When you are approved for a Green Card through the DV lottery there are some important timelines that you MUST understand and adhere to – so this post will hopefully clear up some of those points about Visa validity.
Hopefully, you will be approved in your interview (most people do!), and typically the CO will ask you to leave your passports with them so they can issue a visa. Typically that visa is printed within a few days and you will have been told how you expect to receive your passport (courier, pick up from the embassy). The visa that is issued will look similar to the example here:-
The visa will be valid for the first entry to the USA for up to 6 months after visa issuance. (Note: this time can be shorter if your medical report had a shorter validity, so please check the date “IV Expires on”). It is essential that the visa holder enters the USA to activate their status before this visa has expired – if you miss that date, your visa will not be replaced and you would have lost your right to a Green Card. For that reason I suggest making travel plans for at least a week or two before the expiry date of the visa, just in case you experience delays with travel plans.
When you receive your visa it will arrive stamped in your passport and with a sealed envelope of documents to be carried with you on entry to the USA. DO NOT OPEN THIS ENVELOPE! If the envelope gets damaged in some way, contact your embassy before travel to get the envelope resealed. The envelope must be presented along with your visa to an immigration official at your Port of Entry (POE). The POE is typically the first place you land on US soil, although in some cases this can also be a US immigration checkpoint on foreign soil (Abu Dhabi for instance).
At the POE you will be briefly processed by the immigration officer – it is not a difficult process and at the end they will endorse your visa. Upon endorsement the visa will serve as evidence of your I-551 and indicate your status as a LPR (Lawful Permanent Resident) and is then valid to be used for up to 12 months (until you receive your Green Card). This means that you could, if you wanted get on the next plane back to your home country and then re-enter using the I-551 stamped in your passport for re-entry – there is no need to wait for the physical Green Card to be able to leave.
Your Green Card itself will be sent to the US address you listed on your DS260. The immigration officer at the POE will allow you to change that address at the time of entry. That address should be a real US address – not a PO Box etc. The post office is not supposed to deliver the Green Card to an invalid address. The Green Card will only be sent once you have paid the fee of $220 per person which can be done before you enter for the first time or after you have entered. Don’t forget to do this!!!
The Green Card is a thick plastic card that looks like this:-
Rules about re-entry
Some people treat the first trip to the USA as an activation trip and to “look around”. They then leave and return to live permanently which is fine as long as you make this return within 12 months. That is perfectly fine and understandable – you are not obligated to take up residence in this first trip – although you will have become an LPR and therefore have other obligations (such as tax reporting – even on income earned outside of the USA!).
Once you begin “residing” in the USA you are expected to maintain residence there. If you leave the USA for long periods of time (up to 12 months) you may be asked to show that you maintained you home there, otherwise you may have been considered to have “abandoned” your Green Card. In that scenario you would have to convince an immigration judge that you did not intend to abandon your Green Card – so I advise you to follow the rules.
If you need to leave the USA for a trip longer than 12 months, you must apply for a “re-entry permit” with form I-131. The re-entry permit must be applied for before you leave the USA, although you can arrange to receive it at a US embassy abroad. IF the re-entry permit is granted you will get permission to leave for up to 2 years. However, the approval is not automatic – you need a good reason to be approved.
This link provides a bit more information about obtaining a re-entry permit.
August 17, 2017 at 16:11
Good Day Simon,
Many Thx for your valued advices, you are really great man and i hope to meet you one day, shack hands and thank u f2f.
I activated my visa last week, planning to leave within 10 days and have the following questions:
1) when the SSN will be mailed.
2) is this auto process or will have to contact the SSN office.
3) is there any way to check SSN status.
4) is the GC status can be tracked, i paid the gc fees two weeks prior to travel.
5) I am planning to go back to arrange and prepare to move permenently by next July-18, people here advised me to enter every 6 month though, is there any written rule on this regard? I.e. to come back in 12 months after activation trip.
7) can i enter using the stamped visa or should i have the GC in hand for the next come?
Thanks again..
August 17, 2017 at 19:20
1. 2 to 3 weeks.
2. Normally automatic but go to the SSA if not.
3. Go to the SSA office
4. The tracking system doesn’t allow tracking for months. Just wait patiently.
5. The written rul is that 12 month absences is fine. However, they tend to ask more questions on any absence over 6 months. Considering that will be the final move – the immigration officers understand you have lose ends to deal with before the final move.
6. Either is fine.
August 17, 2017 at 19:51
Thank you a lot.
August 17, 2017 at 16:38
Where can I find medical expiry date?
August 17, 2017 at 19:14
It is 6 months.
August 18, 2017 at 02:13
My visa expires on 25 october and I have booked the ticket for 14 october. Does it will be ok to travel on 14 october? Do I face any problem on transit?
August 18, 2017 at 02:46
No problem.
August 30, 2017 at 01:02
Hello, I will leave the US before receiving my green card. How do I do to re-enter without my GC? Is the stamped visa enough or do I have to ask someone to send me my card by mail abroad? Thank you
August 30, 2017 at 03:20
THe endorsed visa is good for up to one year.
August 30, 2017 at 18:49
HI BritSiman,
thanks for your usual help.
I came to US on Jan-17 thru dv and got my green card now i would like to visit my country to sell my house but i heard that if i go abroad within one year with green card it will delay my citizenship and i should spend 1 year in US as resident at least with green card so i can get citizenship after five years.
Thanks again for your help and waiting for your reply so i can make my plan
August 30, 2017 at 20:02
That’s not exactly correct, as far as I know. Absences of over 6 months will reset the 5 year clock. I have never heard that you need to be in the USA for the first year uninterrupted.
August 31, 2017 at 21:53
Hi Brit,
First of all thanks for the great help and patience you have with us.
I read many of the other people questions here and i dont think this specific one has been asked before.
I won dvo1 in 2016 and activated my visa in sept 2016 on my italian (now expired) passport. I moved back to the uk which is where i live ( and now have the passport as well). I received my plastic green card which has been delivered to a friend of mine in usa. All good.
My 12 months are up in less than a month but i am not ready yet to make a move for several reasons
One reason is that i might be able to get my employer to transfer me over there in q1/q2 2018.
– is there a way to officially extend these 12 deadline to make a permanent move to the usa?
– if not, since i already have the green card ( which expires in 10 years) and two passports with an esta which i could use to enter the country, how could they pick up that i actually do not live there?
I mean i understand the green card is a priviledge and not a right but how can i physically loose it?
I am not sure i managed to explain myself, and thanks again for your help and patience
August 31, 2017 at 22:05
If you don’t re-enter the USA before the 12 months of absence, you are considered to have abandoned your LPR status. The Green Card itself is unexpired – but your status will be gone. In that scenario you “might” get approved for an SB-1 (link below), but in my opinion that would be a foolish risk to take. If I were you, I would book a long weekend trip to the USA right now.
https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/returning-residents.html
August 31, 2017 at 22:33
Thanks for the link, i was not aware of the SB – 1.
I am a bit confused now.
My port of entry was nyc 30/09/2016. My understanding was that i should make a permanent move to the usa by 30/09/2017 ( 12 months after)
You advised me to book a long weekend trip to the usa but what difference would this make if i still reside in the uk?
(If also holidays and short trips “count” to extend the 12 months deadline i should be pretty safe as i went to florida in March 2017)
Thanks
Diego
August 31, 2017 at 23:38
OK – so your absence is counted from March 2017. The 12 months is **ABSENCE**.
November 27, 2017 at 12:10
Hi Diego,
You can consider a re-entry permit which allows you stay out for up to 2 years. Simon mentioned this in his post and it depends on if it is approved or not, but my wife got one a couple of yeas ago and I don’ recall it being particularly difficult.
One thing to note is you have to be physically in the US to apply and you may have to travel again for biometrics etc. but the approved permit was posted to the US embassy in London where she picked it up.
Tolu
September 4, 2017 at 08:38
Hi Simon,
I have taken my medical examination on 4th may 2017. I have taken my visa interview on June 6th 2017 and got visa. My visa expire on Nov 4th 2017. I have planning to fly USA on coming sept 19 2017.
I would like to know what is the validity period of my medical examination. Is my schedule for flying to USA is good?
Thank you
September 4, 2017 at 14:11
Your Nov 4th visa expiry is based on the medical expiry date. So – your plan is fine.
September 9, 2017 at 11:29
Hi Sus
I would like to know what case number where you , because i am a winner of 2018 lottary and i am afraid that i wont be asigned an interview
Thank you !!
September 9, 2017 at 11:52
How is this person’s case number relevant to YOUR case number. Different person, different year and maybe a different region.
Read this. https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-selectee-numbers-published/
September 4, 2017 at 09:00
Hi Brit,
We already in the US bt uptil now we still haven’t paid for our green card. But i think our visa provides us with permanent resident status for one year within which we should have paid and receive our green. Exceeding the 1 year without our green crad will be a problem for us right?
Also again we already have our social security numbers. Our we now eleigible to work with out social security numbers plus our passport serving as an identification and a proof of our legal status and our eligibility to work.
September 4, 2017 at 14:10
Yes you must pay the fee – otherwise you can lose your LPR status. You can work now – showing the stamped visa in your passport as proof of status.
September 4, 2017 at 16:51
Again also we are a little bit tight in terms of finance, we are a family of three my wife, I and my daughter so what am asking is that interms of the green card can we like pay one after the other cos as of now i have a friend who wants to pay for me and later we can pay for my wife and kids as money comes in. Dont know if it is possible.
Secondly our one year period when does it start after our entry or on the date of issue of our visa. The I-551 status i mean that last for 1 year
September 4, 2017 at 16:58
Treat this as a priority. Find a way to pay together so you get all the cards being produced at the same time.
The stamp is upon endorsement (1 year from initial entry).
September 4, 2017 at 11:58
Hello brit, my wife and i visa were granted to us but my case is that we have two children’s here, initially we plan to go alone but now we have considered that we don’t have any body to take a proper care of them. in this case can we go back to the consular officer to inform him or of this?.
September 4, 2017 at 14:03
You can try. You have made an easy process into a difficult one.
September 4, 2017 at 22:39
hello ,
I’ve got my visa on June 2017 and it will expire on Nov 4th . my question is can I set my flight after 30th of September 2017 , which is the end of The year of entitlement DV-2017 ?
September 4, 2017 at 22:41
No problem.
September 8, 2017 at 23:56
Hi BritSimon
If somebody traveled out USA for 5.5 months and returned to USA for 1 month. Then he wants to leave USA for 5.5 months again and he will return to it, because he wants to sell all his properties and collect money. Will his absences be counted as 11 months or 5 months. Are absence counted from last entery or from first one. How can we calculate absences?
September 9, 2017 at 01:42
That would be two absences. However, ongoing absences like that could also cause a problem.
September 13, 2017 at 08:08
Dear Sir, after the initial one year and one has not gone back to the US due to family problems, how can I re-enter the US after 6 years and am I still a Gc holder? How does this affect me and the 10 year rule?
September 13, 2017 at 13:38
You could try the SB-1 but a 6 year gap is almost impossible to justify – so you have forfeited your status.
September 13, 2017 at 12:55
Hi Brit Simon- thanks again for your help. Something that is starting to worry me (given lower AF case numbers)…. my passport expires late December 2018- but the pre-interview says must have “Unexpired passport valid for six months beyond your intended date of entry to the United States”. Does that mean that I would need to have my interview before June 2018?
September 13, 2017 at 13:18
Yes
September 13, 2017 at 13:50
Based on your answer, if my interview is from May next year (given I have a Dec passport expiry), I would assume that I should get my passport renewed ASAP. Can you arrive on interview day with your ‘passport (that shows expiry in <6 months which has been filled into all my submission forms), together with a recently issued passport (from the same jurisdiction)
September 13, 2017 at 14:33
Yes
September 18, 2017 at 12:36
Hello dear Brit
our Visa will be expired on 24th of February 2018. But..
1. considering that our DV is of 2017, are we required to enter to the US before September 30, 2017 (the deadline date for the DV 2017) or we can stay till the expiring date printed on our visa?
2. when and where is the last possible moment to change our address for our GC to be sent?
3. is it possible to have two different addresses, one a reliable address to receive our GC and the other to stay with family/friends for a while?
Thanks a lot
September 18, 2017 at 16:36
1. Date on visa.
2. The POE (arrival airport)
3. No – just one (live where you like, but the GC will be sent to the one address).
September 18, 2017 at 16:02
Hello Simon ,
I am in USA since 10 months agon and I applied for re-entry permit and I ll do the biometric this week , I m a physician and I wanna to return my home country to finish my board studying , my questions are :
1-If I come and go to USA for a period not more than 6 months ( 5 and less ) for many times during the 2 year reentry permit , shall this also reset the citizenship clock ?
2-the one year leave mean totally physical year collectively or from last departure? In other words if i come and go USA in 2 years for 5 out and 1 month inside USA for four times so the totall absence will be 20 months but no more than 5 months in maximum leave , ?
3- how can I pay tax in my homecountry ?
Note : my family with stay here in USA , just me wil return back
Thanks
September 18, 2017 at 16:32
1. Possibly. I’m not a citizenship expert.
2. See 1
3. You mean how do you report tax in the USA? Tax filing can be done remotely or by a paid professional.
September 18, 2017 at 19:03
Hi Brit
I activated my green card on August 16, 2017, so I understand that I can use the I-551 in my passport for a year (up to August 16, 2018) as evidence of my permanent residency.
I have a lot of things to tie up at home so my initial intention was to move in October 2018 so I was going to activate my green card in October 2017, though I had to enter the US in Aug 16, 2017, to visit a sick friend, hence activating the green card earlier than I had planned for.
What do I need to do maintain my status until I am ready to move to NY in October 2018? I will definitely be in Las Vegas for a business conference in April 2018. Do I need to make sure I am not outside of the US for more than six months at a time? If so, as I activated my green card on August 16, 2017, if I make a trip to the US in January 2018 and April 2018 (for the conference in Vegas), would that be ok?
Thanks
September 18, 2017 at 19:44
Yes, the April trip will bridge the gap and mean absences are less than 12 months. There is some risk of questioning why uyou were absent for more than 6 months, but in general that isn’t going to cause an actual problem of re-entry (it could, but its not likely).
September 21, 2017 at 10:12
Hello Brit,
Am in US now and wanted to do my green card but my brother keep asking me if at the port of entry they gave me any paper with information to do the green card,but no Mr.Brit they didn’t gave me any paper with numbers.so pls wht do I do now tanks.
September 21, 2017 at 13:14
You don’t need a piece of paper. Tell your brother to relax and wait for your GC.
September 22, 2017 at 14:49
Hello
Will i be able to work with the passport stamp at the POE? Regards
September 22, 2017 at 16:22
Yes
September 26, 2017 at 18:14
Hi BritSimon
We 3 family are now at USA,TX. I have paid USCIS immigrant fee online. Now waiting to get SSN. N planning to return home town after 2 weeks n will return back to US next year before the end of one year of endorsed visa at POE.
Today phone called to USCIS local office to know whether Biometric Printing will be needed or not but i am told that, they do not have that information?
I would like to know is it necessary to open USCIS online account? and what about Biometric test?
Thank you
September 26, 2017 at 19:16
The biometric is not normally required – only in cases where the biomentric data wasn’t successfully collected overseas. Open a USCIS account or don’t – it won’t make any difference to when your GCs arrive.
September 27, 2017 at 23:25
Hello, first of all, that’s great work you are doing! Keep it up.. so I won dv lottery for 2017… it expires 30th of this month .. I had my appointment on August 8th and I had to bring extra Doc, I submitted them and got an appointment on 21st again to come see an officer – 21st was a holiday in Ghana so embassy was closed.. went next day, they asked me to come the next Monday which was 25th.. I got approved by the officer and was told to come 2 weeks for my passport with visa and all that .. I got home and started looking around the internet and stumbled on the a couple websites which say If your Dv lottery visa is not issued before 30th sept .. you would not be able to receive a visa … I’m kind of confused now.. would this apply to me if I’ve been approved? I don’t know if approval means issuance.. do I receive a message eventually that my visa would no longer be given because of deadline? Interviewer congratulated me and said to come for my passport in 2 weeks which would be after sept 30th.. will I be affected by this deadline?
September 28, 2017 at 00:59
I can’t say whether you will get a visa or not. The only time you will be sure is when you have the passport in your hand.
September 28, 2017 at 01:07
Any POE is the same in terms of the first entry with the envelope?…I ask because there are some POE not located inside the US ( for example Aruba). Thanks for your response in advance.
September 28, 2017 at 02:56
Yes – if it is a true POE.
September 28, 2017 at 11:40
Dear Birt thanks for your continues reliable advises
I have some questions, i’m a derivative winner and principal winner is my wife, i know derivatives can only enter the same day or after the principal winner has entered to the US.
1. Does this also work for departing the first time?
2. If i want to leave US for about 3 months or less within like three months of first entry (as a derivative winner) is it possible?
3. Will the GCs arrive for all family member at once?
thanks a lot!
September 28, 2017 at 13:15
1. No
2. Yes
3. Normally, yes.
September 29, 2017 at 04:04
I have just traveled to the USA ,I which to ask if I have to apply for a social security number or will wait for a permanent resident permit in order to do so.thanks
September 29, 2017 at 04:50
The SSN should arrive within 2 to 3 weeks. You can start work as soon as you have that. THe visa in your passport is now endorsed, proving you are an LPR
September 29, 2017 at 04:06
And if I apply for the ssn how long will it take to come before start working
October 7, 2017 at 07:47
hi brit,
i just gained my gc and Im willing to apply for a re-entry permit
the reason is ” I got a job offer for a 2 year contract ” not in my country which is soo good to me
1-mentioning the reason for apply job offer is it a good or bad idea? bcz the gc is for live and work in America
2-I have to start my new job after 2 month.. and I saw it may take around 3 month… attaching the job offer and return ticket would that help to faster the process?
3-the duration between filling the I-131 form till biometric how long approximate it may take?
4-in case I did the biometric and I left US and for some reason the reentry reject shall I come back immediately?
5-even though i’ll apply for the reentry.. but I’m willing to visit US continuously for couple of days… would that be a problem or like the permit will expire by the time I landed in us?
thank you,
October 7, 2017 at 12:49
I don’t know enough about the I-131 to answer your questions.
October 12, 2017 at 21:47
Dear Brit
I would like to know what is happening with the D.V.Lottery web site?
How long will it stay down for maintenance ?
Is there any change in the web site?
please inform us
Thank you so much in advance
October 15, 2017 at 21:40
Hi Brit,
Our activation entry was on Jan 19, 2017. We stayed 12 days and left on Feb 1st. Now we plan to enter second time on Jan 23, 2018. It is less than a year of absence, but more than a year considering our initial entry.
Could that be a problem? If not, can they ask a proof of departure record? (They didn’t stamp on the passports during departure).
Thanks
October 16, 2017 at 03:14
No problem.
November 28, 2017 at 20:57
Continuation to my previous question, if my 9 year old daughter skips the next entry and exceeds the one year of absence, let’s say she makes the second entry after 1.5 year, could this adversely affect her green card. (I thought CBP officers maybe more tolerant towards children..)
November 28, 2017 at 23:26
That WILL cause her to lose her Green Card.
October 22, 2017 at 06:07
Dear BritSimon,
Good day!
My I-551 visa stamped in my passport expires on 04 DEC, 17.
I was told that since my PCC (police clearance certificate) expires on the 7th of Nov, 17, i have to land in the USA before the 7th of Nov, 17.
If the above is true then will it be acceptable if i got a new PCC issued after the expiry of my current PCC?
Please advice if the validity of the visa is determined by any other factors other than the expiry date mentioned on the visa.
Thanking you in anticipation,
Best regards,
Syed
October 22, 2017 at 15:26
Just the date on the visa.
October 26, 2017 at 01:04
Hi,
My visa will expire in Jan 7th, 2018. I already booked a direct flight to New York in December 27th, 2017
1.. Is the first POE should be the final address mentionned in the sealed envelope of documents ?
2. My final address is Portland but i will stay in New York for few days befor booking another flight to portland. Is there any problem in that?
3 If I return in my country after activating my GC. How much i can stay there before returning to US withouth been considered that i abandoned my LPR status?
Thanks.
October 26, 2017 at 01:09
1. No – the POE is the first arrival airport in the USA
2. No problem.
3. Read the above article.
November 1, 2017 at 02:55
Hi Brit, a couple of questions, in two weeks I will have my first US entry, and I will go through the POE.
Will I request the SSN directly at the POE or I will have to go to any SS office the following day?
Before receiving the SSN can’t I work or opening a bank account? or they will give me something temporary in order to be allowed to work in the while?
Thanks a lot!
November 1, 2017 at 05:41
There was a question in the DS260 about whether you wanted USCIS to apply for the SSN for you. If you selected that option, you should not need to apply. The SSN would normally arrive in 2 to 3 weeks. Until then, you may find a bank that will open an account without a SSN, but finding work may be harder.
November 1, 2017 at 08:31
Dear Birtsimon
Greetings
I and my wife are green card holders since 29/12/2016 (the date of our first trip was in 29/12/2016).
I left USA in 22/01/2017. But my wife stay in USA to deliver our baby. In march 2017, she delivered our baby in USA.
Then, I back to USA in second of May 2017, to care for my family. But I have a contract with my job (out USA), So I want to finish it and sold all my proprieties such as my car and furniture after that back to live in USA permanently.
So, in 16 of May 2017, we left USA for temporary trip. during the last 6 months I have sold most of my furniture and my car. I resigned from my job in October 2017.
Now I want to back to USA to live there permanently. Should I book tickets to USA in 10 of November 2017 or in 14 of November 2017. The flight in 14 of November is better and cheaper. I ask you this question because one of my friends told my that “do not stay out USA for more than 180 days” IS THAT RIGHT?
November 1, 2017 at 16:31
You can be absent from the USA without permission for UP TO 12 months. After 6 months, people are often questioned about the absence a little more. But in your case the explanation is reasonable, so you don’t need to worry. Book either flight.
November 1, 2017 at 17:35
The terrorist came into our country through what is called the “Diversity Visa Lottery Program,” a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based. ( Trump ).
Hello Brit.
What is your opinion?
Will that affect DV 2018 winners?
Your comments. Regards,
November 1, 2017 at 18:14
Trump is talking about the bill already proposed that (among other things) would end the DV program. But that bill has very little support – and in any case cannot be implemented immediately so there is no impact to DV2018.
November 3, 2017 at 03:27
Hello Brit,
I have same question as everyone else has.
My whole family is moving to USA in just 2 days. But, my younger brother is facing problem because we have visa expiry at November 30, 2017 and He has final year college exam during that time.
So how early he can return and he has also to attend 5 month whole semester after that.!
Do we have to apply for re-entry permit or just POE stamp is all he needs to come back and reenter USA?
Please enlighten me more on Re-entry permit case scenario if required ?
November 3, 2017 at 15:08
When you enter, your visa is stamped and is good for 1 year from that entry – and you could leave the same day if you wanted.
November 3, 2017 at 12:38
BritSimon thanks a lot for the timely assistance you have been rendering concerning the DV program. My concern is over the bill proposed for banning the DV program, I understand that the bill has not yet been approved however might this pre-proposed bill affect those who applied for DV2019 if enacted? Thanks
November 3, 2017 at 14:05
I can’t predict law changes that far ahead. Just relax and read my recent article about that topic.
November 5, 2017 at 00:39
Hi Brit,
After entering the USA, how long does it typically take to receive the plastic card in the mail?
I thought it would be a matter of weeks but the immigration officer said 3 months!
Thank you.
November 5, 2017 at 00:41
a few weeks to 4 months.
December 9, 2017 at 19:44
My immigration officer announced at least 6 months up to a year, which was surprising. Either he was misinformed or something changed recently.
November 13, 2017 at 21:48
Hello brit ,
We got in the US ( me , my wife and my daughter) on 28/9/2017 as a DV winner , we stayed for 2 weeks and left the US 2 weeks later.
Our green cards issued on 13/10/2017 and mailed to us , me and my daughter received the green card but my wife didn’t although on my acount on the USCIS there is a message that the case closed and green cards issued and mailed . What is your recommendation ? Thanks in advance
November 13, 2017 at 23:33
Call uscis
November 14, 2017 at 12:12
We had our interview yesterday, and we got approved. We are planning to do our entry in 20 days. Is there something we should be aware of? Anything? I assume the entry is a normal proceddure with no inconvinience…thanks for your comments in advance
November 15, 2017 at 17:25
Nothing special to prepare.
November 18, 2017 at 14:50
Is there any reason or example of denial at the point of entry for the first time?
November 18, 2017 at 17:23
I have never heard of a denial at POE. It is NOT an interview.
November 14, 2017 at 17:47
Hi Simon.. First of all, thank you very much for all your great help with the DV winners. My friend, a DV2018 selectee just had an interview today. It seems like everything went fine and her passport was left in the consulate. I am trying to check her status via the ceac.state.gov website. The page says that she has an invalid immigrant visa case number. I was reading some of yours older posts and I remember one saying that case status are just available starting on the first months of the DV year. In this case, she will only be able to check her case status in January? No status will be provided and she will need to wait for an email or even the passport to be returned maybe before January 2018. Is that accurate? Please advise. Once again, thank you very much for all your great work.
November 15, 2017 at 18:02
Yes that is accurate – she cannot check CEAC for now.
November 16, 2017 at 16:14
Hi Simon,
I was selected in DV2018 (with my wife as a derivative). We have now received the I-551 visas in our passports, but have not yet entered the US to activate the green cards. I need to travel to the US for business – do you know if it is possible to enter on a tourist visa (ie. without triggering the green card activation) even though I have the immigrant visa in my passport?
The reason is that my wife will not be with me, so I obviously don’t want to activate the green card process without her (and actually I couldn’t anyway, because I’m British so our Diversity Visa is being charged to her country of origin in the OC region).
PS. Thanks so much for the amazing amount of useful info on this site!
November 16, 2017 at 17:22
No – your next entry to the USA must be the activation trip – and if she will need to be with you (depending on the visa class and notation).
December 11, 2017 at 23:03
Hello Brit.
We are finally moving to USA. We got our social sec, I have a question, is there any benefit in terms of taxes and customs to bring our personal stuff and mobiliary from our country? I heard as resident you can make and present as moving stuff in USA…
Regards,
December 11, 2017 at 23:11
No advantage that I know of.
November 18, 2017 at 14:54
After the LPR what are the steps to become a Citizen? 5 years?
Also. Is expected that we spend at least 6 months in every year of the next 5 years to become a citizen?
Regards
November 18, 2017 at 17:22
Yes you know everything you need to know.
November 18, 2017 at 21:28
Hi Simon,
We got our DV visa and I am a principal applicant. I am planning to enter USA a month before expiry date of visa. My wife will come later. I want to know whether my wife should come before date of expiry or she can come later.
November 18, 2017 at 23:23
She must enter before the expiry date on her visa. It cannot be extended.
November 20, 2017 at 09:43
Please sir, for over two years now, i had been trying to access my yahoo mail but it was showing me error but some days back, I was able to access it again and i found out that i won the american visa Lottery. My question is, can i still process it or is it too late
November 20, 2017 at 15:16
It depends what lottery you won. If your win is DV2018 you can proceed, otherwise no.
November 20, 2017 at 10:55
hi brit greetings to you.
i am planing my activation trip. is there any fees we need to pay before we travel??
2) like the green card can we pay when we enter us or its before we travel to the us.
thanks or ur response
November 20, 2017 at 15:14
1. Just the $220 fee.
2. Before or after entry.
November 28, 2017 at 00:43
Hi
I got married before leaving to USA after winning the lottery , at what time can I be able to allow him join me permanently
November 28, 2017 at 01:40
It takes about 2 years
December 2, 2017 at 08:46
I GET PR IN F 31 CATEGORY I -551 STAMP IN PASSPORT I PLAN TO REACH US BEFORE EXPIRY OF IV EXPIRY DATE MY PLAN TO STAY ONLY ONE MONTH IN US AND COME BACK TO INDIA I PAY USCIS IMMIGRATION FEES $ 220 ,HOW MUCH TIME TO GET PLASTIC GREEN CARD , AFTER GETTING PLASTIC GREEN CARD HOW MUCH TIME I STAY IN INDIA ,ANY PROCEDURE DONE BEFORE LEAVE US TO STAY IN INDIA NOTE MORE THAN 12 MONTH. PLEASE GIVE ME ANSWER
December 2, 2017 at 16:12
I only answer DV lottery questions.
December 4, 2017 at 16:10
Hello Brit.
We did our first entry two weeks ago. Ee had an stamp on our passport, an the officer said that the green card will be delivery to our address at USA. We are planning to leave USA next week. My question is:
Can we leave the country without the greencard?
We are planning to move to USA in two months. Can we do the entry without the gren card? How can we do the entry juat with the passport?
Regards
December 4, 2017 at 17:04
Yes you can re-enter without the GC. Your visa in your passport was endorsed upon entry and is valid for up to one year.
December 4, 2017 at 21:40
I received my Social Security by regular mail. Where do I have to go for my green card? What should I bring for that?
Regards,
December 4, 2017 at 23:13
You don’t go anywhere. It will be sent to you (assuming you have paid the $220 fee).
December 5, 2017 at 00:19
OK. I assume in a diferent package. Because We alteady received our social security. And we pay the 220$ fee at our arrival POE. Regards
December 5, 2017 at 00:30
Yes – it comes in a different package, and it might take 3 or 4 months to arrive.
December 8, 2017 at 06:03
Great service here! A friend of mine won the DV Lottery and already has the visa in his passport We are given to understand that the DV visa does not guarantee entry into the United States.
Is there anything that needs to be arranged prior to entry into the USA, such as arranging social security number, housing etc.?
To be admitted under the DV visa program does one uopn entry of the US need to a bank account, i.e. have a certain amount of capital as to financially overcome the first period as a new immigrant in the USA.
What first preparations/you would recommend for a new US immigrant under the DV program other than the info in https://www.uscis.gov/tools/settling-us/welcome-united-states.
Thank you for your advice.
December 8, 2017 at 06:16
None of those things are necessary to be able to to enter the USA. The entry is a simple, straightforward process.
December 12, 2017 at 01:39
Hello all!
Looking for some advice on how quickly we are likely to receive our passports back from the consulate after our interviews? I’ve heard everything from a few days to two weeks. We want to move over as soon as possible so hoping people’s experience has been more on the few days end of things.
We are in Sydney- interview is early Jan.
Thanks!
December 12, 2017 at 03:22
” I’ve heard everything from a few days to two weeks.”
Yep – that’s correct.
December 17, 2017 at 00:48
Hello Brit,
Please about the “tax reporting – even on income earned outside of the USA”, how do I do that.
My first POE was on December 2 but I will return to Ghana on December 31 to finalize few issues before I make a big move the USA finally. I’m currently still employed and will return to work.
How to I report the income please?
December 17, 2017 at 05:57
You file a tax report in March/April.