Permanet Resident Questions

[Kirstine]

Hi There,

How do I know if I have conditions on my permanent residency? The card says it is valid for 10 yrs, it says I am category IR6 (?).

I am also planning on traveling outside of the US for the first time and I notice the stamp in my passport (which is from the United Kingdom and in my Maiden name) is stamped I-90 Pending and is only valid for One Year, it says it is a 'Temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residency for one year'.

My question is, why is it only valid for one year? How do I travel after that one year period when my permanent resident card is good for 10 years. Am I allowed to travel outside the USA using this stamp?

I'm confused, I've booked my tickets under my married name as that is whats shown on my permanent resident card, even tho my passport is in my maiden name and I plan on taking my marriage certificate and all my immigration paperwork with me when I travel.

When am I allowed to apply for citizenship? If I do apply for citizenship does that give me dual citizenship with my country of birth?

My permanent resident card has been valid since April 2010 and I have been in the USA since Oct 2006, married in March 2007.

Any info greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[immihelp]

You don't have conditional green card. It is the permanent one as you were already married for over 2 years when you got the green card.

The stamp in the passport is a temporary proof of greencard, valid for one year, until you get the plastic one which is valid either for 10 years or 2 years. Once you have the plastic one, you don't have to worry about the passport stamp.

You can apply for US citizenship once you had green card for 3 years - minus 90 days as long as you are still married to your US citizen husband at that time. Otherwise, 5 years - minus 90 days.

As you are UK citizen now, you can be dual citizenship of UK + US.

[Kirstine]

Thank you for your help! I am currently getting divorced from my US husband and have just applied for a re-entry permit as I am going to go back to the UK for a while.

So am I right in understanding because we are getting divorced I will have to wait until I have had my green card for 5 years before I can apply for citizenship? Or because we have been married for nearly 5 years does that help?

Thanks again for your help!

Kirstine