susannlinn

I'm sure the answer's out there somewhere, but confess I can't find it. Married to a US citizen and after 18 months, have finally got an immigrant visa in my UK passport, valid for 6 months. Also typed on the visa is the wording 'upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year'. Looking through various blogs, it seems that I have to enter the US to validate the visa, but since I need to return to the UK to sell our primary residence, what should I be advising customs and border patrol? I appreciate I should not / must not remain outside the US for more than 2 years (?) and suspect that immediate departure (after perhaps 2 - 3 days) might be seen as abondonment. Could do with some guidance on arrival & depature requirements.

Ray

Enter the US ..your passport will be stamped
Wait for the green card to arrive in the mail and get your SSN
then go back for a minimal amount of time ..you dont have to be there to sell a property

S Folinsky

The phrase "validate the visa" is blog speak only and has no valid meaning. Once you are issued the visa, it is valid for one admission or six months, whichever happens first. Once used, you are a "lawful permanent resident" with a "green card" [another slang phrase]. A green card is form I-551.

Noorah101

Many people have done what you plan to do. Use the Immigrant Visa to come to the USA and become a US PR, then return home for a SHORT visit to tie up loose ends. You don't need to tell customs or border patrol anything.

Immediately departure is not an indicator of abandonment, but you must be able to prove you had no intention of abandoning your PR status.

Do you really plan to be outside the USA for 2 whole years right after becoming a PR? This might cause issues.

Once you arrive in the USA and become a PR, you might want to have a consultation with an immigration attorney who can go over your plan to be away from the USA as a PR, to help protect your status in the USA.

I don't know if your USC spouse is already in the USA or not, but if not, your USC spouse must enter the USA either ahead of you or at the same time as you.

Rene