Hi. If one would like to enter the US to activate their green card but wants to return to their country of residence to sort out some issues, is it possible to go and return the very next day without negative consequences? Is the stamp in the passport enough or does the person have to wait and recieve the physical card?
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Physical Card or Stamp?
- Thread starter Katey
- Start date
Jackolantern
Registered Users (C)
When you enter the US for the first time, you will receive another stamp in your passport called I-551 which can be used for travel without the plastic card. The stamp will normally be valid for 6 months.
However, you should be aware that if you simply turn around and leave the next day, and then stay outside the US for a number of months, when you apply for citizenship they may say that your 5-year clock did not start when you arrived on that initial 24-hour stay ... rather it started at a later date, when you returned to the US and began to actually live like a US resident. That could delay your citizenship eligibility for a few months.
However, you should be aware that if you simply turn around and leave the next day, and then stay outside the US for a number of months, when you apply for citizenship they may say that your 5-year clock did not start when you arrived on that initial 24-hour stay ... rather it started at a later date, when you returned to the US and began to actually live like a US resident. That could delay your citizenship eligibility for a few months.
Jackolantern
Registered Users (C)
Now that you have been approved for a green card, you need to treat the USA as your country of residence. Saying otherwise to a US immigration officer can cause you problems. What you'll be doing is returning to your country of citizenship (or country of former residence, if you're not a citizen there).Hi. If one would like to enter the US to activate their green card but wants to return to their country of residence to sort out some issues ...