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First arriving into USA

S

sharky76

New Member
Hello

I have the following question:
My wife and I both got DV visas from US consulate, I am a primary holder.
Now we must travel to US, but my wife is unable to fly now.
The question is: can I go alone, get a stamp in my passport and she will follow me later? Or, maybe I can put a stamp in her passport too without her physical presence?

Thanks forward
 
DV Lotto winner - So many questions!

My husband won the DV Green Card Lotto. We have had our interview, received our pack and paid our $165 each. We fly into Texas on the 1st of December and the plan is to look around and decide where we want to live, then fly home to South Africa and pack up, sell up and wrap up all our affairs before departing for good.

- So my first question is, are we able to enter, receive our green cards, go back home and enter again within a year?
- Secondly, do they only post the cards once you have entered the US or once you have paid your fee? It says on the confirmation that we receive the cards within 30 days but im unclear about 30 days from when.
- Then, if there are any South Africans that have immigrated to Texas, please send me a message as I need assistance with schools, living area's, do's and dont's.
 
CandyM said:
My husband won the DV Green Card Lotto. We have had our interview, received our pack and paid our $165 each. We fly into Texas on the 1st of December and the plan is to look around and decide where we want to live, then fly home to South Africa and pack up, sell up and wrap up all our affairs before departing for good.

- So my first question is, are we able to enter, receive our green cards, go back home and enter again within a year?
Yes
- Secondly, do they only post the cards once you have entered the US or once you have paid your fee? It says on the confirmation that we receive the cards within 30 days but im unclear about 30 days from when.
You need to have paid your fee AND entered.

- Then, if there are any South Africans that have immigrated to Texas, please send me a message as I need assistance with schools, living area's, do's and dont's.
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Congratulations. Exciting time for you.

a couple of answer above.
 
CandyM said:
My husband won the DV Green Card Lotto. We have had our interview, received our pack and paid our $165 each. We fly into Texas on the 1st of December and the plan is to look around and decide where we want to live, then fly home to South Africa and pack up, sell up and wrap up all our affairs before departing for good.

- So my first question is, are we able to enter, receive our green cards, go back home and enter again within a year?
- Secondly, do they only post the cards once you have entered the US or once you have paid your fee? It says on the confirmation that we receive the cards within 30 days but im unclear about 30 days from when.
- Then, if there are any South Africans that have immigrated to Texas, please send me a message as I need assistance with schools, living area's, do's and dont's.
Click to expand...

For this you need to get a re-entry permit, if you intend to stay outside the US for more than 6 months. See the "White Passport" thread.
 
britsimon said:
My bad - I thought you were good up to 12 months.
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Well, the rationale is that if you stay outside the US for more than half a year (6 months) then you are not considered a "permanent" resident of the US and your GC will be revoked.

You can get the re-entry permit, which is good up to 2 years, but it will reset the citizenship 5-year clock (it'll start counting when you come back).
 
c1984 said:
I find that contrary to my prior research. But then again, it says your GC will be revoked if you stay outside for more than 1 year. It doesn't say it's OK to stay outside for more than 6 months ;)
Click to expand...

OK I see. It does say that they can consider your LPR status abandoned if you take up residence in another country, so although the timeline is published as 12 months they might start applying the "residence in another country rule after 6 months". That seems fair enough really because if you are gone for 11 months, in most countries you would need to be a legal resident in that country - i.e. more than a visitor.
 
It is common that a DV winner leaves the country for a certain time to prepare all the stuff for the final move. My advice would be not to stay longer than 6 month out of the country. Come back for one more time, that way you won't reset the counter for later citizenship application.

And make sure when you come the first time to apply for a SSN, open a bank account. Get a TX drivers license, what looks pretty easy I-551 is enough as proof of identity.

I wouldn't get a re-entry permit if you move within 12 month. Waste of money and also no real guarantee.
 
A new LPR is allowed to go back to his/her country following the initial activation of the GC and stay upto 1 year without needing to apply for a re-entry permit! They do understand that people need time ot tie up loose ends and put all of their affairs in order before finally migrating to the US. Such a person will notbe considered to have abandoned their GC if they stay outside for upto 1 year.
 
Sm1smom said:
A new LPR is allowed to go back to his/her country following the initial activation of the GC and stay upto 1 year without needing to apply for a re-entry permit! They do understand that people need time ot tie up loose ends and put all of their affairs in order before finally migrating to the US. Such a person will notbe considered to have abandoned their GC if they stay outside for upto 1 year.
Click to expand...

This is what I had in the back of my mind, but didn't get to confirm it. Thanks for the correction!
 
Do I need my GC to apply for my SSN, Bank Account and Drivers Licence?
How long does it take once we have applied? (keeping in mind we in the US in December - Christmas time)
 
CandyM said:
Do I need my GC to apply for my SSN, Bank Account and Drivers Licence?
How long does it take once we have applied? (keeping in mind we in the US in December - Christmas time)
Click to expand...


For the SSN you may have selected the ioption for USCIS to sort that out for you. If not you can apply using your I551 that is stamped in your passport.

For bank accounts, some banks will open a bank account without a SSN - Wells Fargo had no issues with opening an account for me even though I wasn't resident there in the USA (and had no SSN).

For drivers licenses you normally need your SSN (well actually proof of legal residency so they may recognise the 551) - but (depending on the State) you can use your foreign DL for up to a year with no issue. However, getting a US license will help with other things so best to do it early if possible. Generally you have to retake tests etc as if you have never held a DL before. Some states will "swap" a foreign DL for one of theirs if yours is from a short list of countries - those countries are:-

American Samoa
Canada
France
Germany
Guam
Northern Mariana Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands
Yukon Territory
Puerto Rico
 
Do not trust the option that USCIS is taking care of the SSN even if you selected that option. Go to the nearest Social Security Administration office and apply for one. Show up there very early and prepare the form http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.pdf at home, otherwise you might end up waiting a long time.

In TX Passport with I-551 is enough to apply for DL.
 
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