how long to get 2 year green card in mail and work related questions...

[JaJo08 0]

We completed our interview on 4/15 and passed and my wife received her passport back with the 6 month temp visa glued inside just a week later. My question is, how long does it typically take to get the 2 year CR green card in the mail? On the DS230 I put down a good friend's name and address for the green card to be mailed and I'm hoping that's not a problem. I did so because I wasn't sure where we'd be living in the coming months as my wife and I are going to moving since my place is too small to accomodate the two of us. I assume they will address the CR1 card to my friend since it was his name and address I listed and hopefully not to my wife since she does not reside there. Does it typically arrive fairly soon after the interview?

The reason I'm curious about all this is that my wife will start applying for jobs once we get to the states and when they ask for her green card, will it be sufficient to just show the temporary one in the meantime? I'm guessing they'll also want to see her social security card as well which even though we checked the box to have one mailed to us, I was told it may be quicker to just go down to the social security office in my city and get her one there. Again though, will they want to see the permanent green card or will the temp one suffice?

thanks for the help!

Jason

[Flames9_RN 358]

The ball doesnt start rolling until your POE!! Normally takes around a month to get the actual greencard in the mail, until then yes, the stamp in ur passport works as the greencard, its good for 1 yr! Many times you know the greencard is on its way when you get a "Welcoem to the USA letter" in the mail, many get multiples of that letter. And I believe you can check online on its status

SSN. Yes by theory it should arrive in th mail if you checked it off on that form, BUT quite often,it doesnt! One has to wait approx 10-14 BUSINESS days to go and check on its status. If you go too soon, you won't be in the system yet. I strongly recommend you download a form, fil lit out and take it with you when you goto the SSN office, thus when they say, one hasn't been issued to you, you simply hand over the already filled out form! Ensure u bring ur passport and birth cert! Mine arrived in the mail 1 week later

[JaJo08 0]

The ball doesnt start rolling until your POE!! Normally takes around a month to get the actual greencard in the mail, until then yes, the stamp in ur passport works as the greencard, its good for 1 yr! Many times you know the greencard is on its way when you get a "Welcoem to the USA letter" in the mail, many get multiples of that letter. And I believe you can check online on its status

SSN. Yes by theory it should arrive in th mail if you checked it off on that form, BUT quite often,it doesnt! One has to wait approx 10-14 BUSINESS days to go and check on its status. If you go too soon, you won't be in the system yet. I strongly recommend you download a form, fil lit out and take it with you when you goto the SSN office, thus when they say, one hasn't been issued to you, you simply hand over the already filled out form! Ensure u bring ur passport and birth cert! Mine arrived in the mail 1 week later

Thanks for the response, but the expiration date is not 1 year later, but 6 months for the temp one as shown in the passport. As far as putting my friends address down with his name, that shouldn't be a problem correct?

[OBX 51]

Thanks for the response, but the expiration date is not 1 year later, but 6 months for the temp one as shown in the passport. As far as putting my friends address down with his name, that shouldn't be a problem correct?

The visa itself expires after 6 months but once endorsed and stamped at the POE it should be good for one year as a temporary green card. You should get the actual card within a month or so of your POE.

All I needed for my SSN application was my passport and birth certificate. Good luck!

[sdw 10]

Once the visa is activated the CBP will put a stamp with it and that acts as a temporary green card for 1 year. Make sure your friend puts your wife's name on the mailbox. Mail carrier may not drop it off if her name is not.

[redBlue 1]

We completed our interview on 4/15 and passed and my wife received her passport back with the 6 month temp visa glued inside just a week later. My question is, how long does it typically take to get the 2 year CR green card in the mail? On the DS230 I put down a good friend's name and address for the green card to be mailed and I'm hoping that's not a problem. I did so because I wasn't sure where we'd be living in the coming months as my wife and I are going to moving since my place is too small to accomodate the two of us. I assume they will address the CR1 card to my friend since it was his name and address I listed and hopefully not to my wife since she does not reside there. Does it typically arrive fairly soon after the interview?

The reason I'm curious about all this is that my wife will start applying for jobs once we get to the states and when they ask for her green card, will it be sufficient to just show the temporary one in the meantime? I'm guessing they'll also want to see her social security card as well which even though we checked the box to have one mailed to us, I was told it may be quicker to just go down to the social security office in my city and get her one there. Again though, will they want to see the permanent green card or will the temp one suffice?

thanks for the help!

Jason

I entered to USA on Apr 14,2010 and I got my green card today(May 03,2010).I'm also in Calif.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Thanks for the response, but the expiration date is not 1 year later, but 6 months for the temp one as shown in the passport. As far as putting my friends address down with his name, that shouldn't be a problem correct?

As others have stated--6 months to "activate it" the "visa" in ur passport is good for 1 yr!! No clue on the address, back in 2004, One got the visa the same day!

[Pauley 2]

We got Yvonne's SSN card about 12 days after POE, and her 2-year green card 27 days after POE. Her name likely isn't on my mailbox yet, but the envelope for the green card at least had my name on it too, so there were no delivery problems.

[OBX 51]

We got Yvonne's SSN card about 12 days after POE, and her 2-year green card 27 days after POE. Her name likely isn't on my mailbox yet, but the envelope for the green card at least had my name on it too, so there were no delivery problems.

Good point Pauley! MIne arrived addressed to both of us as well but I had no problems receiving mail at my husband's even without my name on the mailbox.

[trailmix 77]

Just depends where you live, in Florida if your name isn't on the mailbox - they return the mail.

[OBX 51]

Just depends where you live, in Florida if your name isn't on the mailbox - they return the mail.

Yup, I remember reading many posts about that before; in fact it may even vary from city to city within the same state.

While it's nice not to have to worry about getting my mail in either my previous name or married name, I am getting a bit tired getting mail for the previous owner's spouse that has been dead for over 20 years! I guess it's nice not to be forgotten.

Edited May 4, 2010 by OBX

[Hugglebuggles 60]

I see you live here in CO? Does the friend you're having the GC sent to live in CO as well? If so, then it probably won't be problem. I've never had an issue getting mail here. Our home in Denver didn't have names in the mailbox, and when I moved in and started getting mail in my married and my maiden name, it was always delivered to me without an issue. When we moved to the Springs, the name of the previous owner was left in the mailbox for a while and that wasn't an issue either. We still got everything! And, we still get things addressed to past residents (which is really annoying, I agree OBX!)

[JaJo08 0]

Thanks for all the responses! Yes, we are in Denver and my buddy just confirmed for me that he gets everyone's mail at his address, even people who haven't lived there for 8 years.