Received GC while out of US. What are the steps to get it stamped and return to US?

V

vighnesh76

New Member
Hello,

My wife is out of country and her GC just arrived to our US address.

1. Can she can return back to US with it? does she need to go to consulate to get it stamped ?
2. By when she need to enter US? Is there a time limit from it got approved ?

Thanks in advance for the response.
 
1. She can return to the USA with it. No problem. The consulate does not stamp the passport with temporary GC stamp, only USCIS does that.
2. Did she get a re-entry permit while her I-485 was pending? I would count from the date she left the USA with it.
 
What kind of process did she follow for the GC ... AOS (I-485), or consular processing?

If she did AOS, she can return to the US with Advance Parole, provided that she was in the US when applying for it and did not leave the US before it was approved. And it hasn't expired.

If she did CP, that means she would have already entered the US at least once as a permanent resident, and needs to return before spending a year outside the US.
 
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Thx Konig.

She did not apply for her re-entry permit, as she was having a valid H4 stamped which is still valid. And we didn't know that GC will be approved all of a sudden. Our plan was to use H4 to return back. Looks like she need to do that then start using GC. Will that be ok ?
 
She did AOS, and did not apply for AP before she leave. We were planning on using the visa stamped on her passport for return.

Now that her GC got approved, Will the H4 visa be still valid ?
 
Advance parole is not required if an applicant has H visa. While I-485 is pending, the applicant can use H visa to leave and enter the USA. Once the GC is approved, she cannot enter the USA with her H4 visa since she will need to use the GC. Actually, I know one person who arrived at the POE with H1B visa and was informed by the CBP officer that his status was approved. He was stamped with ARC and let in.
 
She can return with the H4. The officer will see that her GC is approved and will stamp her for that instead of giving her an H4 arrival stamp.

However, if there is enough time, you can send the GC by courier to her abroad (don't send it by mail though).
 
Thanks a lot folks. I will send her the card before she returns.

I am comfortable now after your replies. Thanks again.
 
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