my husband's CR-1 visa was granted in Feb 08 but had a very short validity, so we traveled to America the first week of March, just to get the stamp in the passport and activate his visa...we went through POE, and got a stamp in his passport, and that's all we got

6 weeks down the line, we still don't have any other paperwork for him (such as a SS number or Green Card), so we need to go to the SS office to apply for one...but they want to see his I-94...what is this? why don't we have one? and how do we get one pronto?

we are in the UK right now, tying up loose ends and travel permanently on 11 May

any help is greatly appreciated

anna

An I-94 is a form issued to nonimmigrant aliens when they come to the US. They pass them out on the airplane. The alien fills out info regarding the alien, passport number, place where staying, etc., and then the immigration officer stamps it at the POE. Another term for the I-94 is an arrival/departure record.

Someone who has an immigrant visa (such as an IR-1 or CR-1) will not have an I-94. If you read the actual I-94 form, on the top, it says something to the effect that it's not for use by US Citizens, permanent residents, or aliens in possession of an immigrant visa.

Some clerk at the SS office is either confused about the use of the I-94 or is confused about the fact that your husband entered on an immigrant visa. If you tell the clerk that your husband has an I-551 stamp in his passport, the clerk will probably read the list of acceptable documents and find that the I-551 stamp is acceptable.