it takes to send one off, then he shouldn't have any
problems of flying back to the UK, just as long as it isn't for long,
like over 6 months...
As for removal of conditions, if you don't have to do it, it'll save you
time and money, it's just another thing you'll have to do otherwise, so
if you can wait till your second anniversary before coming over, it'll
be worth it :)
I was laughing it and loving the phrase. It is unique and it fits so
much of the immigration process.
Of course he can travel with a green card. There are no restrictions
other than the ones required by the country he is traveling to. For
example if he required a visa to go to that country, he will still need
a visa because a green card is not US citizenship.
It does not matter how or where you obtained the residency/green card.
Your friend might have had difficulties while awaiting the interview for
his green card in the US but not afterwards. The only thing I could
possibly see that was a problem is if he didn't have a stamp in his
passport (I-551) while he was waiting for the green card to be made
after the successful AOS interview.
There is nothing that I've heard of that would not allow a permanent
resident to travel outside of the US and return to it with their green
card for either pleasure or business.
Well first stop listening to your friend. There is more to her story
then what she has told you and what she has told you in regards to your
green card is not correct.
You can do what you are planning to do. Just be sure that once you buy
that all too expensive house in NY (I live in NY and if you are looking
in the greater New York City area you will be paying over $300,000 for a
shack) and are ready to travel to the UK to conclude your business there
that you are not outside of the US for more than one year. If you think
it is going to take longer than a year, apply for a re-entry document
first by filing form I-131.
No, unusually difficult. In most cases an interview is not even
required. Just be sure that you save up the evidence of your
marriage viability for the next two years for submission to the
service center when you file I-751. If you are living in New York
you will be using Vermont.
Well then howdy neighbor. You are on the Sound side of the county while
I'm on the River side.
I had my eye on a little house here in my city for about 20 years now.
I always said when it came up for sale I wanted it. Well it can up for
sale this last spring. $295,000 for a tiny little house, two bedroom,
one bath, small kitchen, no driveway or garage or basement on a
triangluar plot of less than 1/4 of an acre. No, I didn't buy.
Yep, sounds like we'll be neighbors. That's for sure. Hey the prices
may be mind blowing at times but I don't even want to tell you what
we're paying for a shoebox in Canary Wharf!! I'd take NY/Westchester
Cty. over London anyday. But then again I'm biased being a New Yawker
too. : ) The house we're looking to buy we couldn't even touch in
London. We would have to move outside of the M25 and still wouldn't
have a front, side and back yard, not to mention a basement and attic.
Beside I am no country chick. I'm a surburbia gal who lives, breathes
and eats the city but just not for living there full-time : )
the green card takes about 3-4 weeks to arrive, but you are free to
leave the us before this arrives, as you can use your I551 (in your
passport) as a tempoary residency visa card
