Can one travels with the immigrant visa I-551 attached in the foreign-passport?

Question

I have a friend, she has a immigrant visa that valid 6 months. She wants to know if she can travel outside the US for a few days. In her immigrant visa I-551, there's nothing about traveling. Only stated that she's a permanent residence.

USCIS said she has to call CBP (Customer Border Protection www.cbp.gov) to inquire the information because who knows... what if they decide not to let her into the US?

Calling CBP is not easy and I haven't able to obtain the information yet.

Any advise? Thanks.

Answer 1

Has your friend used her immigrant visa to enter the U.S.? If so, then she would have received an admission stamp making her a permanent resident.

On the immigrant visa which is glued to a page of her passport, there's a notation that basically says that the combination of the immigrant visa and the admission stamp will serve as temporary proof of permanent resident status.

She can use those two things as a substitute for a green card until she gets the card in the mail. The machine readable immigrant visa with the endorsement and the admission stamp take the place of the green card until she actually receives it. She can use the MRIV and the admission stamp in her passport just like a green card.

Answer 2

You can call your local congressman (senator or house-dude), they've helped me in the past on Immigration issues!

You're paying their salary so they should help...or else vote for someone else next time!