Immigration Forum / USA Marriage Base / July 2005

Others have answered but here it is simply

The one year in your passport is NOT the length of time you can visit
your wife.

You entered the US and activated the I-130 visa that you obtained
through the US Consulate.  When you activated the visa at the POE you
were admitted to the US as a conditional permanent resident.  Since
green cards are not made at the POE, they placed a stamp in your
passport (I-155) which is the paper equivalent of the green card and has
the same rights as the green cards for purpose of travel, employment,
obtaining a social security card, etc.  It is just proof of your CPR
status until the green card arrives in the mail.  The stamp carries the
one year date because you will receive the green card in the mail
anywhere from one week to one year from the date of entry.  If the green
card does not arrive within that one year your status does NOT expire
only the proof of that status does.  You can get a new I-155 stamp by
going to the district office with your passport if necessary.

Conditional Permanent Resident means:

You must apply via form I-751 for removal of conditions 2 years less 90
days from the date you entered the US.  It is not the date of your
wedding anniversary.

I-155 = stamp version of the green card
I-751 = petition to removal conditions applied for 2 years less 90
days from date of becoming of a CPR
Green Card = will arrive in the mail in one week to one year from
date of entry

Apply for a social security card so that you can seek employment, get a
driver's license, etc.

Hi Donny,

You won't be renewing your CR1 visa.  The green card is a separate card
that will come to you in the mail in a few weeks or maybe months.  You
don't have to even think about your CR1 visa anymore, you used it to
come to the USA, and now you're here.  Now you are only concerned with
the green card.

Best Wishes,
Rene