Entering visa-free after I-130 family petition approval

If your daughter enters visa-free after the I-130 family sponsorship has already been approved, USCIS will already be aware of the green card process through its own records. Visa-free entry is meant for travel, whereas I-130 reflects an intent to immigrate, so this raises a risk of violating immigration and entry/exit control laws. If someone whose immigrant intent has already been approved then enters visa-free for travel purposes, changing to immigrant status afterward can raise concerns — so we recommend seeing the process through and entering with an actual immigrant visa instead.