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.
July 17, 2019 at 14:14
Hi Simon,
My wife and I just paid the Green card fees on USCIS website. We got 2 receipts with 2 different numbers. We only created one account and used it to pay for both of us. My questions are:
1- There is a link to change the address where you want to receive the GC/SNN but when i click the link it doesn’t work. You told me before that my only option to change the address is at the POE. so i was wondering if this is a new thing and i need to use a certain web browser or it just doesn’t work.
2- Do i need to create my own account to be able to see my status updates or one account is enough and i can consider her status updates are the same as mine?
Many Thanks!
July 17, 2019 at 17:46
1. The last chance to change is at the POE. The online changes don’t seem to affect where the GC is sent.
2. A kettle will boil whether you watch it or not.
July 24, 2019 at 07:31
Hi Simon,
Apologies for the many questions and thanks a lot for your guidance and paitence!
I have landed in US in August 2018 in Virginia where my relative stays and got my green card in the mail after 4 weeks. I have been traveling in and out of the country since then but didn’t stay longer than 6 months outside of it. In my last visit to Florida, I tried to issue my Social Security Number, but the officer at the Social Security Card Center in Orlando told me that I need to issue SSN from the same state that I have my address (I’m using my relative’s address in Virginia). So I wanted to ask you some questions:
1) Can I apply for SSN during my next visit to Virginia which will only last for one week and let my relative receive it in the mail as it takes 3 weeks and then he can send it to me just like I did with the green card or do I have to be physically in the US to receive SSN myself as no one else is allowed to receive it or maybe I will be requested for biometrics midway?
2) Do I really have to issue SSN from the same state I’m using the address in? As I couldn’t find that info in SSN website.
3) Can I move finally to the US August next year (i.e. in August 2020, 2 years after I got my green card) provided that I don’t stay out of the country more than 6 months during this year and not lose my green card DV lottery status? or do DV lottery winners need to reside in the country after one year from landing maximum?
4) Given that I stay in the US for 3 years starting next year, will I be able to apply for naturalization/citizenship in August 2023 (this will mean I have stayed 3 years in US in 5 years since I first got green card and didn’t stay outside the country more than 6 months during these 5 years)?
Your help is really appreciated! Thanks again
July 24, 2019 at 14:49
1. That wil be OK. No biometrics or anything needed.
2. No
3. There is some risk of meeting a grumpy IO. But it should be OK.
4. No, your periods outside will be counted.
August 15, 2019 at 06:27
Hi Simon,
Do I have to apply for SSN at a Social Security Card Center after my first entry or do we just automatically get it in the mail address we gave to the IO at the POE?
August 15, 2019 at 17:03
It depends whether you selected that option in your DS260.
August 18, 2019 at 14:06
Thanks.
July 29, 2019 at 11:17
Hi Simon.
My visa was issued on 23rd of July 2019. It expires on the 24th of December 2019. Is it safe to book an early September flight? Say first week of September? Will i be allowed entry into the US? Given the DV 2019 Lot wraps on 30th September?
July 29, 2019 at 23:26
You can enter anytime before the expiry date on your visa. The article above explains all this….
August 2, 2019 at 06:32
Hello again Mr. Simon.
I have a simple question :
I have an immigrant visa on my current passport,but my passport will expire soon,so I want to keep old passport and to get new one.
Is it ok ,or it may couse a problem when moving to US?
Thank you.
August 2, 2019 at 14:28
You can take both old and new to USA.
August 5, 2019 at 19:43
I’m planning to rent Airbnb and use that address on ds-260. How long does it take for plastic to arrive?
August 5, 2019 at 19:49
Sometimes weeks, but it can be up to 3 or 4 months – so use a different address.
August 11, 2019 at 20:38
Hi Brit, we will move in October to the US. We are looking for a Pre-k school for our small daughter. There are some opportunities but they request a proof of residency in the county in order to enroll our girl. Would it be ok to get a notorized residencye affidavit today even though we have not yet entered in the US with our DV visas? Indeed, we plan to live during the first week in my cousin’s house based in the US. Thanks.
August 11, 2019 at 21:18
I’m wondering if you are even reading what you are writing – it’s that foolish.
Of course it is not a good idea to lie – which is exactly what you are suggesting.
Once you move to the USA you can enroll your daughter. That might take a few days, but since we are discussing a small child, that’s probably OK.
August 11, 2019 at 22:20
Well I have my response and obviously I do not want to lie. However it’s not that easy to enroll a 4 year old child in a pre-K with limited number of children when she will start after the other ones. Pre-k is not mandatory…
August 11, 2019 at 22:49
Truth is mandatory.
August 12, 2019 at 11:03
Fully agreed Brit, thank you for your kind advice. I just wanted to say that it is not that easy to enroll a 4 years old child in pre-K. Have a great week.
August 12, 2019 at 12:53
Sure, immigration will have some challenges. PreK enrollment will not be the hardest thing you have to deal with – and it important that you don’t do things in ways that might seem normal in other countries.
August 17, 2019 at 12:13
Hello brit, how many stamps stick in our passport when we received our DV visa ?
August 17, 2019 at 20:45
One visa.
August 18, 2019 at 00:56
Brit, they stick visa stamp only ( you added picture that visa stamp above post) ? Am i correct ?
August 18, 2019 at 14:24
I don’t understand what you are saying – but really – please think how important this question is. Who cares how many stamps. Really.
August 18, 2019 at 14:39
Sorry brit, I asked about the stamp because i heard another stamp or seal on the passport, additionally above mentioned visa stamp when we got passport in embassy. Please clarify me. This is my last question promised you.
August 18, 2019 at 15:08
I have no idea what you are talking about.
August 18, 2019 at 16:12
Brit, Is only sticked visa stamp when we returned our passport ?
August 18, 2019 at 16:23
Please enough of this stamp question. You are just going round and round on a pointless topic.
August 18, 2019 at 05:26
Hello brit , please give me a reply
September 10, 2019 at 15:57
Hi Simon,
First of all, thank you so very much for your fantastic blog. Its been nothing short of a miracle and a lifeline for all of us- lucky winners!))
I wanted to ask if I can work and drive legally at the time period while I wait for my green card to arrive here in US. I know it can take up to 4 months, and in the mean time what documents can i take to DMV and to show my possible landlord?
Many thanks again,
Yasa
September 10, 2019 at 21:37
Yes you can work and drive before having the GC.
The drivers license rules vary by state, but you generally apply for a license very soon after becoming a resident in that state. That typically means submitting an apartment lease or something to show you are a resident.
The visa in your passport becomes proof that you are an LPR. It is used until the plastic GC arives.
June 1, 2023 at 18:09
Hi Brit,
I recently got my dv visa approved and will be travelling to the US in September. I had the same question about working before the green card arrives as I am thinking of starting to look for jobs online. What would be provided to the employers as proof of the right to work in the USA while waiting for your green card after arriving?
June 1, 2023 at 20:59
The stamped visa is accepted.
September 12, 2019 at 19:57
dear sir
greetings
i have activated my visa last august and come back to origin country few days ago, im planing to go back to us next july, to get house, insurance, open bank account etc, in the same time i will ask re-entry permission for 2 years because of the following reasons which are all real:
1- i need my son to finish secondary school in his current school in origin country.
2- my parents are sick and they need health control and checking regularly, i’m doing this for them.
3- my wife is goverment employee and government are not gives permission to leave country, the process will take long time.
4- i have contract with my work till 2023, as per contract terms and conditions, i cannot terminate it for the reason of living in another country.
are the above reasons will help me to get re-entry permission.?
November 29, 2019 at 12:59
Hi Simon
So in theory you have about 18 months from the medical date, assuming the visa is issued within the same month, in terms of neutralization you need 5 consecutive years from the green card issuance to apply, does the time out of the USA count? In other words if you take advantage of the 18 months grace period you’d need 6.5 years instead, correct?
November 30, 2019 at 00:42
What 18 months grace period?
Naturalization rules require physical presence – but there is a formula for that.
November 29, 2019 at 15:05
Hi Brit
I would like to thanks you for all your support n availability to answer all out questions
Thanks and to Allah almighty GOD and by his grace I’ve got the Visa
Would like to cross my thanks to thanks to you may gad bless you
My interview was in Abu Dhabi so simple n easy one
November 30, 2019 at 00:38
Nice!
December 25, 2019 at 11:16
Dear Brit,
First of all, I would like to thank you for this useful blog and your support.
Could you please assist me to get an answer to the following questions:
Question 1. I’m a DV lottery winner, We (my family and I) are waiting for the first entry to the US. My son is a student, he is 18. It is clear that he has to be in home country more than 6 months each year till end of university education (next 2 and half years approx.). Does it mean that we have to apply for re-entry permit before he leaves the US or proof of education abroad is an acceptable reason?
Question 2. Can I (or children) travel back to our home country immediately (for example, during 3 days) after the first entry to the US?
Thanks a lot in advance.
Best Regards,
Megsed
December 26, 2019 at 19:11
1. As long as he is not absent for more than 12 months at a time it should be OK. But a re-entry permit might be safer.
2. Yes
February 6, 2020 at 18:00
Hello Simon,
Can you please confirm that the family members of the main green card applicant do not have to travel at the same time as the main applicant to activate the green card during the first trip to the US?
If yes, how does it work at the airport for the family members who arrive later since they won’t have the sealed envelop to give to the immigration officer?
Thanks
February 6, 2020 at 20:43
Confirmed.
Once entered you have the documents for the derivatives and can FEDEX them back.
February 27, 2020 at 14:26
Hello Brit,
Thank you for your blogs. It’s very nice what you are doing here to help other people.
I have my immigrant visa stamp already on my passport. I am planning to take a short trip to usa in usa to activate my gc.
But right now, i am planning to do it sooner to activate it. Can just take a quick round trip to US immigration checkpoint on foreign soil (Abu Dhabi) instead of US POE / Land and stay for a couple days only in uae and go back to my home country Indonesia?
Thank you for your answer
February 27, 2020 at 20:45
Not to my knowledge, no.
October 7, 2020 at 19:54
Hi Brit. In this post as an example you mentioned about the US checkpoint on the foreign soil. I wanted to clarify a few things about it, if you know about them.
1. Can any nationality go to those foreign soil checkpoints to activate their green card with issued DV visa?
2. If yes, what are other locations besides mentioned Abu Dhabi of such checkpoints? Or where to look for them?
I am 2020EU28k with issued DV visa with my 2 derivatives – wife and son. We currently reside in Europe. Our visas expires on March 24, 2021. At the moment we cannot travel to US due to PP.
The situation is my wife is currently pregnant and by the beginning of next year when (if) PP expires, she will be on her 7th month of pregnancy. That brings uncertainty if she will be allowed to board the plane, not to mention the covid risk in the closed space (aircraft) for a long flight time. We are thinking to return back to Europe after visa activation for delivery. That’s double the flight time. That all makes me anxious. So we are looking for a possibility of closer checkpoint location with shorter flight time.
Also – do you believe there might be some exceptions, like, extension of visa for pregnant or maybe I can go alone with her passport to activate her gc for her?
Any advice would be highly appreciated.
Thanks Brit.
October 8, 2020 at 00:05
1. You still have to travel to the USA.
2. I don’t know – but see 1.
You are going to have to decide how to safely travel and if the risks are worthwhile.
March 19, 2020 at 06:44
Hi Brit,
Due to the various restrictions because of Corona Virus, if I wont be able to travel to US before my VISA expires, is there any way I can renew it? or is there any other way ?
Thanks
March 19, 2020 at 15:07
YOu can write to the embassy and request an extension due to the unusual circumstances. They may grant an extension – but you would need to pay for medicals again.
April 1, 2020 at 11:36
Hi Britt
can we go to USCIS directly once we arrived at US to collect our green card physical instead of postal mail?
April 1, 2020 at 21:37
No.
May 18, 2020 at 06:41
Hi Simon,
First of all thank you for all this information.
You wrote that “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.”
Because of coronavirus, me and my partner would like to leave the US as soon as possible for our activation trip.
We are planning to arrive in Los Angeles on the 30th of May in the early morning and leave late night ont he 31st of May. I was wondering if that is too short? I know you said “on the next plane back” but I would like to make sure, as I read somewhere else it said at least a weekend?
Thank you
May 18, 2020 at 13:25
There is no minimum time.
May 21, 2020 at 07:09
Hi Britt,
Just wanted to ask incase I win a Dv lottery and I don’t have a sponsor in the States(at least that’s what I heard I must have) what can I do?
Secondly I am a Kenyan living and working in the state of Qatar, will it be possible to process my Dv incase I win from the State of Qatar?
Thirdly kindly estimate the processing time for the dv (while staying in the states) for me to be able to legally start looking for a job?
Lastly, who pays the flight ticket? The U.S govt or Me?
Will sincerely appreciate very much for any response received.
May 21, 2020 at 13:34
Your chance of being selected is once in 200 years. If you win – there is time for these questions.
May 29, 2020 at 10:21
Hi Sir
Sorry for my weak english Me my wife and our kid have valid visa issued before the presidential proculamation and i am the principle applicant but i am traveling first alone not with my family and a week later when i reach there my family will travel after that, so my question is will that create a problem at immigration entry point for me and for my family to not coming all togather at once?
Thanks a lot in advance
May 29, 2020 at 20:56
No problem.
June 27, 2020 at 09:09
Hi Brit!
If I don’t have any sponser in USA, will i get disqualified in interview?
June 27, 2020 at 17:15
Possibly. Stupid risk to take.
July 28, 2020 at 19:09
I came back to my home(origin) country on March the 1st for the first time after being in the US for 2 years and three months.My intention was only to stay for three months but I am still in my home country because of COVID-19 . Given the circumstances,it is safe to be back in the US after being absent for 7 or 6 months? Thank you!!
July 29, 2020 at 17:37
No problem.
August 2, 2020 at 10:04
Hi Simon,
I have a question regarding my situation:
I am from New Zealand, I have activated my LPR status in Nov 2019, and my green card is waiting for me at a friend’s house in USA, but I have not returned to the States yet. I am currently searching for a job in US, and was planning to move there ASAP, but the situation in the US with COVID-19 means that I would prefer to hunker down in New Zealand during the pandemic as long as I can. Do you think it would be reasonable or wise to go the US to pick up my green card (before Nov 2020), and perhaps stay for a short visit, and come back to New Zealand (while working remotely for a US job) on the pretence that I want to ride out the pandemic? Do you think immigration will have a major issue with that?
Many thanks for your very useful and informative website! Countless people have found it invaluable to navigate the DV system and process.
Thanks in advance and look forward to your response
August 3, 2020 at 03:35
No problem, but re-enter within 1 year.
August 3, 2020 at 09:04
Do you mean re-enter within one year after I pick up my green card and leave the States again?
August 3, 2020 at 21:26
Yes
December 12, 2020 at 08:19
Hi Harold, interesting comments and question. If I may follow-up here in December- How was your job hunting/applying experience like regarding applying for positions online while outside the U.S.? Also, and this is NOT a sarcastic questions- couldn’t your friend simply mail your Green card to your NZ address? Thanks!
August 8, 2020 at 19:44
I activated my GC in January 2020 and spend one week in the US then return back to where I came from .the plan was to move permenently to the US by October 2020, but that has now changed of course with the current pandemic.
As I don’t think it’s the right time to make a life changing move which will probably last for some time, I postpone my move till mid of 2021 .of course I visit US for some days on January 2021 to maintain my LPR status(I. e before completing one year )
Do you think that i will have an issues at the POE ?
August 8, 2020 at 22:50
No.
August 8, 2020 at 20:09
Some people confirmed that staying outside the US for more than 180 shall remain an issue regardless if it is the first time after the activation trip or not, and that might lead to take the Green cards from us and refer us to immigration judge.
August 8, 2020 at 22:51
No one confirmed that – because it is not correct.
August 8, 2020 at 20:52
Any issue to apply for reentry permit if we return back within one year.
August 8, 2020 at 22:52
Read the article above please and other FAQ entries.
August 9, 2020 at 18:05
Dear Mr. BritSimon,
I would like to appreciate your continued efforts, thank you very much,
I am sorry to bother you, but it seems that my situation is unique.
However, prior to posting this question, trust me I have spent a considerable amount of time trying to find an answer for that but it was to no Avail,
Noting that we have activated our status on January 2020 and left the US after one week but will visit the US again on January 2021 to maintain our LPR status (I. e before completing one year- approximetely 11 months and half absent).
1- I am wondering if such a long absence will negatively impact the acceptance of the Re-entry permit application which is intended to be submitted as soon as we return back on January 2021.
2-In this circumstance,How many year/s can they give us (one year or two years) .
3-Do you think it deserves to overthink the aforesaid long absence?
Thank you very much.
August 9, 2020 at 19:48
Nothing unique about this at all.
1. A re-entry permit is not guaranteed – so it will be up to you to explain why you want that.
2. You don’t need a re-entry permit for less than one year – so its a daft question.
3. See 1.
August 12, 2020 at 10:52
Does re-entry policy apply to derivatives? Children may need to school outside the states and return during vacation to the states
August 12, 2020 at 23:49
Yes – derivatives are GC holders and must meet the same rules.
August 9, 2020 at 21:11
Dear Brit Simon,
I am sorry, my questions weren’t clear,
I meant the followings
1-Considering my reasons for submitting the Said Re-entry permit are resonable and acceptable,Does the long absense by itself (11and half months)will have any affect or consideration on rejecting the Re-entry permit which is intended to be submitted once we return back from long absent (11 and half months) following the activation trip.
2 – Presuming the answer for the above question is No, can I ask for two years permit or they will give me only one year?
3-Does the said long absent period (11 and half months) following the activation trip deserve concern.
Thank you.
August 9, 2020 at 22:42
You are just rephrasing the same questions I already answered. Please be respectful of my time. Please read and digest my answers.
August 11, 2020 at 08:06
Thank you Mr. Brit Simon,
Another questions please,
1-My understanding that any absent period more than 6 months but less than 12 months will impact only the citizen application and that will shift the citizen statutory time frame, as a result that will delay the submission of the naturalization application by the amount of the absent period . Am I correct?
2- Aside from the above point, any other issue could be associated from this long
absent in regards of applying for the naturalization.
3-After we return back from long absent( less than12 months), can we still leave the US again for 3 – 4 months to finalize and clear the pending issues(if any). Any thing we should do at that stage to avoid any issue at the POE.
Thank you
August 11, 2020 at 18:56
Odi – you keep asking these same questions in different ways. I asked you not to keep doing that. Don’t do it again.
October 2, 2020 at 09:56
Hi Simon, thanks a lot for all you’re doing for DV-winners and participants!
I’m DV2020 winner and my family and I – we’ve got our visas.
My question is about the address. The Consulates printed the wrong address on the sheets attached to the yellow envelopes.
Should I be worried about that and go and fill in the AR11 form about changing the address or I can say the correct address to the officer when entering the US?
Thank you!
October 3, 2020 at 00:34
Yes – correct it at the POE.
October 7, 2020 at 20:03
Hi Brit. I appologise for posting same again. I did by mistake reply to other person in the comments above instead of writing to you.
In this post as an example you mentioned about the US checkpoint on the foreign soil. I wanted to clarify a few things about it, if you know about them.
1. Can any nationality go to those foreign soil checkpoints to activate their green card with issued DV visa?
2. If yes, what are other locations besides mentioned Abu Dhabi of such checkpoints? Or where to look for them?
I am 2020EU28k with issued DV visa with my 2 derivatives – wife and son. We currently reside in Europe. Our visas expires on March 24, 2021. At the moment we cannot travel to US due to PP.
The situation is my wife is currently pregnant and by the beginning of next year when (if) PP expires, she will be on her 7th month of pregnancy. That brings uncertainty if she will be allowed to board the plane, not to mention the covid risk in the closed space (aircraft) for a long flight time. We are thinking to return back to Europe after visa activation for delivery. That’s double the flight time. That all makes me anxious. So we are looking for a possibility of closer checkpoint location with shorter flight time.
Also – do you believe there might be some exceptions, like, extension of visa for pregnant or maybe I can go alone with her passport to activate her gc for her?
Any advice would be highly appreciated.
Thanks Brit.
December 20, 2020 at 10:43
Dear Brit,
I hope that you and your loved ones are safe & healthy. I would like to first thank you for the amazing work you are doing to help random people from all around the world go through the whole dv process. You are truly generous and we thank you for that ❤️!
If i may ask for some of your guidance regarding my concerns About the date of re entry to the US, my husband and I already have our GC at hand. i understand we need to come back to us soil within 12 months, but i want to know if it 12 months from first entry or 12 months from the departure date.
We entered the US on january 17th 2020 and left on febuary 6th 2020.
I would like to know if it is safe to enter back around febuary first 2021 or if its better to make it there before the 17th of january?
Also i am pregnant, and i will be about 6months and half, i know it is expensive to give birth in the us, so we are planning on bringing 10K$ each, do you have any idea if we are allowed to have such a cash amount with us (20k$)?
Thank you in advance for taking time to read my message & have a great day.
December 20, 2020 at 15:27
1. It’s absence. So departure date.
2. It’s unwise to travel with that much cash in my opinion, but if you do, simply carry proof showing where the money came from (usually a withdrawal slip or document from the bank. You may also need to report the cash to customs. There are better ways of moving money to the USA (in the FAQ)
December 20, 2020 at 21:18
Thank you very much for your quick reply, i really appreciate it.
It is a big relief to know that i just have to make it to the US before February 6th, now that you said that it is the absence of the country that has to be less than 12months.
Regarding the cash, we will surely have bank documents but i will check out the related FAQ questions and try to find a wiser solution.
thank you very much for your advices.
January 31, 2021 at 19:28
My GC will be sent to my friends in Chicago while I go back to my country for 6 months. I asked my friend to mail the GC to me in my country. When I’m giving the address at POE can I give the name of that friend and not mine? I’m just worried he will not be at home when the GC arrives and he won’t be able to collect it and send it to me?
January 31, 2021 at 21:06
It will be delivered at the address you give, whether anyone is at home or not. You can change the address at the POE.
February 28, 2021 at 21:01
Dear Brite,
We came back to France on febuary 2020 to prepare our final departure for the United States and let our daughter finish her last year of primary school. But when we arrived in France the health situation suddenly worsened due to Covid 19. The country was locked down and international trips were prohited or strongly discouraged by both french and US authorities. Since, the health situation in France and in the United States has been unstable and not allowed us to prepare our immigration in order to return to USA .
In view of the health situation, what happens if we return to the United States, once vaccinated, after more than a year in July.
Thank you
Alain
February 28, 2021 at 21:12
You will have to apply to the local embassy for an SB-1. Google it.
March 3, 2021 at 12:13
Hi Simon
Thanks so much for a great site with more practical details surrounding the green card lottery than anywhere else.
My wife ‘won’ in the DV2021 lottery and we are three derivatives (husband and two teenage kids) under her application.
Once the interviewing start and we get lucky enough to be successful for a green card, what are the rules regarding our stay as a family in the US? What I specifically want to know is this; what if we as parents decide after some time that we no longer want to stay there ‘permanently’ but the kids do. Could they remain alone in the country or does the principal winner always have to remain with them, even after a certain age? If our win can be legally ‘separated’ at some juncture, are there any specifics to be mindful of such as timelines? Any input would be appreciated.
Again, thanks for doing a fantastic job!
March 3, 2021 at 23:50
Once you enter and become LPRs each person can do whatever they want.
March 4, 2021 at 17:50
Thanks very much Simon. It makes sense. Keep up the great work! Cheers
July 30, 2021 at 10:00
Dear Brit,
I am a DV2020 winner from Italy.
My first entry was on March 6, 2021 just to activate my status.
I’ve the stamp and the plastic card as well.
Actually I’m in Italy because my job contract (I’ll terminate it on October) and to settle my stuff before final move in U.S.
I wanna emigrate on November 2021, after 8 months from my U.S departure. Do you think I should keep some evidence with me (old Italian job contract, e.g) just to avoid any problems at the POE? Do you suggest me to travel in America for a week or less before 6 months for the same reason?
Thanks a lot,
Lorenzo
July 30, 2021 at 19:45
Your plan is fine. Take evidence if you want – but they almost certainly won’t ask for it.
August 5, 2021 at 21:48
Hi Simon,
I think I already know the answer, but just to be 100% sure: it won’t be a problem if I enter the US border in NY to activate my GC, while the address where my GC should be sent to will be in LA?
Thank you and for all your help during these months!!
– Maria from Amsterdam
August 6, 2021 at 05:18
No problem.
September 3, 2021 at 08:42
Dear Brit,
after my first entry in March I will stay outside the US for 9 months because by job contract in Italy. Do you suggest me to have a little trip for few days in USA just to stay within 6 months of absence or I can wait until December without a risk of a revoke of my LPR status? Actually I don’t have nothing in US like bank account or a rent. I will do it once back…
Thanks a lot,
Cheers.
September 3, 2021 at 18:58
It’s explained in the FAQ
September 29, 2021 at 03:13
Hi Mr Brit, first of all thank you, you have been a mentor through this process. We got our visas( CEAC status issued for DV2021). I’m not ready yet to move US but I would like to activate my visa in order to avoid the same problem DV2020 just in case. My questions
1. How many days do you recommend stay at US soil before go back to my country to complete the loose ends.?
2. Just to confirm, it’s valid to travel back to US within 1 year just with visa stamped, right?
And again thanks for your continues effort helping people and makind dreams come true.
September 30, 2021 at 18:41
1. No minimum time.
2. Yes
Congratulations
November 9, 2021 at 11:14
Hi Simon,
Thank you so much for your effort in answering all of our questions.
I’m a DV 2020 winner.
1. I’m planning to go to the US for one day to get the visa endorsed. Does that mean that will automatically send it to the address I mentioned in the ds260 form? Would it be possible to apply / receive the green card in a US embassy abroad after the DV visa got issued? or is this something I can do online? a link to this process would be so appreciated.
2. Do I need to be in mainland US territory to get the visa endorsed? Can I do this for example in Ireland’s USCBP?
3. How long it takes approximately until I get the green card after first entry?
4. Would it be possible to change that address to the embassy in my local country?
5. After my visa got endorsed, Is there a limit to how many times I can go back and forth to the U.S respecting the 12 months limit? How would this affect my application for a green card? Due to family reasons, the pandemic and the lawsuit, I may need to stay abroad and only move permanently to the U.S after few years.
Thanks a million.
Alan,
November 13, 2021 at 16:17
DV2020?? Do you mean 2021?
1. The GC is sent to the US address you gave in the DS260
2. You need to enter the USA.
3. Up to 3 or 4 months.
4. No
5. A few years? That is not what the GC is for. You can read the FAQ about absences, but make a better plan than staying out of the USA for years.
May 23, 2022 at 09:23
Hi Brit,
Thanks a lot for your every timely advice in this journey.
I see that this post “Successful interview- length of visa validity leaving usa and arriving” was written in Oct 20, 2014
Do the rules and mentions in this article still hold valid as of May 2022.
Thanks again in advance
May 24, 2022 at 12:15
Yes
October 18, 2022 at 16:03
Hi Brit,
Thank you very much for your help, patince and dedication!
We got our green cards and spent few months in USA but now we are planning to go back to our home country for some time. We are still considering if we want to keep our LPR status.
1. Do you know if USCIS can automatically revoke our green cards and terminate our LPR status if we spend more than one year in our home country and we don’t show that we still have some connection to USA (like bank accounts, permanent home and etc.)?
2. If they can do that, should they inform us that our green cards/LPR status are terminated?
3. After all if we decide to give up our LPR status should we report to USA government the income we would receive in our country and pay US government/state taxes for it?
Kind regards!
October 19, 2022 at 16:34
2. no they will not, the status will be terminated by law
3. why would you want to report your income to a foreign country with no relationship to it? However, for the time you stayed in the US and earned money, you should consulate a tax advisor.
October 21, 2022 at 16:02
Hi thesaboteur,
Thank you for the answers and provided information.
I’m asking about reporting foreigner income to US government because of this sentence “although you will have become an LPR and therefore have other obligations (such as tax reporting – even on income earned outside of the USA!)”. This information really confused us.
Yes, we will talk with tax advisor about the income earned in US.
Kind regards
October 23, 2022 at 20:28
You are required to file a tax report as an LPR, and tax could be due on any income, including income earned outside the USA. So – if you don’t want to have that obligation, you can revoke your LPR status.
October 23, 2022 at 15:42
No it is not automatic. If you want to renounce your status there is a process for that.
January 17, 2023 at 05:31
Hi Simon, thank you for all your help and providing so much useful information to us! I have a question regarding I-131 and unfortunately I couldn’t find an answer despite combing through the lengthy USCIS instructions posted on their website… Do you know what happens to your I-131 if you have successfully received your re-entry permit, but you still manage to travel to the US within the time period during which you were not obligated to enter the US? Does your I-131 automatically become invalid/revoked and you would have to travel to the US again within 364 days after your last entry to uphold your GC/LPR status? Thanks in advance for your help!! 🙂
January 20, 2023 at 12:40
I don’t know.