David

To all experts here

This is my understanding - after the Diversity Green Card interview, the
successful applicant will be given a Visa and he has to make a visit to USA
within 6 months (?). After that, the Green Card will be sent to a US
address designated by him. Is this correct?

Another question - when does one become a Legal Permanent Resident of US?
At the point of entry? Or immediately after the issuance of the Visa after
the interview? Or after the issuance of the Green Card?
Purpose of this question - to know when INS start counting the time spent in
USA. For example, if one is considered a Permanent Resident upon the
issuance of the Visa, that would mean that he has to stay in US for 6 months
in the one year year following the issuance of the visa in order to maintain
his Green Card. If one is considered a Permanent Resident at the point of
entry, then it would be quite different as the clock will start ticking at a
different time. So when does one becomes a US Permanent Resident?

Thank you.

Denno

Originally posted by David

    > To all experts here


    > This is my understanding - after the Diversity Green Card
    > interview, the

    > successful applicant will be given a Visa and he has to make a
    > visit to USA

    > within 6 months (?). After that, the Green Card will be sent to a US

    > address designated by him. Is this correct?


    > Another question - when does one become a Legal Permanent
    > Resident of US?

    > At the point of entry? Or immediately after the issuance of the
    > Visa after

    > the interview? Or after the issuance of the Green Card?

    > Purpose of this question - to know when INS start counting the time
    > spent in

    > USA. For example, if one is considered a Permanent Resident upon the

    > issuance of the Visa, that would mean that he has to stay in US for
    > 6 months

    > in the one year year following the issuance of the visa in order to
    > maintain

    > his Green Card. If one is considered a Permanent Resident at the
    > point of

    > entry, then it would be quite different as the clock will start
    > ticking at a

    > different time. So when does one becomes a US Permanent Resident?


    > Thank you.



Hi:



One is a LPR the day they enter the US for the first time with the
immigrant visa. They put a stamp in your passport and date it. It's
valid for 1 year while you await the actual card itself which usually
only takes a couple of months to arrive.



D.

Joachim Feise

David wrote:

    > To all experts here
    >
    > This is my understanding - after the Diversity Green Card interview, the
    > successful applicant will be given a Visa and he has to make a visit to USA
    > within 6 months (?).

It is not a "visit" to the US. The person has to move to the US in this
timeframe.

    > After that, the Green Card will be sent to a US
    > address designated by him. Is this correct?

The GC will be sent to the address given at entry.

    > Another question - when does one become a Legal Permanent Resident of US?
    > At the point of entry? Or immediately after the issuance of the Visa after
    > the interview? Or after the issuance of the Green Card?

At the time the person enters the US with the immigrant visa.

    > Purpose of this question - to know when INS start counting the time spent in
    > USA. For example, if one is considered a Permanent Resident upon the
    > issuance of the Visa, that would mean that he has to stay in US for 6 months
    > in the one year year following the issuance of the visa in order to maintain
    > his Green Card.

Huh? A Permanent Resident has to _reside_ in the US. Period. It is called
_Permanent_ Resident for a reason.
It is not possible to live abroad and just show up in the US once in a while.
Doing so would be considered abandonment of the GC.

-Joe

David

Hi Joe

I know that. I intend to stay permanently in US and become naturalized
eventually. I just want to know when the clock start ticking. Denno has
answered me - at the time of entry.

Most migrants also need time to 'cut ties' with their home country, and so
it is quite understandable that they have to return home to settle
unfinished busines in their first 1 or 2 years of becoming US permanent
residents.

Thank you for your help.



"Joachim Feise" <> wrote in message
news:bra7go$ijg$...
    > David wrote:
    > > To all experts here
    > >
    > > This is my understanding - after the Diversity Green Card interview, the
    > > successful applicant will be given a Visa and he has to make a visit to
USA
    > > within 6 months (?).
    > It is not a "visit" to the US. The person has to move to the US in this
    > timeframe.
    > > After that, the Green Card will be sent to a US
    > > address designated by him. Is this correct?
    > The GC will be sent to the address given at entry.
    > > Another question - when does one become a Legal Permanent Resident of
US?
    > > At the point of entry? Or immediately after the issuance of the Visa
after
    > > the interview? Or after the issuance of the Green Card?
    > At the time the person enters the US with the immigrant visa.
    > > Purpose of this question - to know when INS start counting the time
spent in
    > > USA. For example, if one is considered a Permanent Resident upon the
    > > issuance of the Visa, that would mean that he has to stay in US for 6
months
    > > in the one year year following the issuance of the visa in order to
maintain
    > > his Green Card.
    > Huh? A Permanent Resident has to _reside_ in the US. Period. It is called
    > _Permanent_ Resident for a reason.
    > It is not possible to live abroad and just show up in the US once in a
while.
    > Doing so would be considered abandonment of the GC.
    > -Joe

Joachim Feise

David wrote:
    >
    > Most migrants also need time to 'cut ties' with their home country, and so
    > it is quite understandable that they have to return home to settle
    > unfinished busines in their first 1 or 2 years of becoming US permanent
    > residents.

Just watch out for the pitfalls.
See http://www.visalaw.com/01jan4/12jan401.html

-Joe