At what point in the process will I get an I-551 Stamp?

[gerryberry]

Hi everyone! My grandfather petitioned my mother under F3 Visa Category. We're set to leave for the US this July. However, I can't stay in the US for too long. At most, I can stay for only 2 weeks because I still need to finish my last year of college. I graduate in Apr 2014.

I want to know at what point upon our arrival in the US will I get the I-551 stamp? I've been reading online that not everyone gets that stamp. I want to know when it's usually given so that if I'm not given one at the point in time it's usually given, I can request to be stamped and I'll just explain that I really need to go back to my home country ASAP. As much as possible, I really cannot miss my classes in school.

Also, upon getting the I-551 stamp, will that be sufficient to let me travel back to my home country and go back to the US after 9 months? I do not plan to apply for a ReEntry permit because I am 100% sure that I will only stay 9 months in my original country. I will not exceed 1 year.

Thanks.

 

[Jackolantern]

You'll get the stamp on initial arrival to the US, and you won't need to explain anything to get it. However, you won't need the stamp anyway, because the green card itself will be delivered in the mail to your US address, within about a month after your arrival. Then your family can send the green card to you via private courier like Fedex/DHL/UPS (don't send it by mail!).

 

[gerryberry]

OOOPS. I had no idea I asked a similar question in the same forum, although in a different section. And I just noticed because you were also the person who shed light on my inquiries. Thank you so much, all my questions have already been answered. No need to reply to this one.

Thanks, Jackolantern!

So technically, upon arrival in the US, it's possible that I just stay there for a week or two, go back to my original country (without waiting for any document in the US), and leave again for the US after 9 months of continuous stay in my original country?

Upon leaving for the US the 2nd time around, I'll already have my green card with me and will be able to enter the US. As an alternative to a private courier, I'm sure a relative or a family friend will be visiting my original country and be able to hand me personally the green card.

I don't expect immigration officers to let me in so easily without a slight interrogation or so (especially since I'll be staying outside the US for more than 6 months), but I just want to make sure that at the end of the day, what I'm planning to do is perfectly legal.

Please correct me if anything I said was wrong. Thanks for the peace of mind!