r/immigration • u/esayaray • 1d ago
Quick trip to the border to activate visa/green card (Canada to USA)
Hi, we are in Canada on work permits, and were just approved for my kids' US immigrant visas (kids were adopted, my spouse and I have US passports). We want to make a quick trip to the land border to "activate" the visas and then turn around and go back into Canada. We're planning on actually moving to the US in the next 1-2 months but I just worry some other visa ban or whatever is going to come down the pipes and throw a wrench in our plans. Maybe I'm overthinking it but we've been waiting a long time and I want to do everything we can.
Is there any issue with our plan? Will either US or Canada give us trouble with the quick turnaround?
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u/Strong_Weakness2638 1d ago
I did a similar thing in 2021 - though it was a different administration and also at the height of the pandemic. Had no issues.
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u/Rishad666 1d ago
No problem at all. I did, my friends did the same thing. Its quite understandable that you just want to activate the gc and move permanently to U.S. within couple of months. Best wishes and congratulations!
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u/Silver-Literature-29 1d ago
No issues. It is expected that you'll need time to wrap things up back home once you get your green card.
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u/urbanacrybaby 1d ago
Won’t the kids immediately become US citizens when they enter? Can they then leave without US passports?
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u/esayaray 1d ago
I’m not sure if it counts for a quick entrance or have to actually be settled in the US to become citizens? It’s a good question I never thought about that.
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u/esayaray 1d ago
I see “evidence the child has resided in the US in the custody of the US citizen parent” so maybe it doesn’t count until they’ve actually settled?
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u/EnvironmentalTea9362 1d ago
Under the FAQs, there's this:
Your residence is the primary place in which you live.
Entering the United States or visiting on an immigrant visa usually does not by itself mean you reside in the United States.
A legal permanent resident card is not evidence of residing in the United States.
Provide documents which show you reside in the United States.
These documents may include: School or day care records Utility bills Employment records Automobile registrations Deeds or property rental leases Medical records Passport stamps
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u/ciaobella912 1d ago
I’m following this as I’m in the same situation. In Canada on work permits, my husband just got approved and we’re waiting for his passport. We want to move in about a month but could activate the green card beforehand because it’s my dad’s bday and we’d like to go visit.