Table of Contents
- 1 How do I know when my green card was issued?
- 2 What happens after green card is approved?
- 3 How long does the green card process take?
- 4 Can I travel right after getting my green card?
- 5 Can I lose my green card if I get divorced?
- 6 What happens if I stay more than 6 months outside US with green card?
- 7 Can I use my green card to apply for a job?
- 8 Can I travel outside the US while waiting for my green card?
How do I know when my green card was issued?
Look for the card# (application receipt number) on your card. This is a hidden code that may be on the front or back of your green card, depending on the year it was issued. The first three letters are a code for the USCIS office that granted your adjustment of status case.
What happens after green card is approved?
We issue a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) to all permanent residents as proof that they are authorized to live and work in the United States. If you are a permanent resident age 18 or older, you are required to have a valid Green Card in your possession at all times.
What is next step after receiving green card?
Once you have received your immigrant visa, you must enter the United States within the visa validity period to obtain an alien registration receipt or “green” card (Form I-151 or I-551) that will allow you to live and work in the United States. You will receive your visa and a sealed packet from the courier service.
What are the stages of green card?
These are the basic three stages of getting an employment-based green card (EB2 and EB3) in the US:
- Stage 1: PERM/Labor certification stage.
- Stage 2: I-140 immigration petition.
- Stage 3: I-485 Application to adjust status.
How long does the green card process take?
In most cases, it takes about two years for a green card to become available, and the entire process takes around three years.
Can I travel right after getting my green card?
A U.S. green card is not sufficient by itself as a travel document, though it is enough to get you back into the United States. You will, in fact, be expected to present your valid, unexpired green card upon reentry to the United States.
How long is the green card process?
Can I live in the US while waiting for my green card?
Some people can stay in the U.S. for the entire period of applying for a U.S. green card. Others must leave the U.S., either while they wait for a visa to become available (which can take years in some cases) or in order to attend their immigrant visa interview, which is the last major step in the immigration process.
Can I lose my green card if I get divorced?
The vast majority of green card holders are mostly unaffected by a divorce. If you are already a lawful permanent resident with a 10-year green card, renewing a green card after divorce is uneventful. You file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, to renew or replace the green card.
What happens if I stay more than 6 months outside US with green card?
If you are abroad for 6 months or more per year, you risk “abandoning” your green card. This is especially true after multiple prolonged absences or after a prior warning by a CBP officer at the airport.
What should I do if I do not receive my green card?
If you do not receive your Green Card in the mail within 30 days, please call your attorney to do a follow up with the Immigration office. If you are granted an immigrant visa at the consulate/embassy, be sure to enter the U.S. before the visa expires.
How long does it take to get a green card?
In fact, if you pay the filing fees after entering the United States, the 120-day clock to mail your green card begins the day you paid the fees, not the day you entered the country. Immigrants who are approved for a green card through adjustment of status while in the United States are subject to a different timeline.
Can I use my green card to apply for a job?
You can use your Green Card to: Prove employment eligibility in the United States when completing the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. Apply for a Social Security Card and a state issued driver’s license. A Green Card is valid for readmission to the United States after a trip abroad if you do not leave for longer than 1 year.
Can I travel outside the US while waiting for my green card?
As a permanent resident, you are free to depart and reenter the United States without obtaining a visa at a United States Consulate. If you travel overseas or across U. S. borders while waiting for the arrival of your “green card”, you must obtain an I-551 verification stamp in your passport from a district office of the Immigration Service.