CR1 granted...and now?

[iyah 0]

Hi,

My wife's cr-1 visa has been granted. We started the process 5 months ago here in Bangkok. I am thinking that we might want to go there (US) for a short period of time first and make sure that we feel we want to reside there (I havn't been back there in 7 years so I am a little aprehensive about adjusting back). We would then go back to Thailand to pack and sell all our belongings, find a permanent home for our dogs etc and go back to the US to settle there. From what I understand, after we arrive there, my wife should wait until she gets a social security number and a green card before leaving the US, and she shouldn't be out of the US territory (Thailand) for more than 6 months at a time if she wants to keep her green card. My question is: can anyone tell me how long it should take in order for her to obtain green card and soc. security number once on US soil and what is the procedure to follow to obtain these? Thanks

[kruz_patz 22]

As per my recent relatives experience, he just got in to usa on green card visa and he didn't have to wait for green card in order to apply for SSN. You can right away inquire in the SSN office once you get there. Green card could take 1-2 months in mail to arrive.

Hi,

My wife's cr-1 visa has been granted. We started the process 5 months ago here in Bangkok. I am thinking that we might want to go there (US) for a short period of time first and make sure that we feel we want to reside there (I havn't been back there in 7 years so I am a little aprehensive about adjusting back). We would then go back to Thailand to pack and sell all our belongings, find a permanent home for our dogs etc and go back to the US to settle there. From what I understand, after we arrive there, my wife should wait until she gets a social security number and a green card before leaving the US, and she shouldn't be out of the US territory (Thailand) for more than 6 months at a time if she wants to keep her green card. My question is: can anyone tell me how long it should take in order for her to obtain green card and soc. security number once on US soil and what is the procedure to follow to obtain these? Thanks

[canadian_wife 1,802]

If she can go to the SSA office about 2 weeks after her arrival in the US, then she should be able to apply for an SSN - regardless of what she put on the DS-230. I had my green card about 6 weeks after arrival

Good luck, congrats on the green card

[DanTes 21]

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FAST APPROVAL. I TOO AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET MY WIFE OF 11 YEARS BACK TO THE U.S. FROM THE PHILIPPINES (OUR ANNIVERSARY IS TODAY, 29 SEP). I JUST ARRIVED BACK IN THE U.S. THIS JULY AFTER I RETIRED FROM THE NAVY BACK IN 1991. A LOT OF THINGS HAVE REALLY CHANGED IN 19 YEARS, BUT HAD TO RE-LOCATE HERE IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH A U.S. RESIDENCE/DOMICILE FOR MY WIFE'S IR-1 VISA. PRETTY SURE YOU NEED A U.S. RESIDENCE/MAILING ADDRESS WHERE YOUR WIFE'S GREEN CARD AND SOCIAL SECURITY CARD WILL BE MAILED. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MARRIED? PLEASE POST YOUR TIME LINE.

[payxibka 10,044]

Hi,

My wife's cr-1 visa has been granted. We started the process 5 months ago here in Bangkok. I am thinking that we might want to go there (US) for a short period of time first and make sure that we feel we want to reside there (I havn't been back there in 7 years so I am a little aprehensive about adjusting back). We would then go back to Thailand to pack and sell all our belongings, find a permanent home for our dogs etc and go back to the US to settle there. From what I understand, after we arrive there, my wife should wait until she gets a social security number and a green card before leaving the US, and she shouldn't be out of the US territory (Thailand) for more than 6 months at a time if she wants to keep her green card. My question is: can anyone tell me how long it should take in order for her to obtain green card and soc. security number once on US soil and what is the procedure to follow to obtain these? Thanks

What did you indicate on the DS-230 Part II about automatic issuance of SSN?

If you wanted it issued automatically it could be 3 weeks or so... GC probably within 30 days

[milimelo 4,292]

What did you indicate on the DS-230 Part II about automatic issuance of SSN?

If you wanted it issued automatically it could be 3 weeks or so... GC probably within 30 days

That thing rarely works for spouse visa even if you check the box you want it sent to you - the system is just not connected to SSA and people wait and wait and wait and in the end finally go to SSA to discover they never received any info about them.

The best bet would be to wait 2 weeks after POE and then go to SSA office with filled out form, immigrant visa and passport.

[OBX 51]

That thing rarely works for spouse visa even if you check the box you want it sent to you - the system is just not connected to SSA and people wait and wait and wait and in the end finally go to SSA to discover they never received any info about them.

The best bet would be to wait 2 weeks after POE and then go to SSA office with filled out form, immigrant visa and passport.

I applied for my SSN 3 weeks after POE, took in my birth certificate, passport and filled in application ( SSN Application ) I had my card 6 days later.

At POE your wife's visa will be stamped in her passport. This acts a a temporary green card until she receives the actual card. She could still travel with that but the actual card should arrive within a month. Watch for her "Welcome" letter which will have a receipt number on it that can be used to track production of the card through the USCIS site. Good luck!

Edited September 29, 2010 by OBX

[daboyz 36]

Hi,

My wife's cr-1 visa has been granted. We started the process 5 months ago here in Bangkok. I am thinking that we might want to go there (US) for a short period of time first and make sure that we feel we want to reside there (I havn't been back there in 7 years so I am a little aprehensive about adjusting back). We would then go back to Thailand to pack and sell all our belongings, find a permanent home for our dogs etc and go back to the US to settle there. From what I understand, after we arrive there, my wife should wait until she gets a social security number and a green card before leaving the US, and she shouldn't be out of the US territory (Thailand) for more than 6 months at a time if she wants to keep her green card. My question is: can anyone tell me how long it should take in order for her to obtain green card and soc. security number once on US soil and what is the procedure to follow to obtain these? Thanks

My wife's SS card showed up 2 weeks after she arrived in the U.S. She didn't have to apply for anything. 2 weeks after her SS card arrived, her green card came.

I tried to reply to you on Thaivisa, but they have suspended me.

[iyah 0]

Hi all, Thanks a lot for your answers, help and congrats.

So the first thing we need to do is apply for a SSN at the SSA 2 weeks after arrival date (What does POE stands for?Point of entry?)

We've indicated our permanent US home address (where we will be staying) so I'm guessing all documents would be sent there. So is the green card process independent of the SSC one. Do we need to do anything once in the country to start the process of having a green card sent to my wife?

@payxibka

Yes, we did check the box for 'automatic insuance of SSN' but according to Milimelo it's safer to go there (SSA) and inquire/check.

@Dantes

My wife and I have been together for 5 years but married just for a few months, I believe that means that we need to 'confirm that we are still married' 2 years after arrival in the US.

Ya, need to work on posting a time line.

[iyah 0]

@OBX

Thanks for your feedback and for the link. So that means that her CR1 visa is like a temporary green card. So I'm guessing that technically, she could leave the country for say a couple months if needed BEFORE she receives the green card by mail. Will this 'welcome letter' be given at POE or sent by mail? Good to know we get a receipt number that enables us to track the process of issuing her a SSC online.

@Daboyz

Thanks for feedback. Seems like the whole process of obtaining all this for your wife was really fast and smooth. Good to know. I to have been suspended of Thaivisa in the past, not sure why.

[daboyz 36]

@OBX

Thanks for your feedback and for the link. So that means that her CR1 visa is like a temporary green card. So I'm guessing that technically, she could leave the country for say a couple months if needed BEFORE she receives the green card by mail. Will this 'welcome letter' be given at POE or sent by mail? Good to know we get a receipt number that enables us to track the process of issuing her a SSC online.

@Daboyz

Thanks for feedback. Seems like the whole process of obtaining all this for your wife was really fast and smooth. Good to know. I to have been suspended of Thaivisa in the past, not sure why.

They have so many moderators there. If someone doesn't like something you posted, off you go with no explanation. People complain about the moderation team here on VJ. They should spend a week over there.

Edited September 29, 2010 by daboyz

[Darnell 8,478]

actually, not need 'to wait in USA' for the greencard and SSN to 'show up'.

but must come into the USA, as

SHE'LL receive, at the POE, a STAMP in her passport, that validates the VISA to be used as a temporary green card, I-551 document, with a new duration of 1 year.

technically, can turn around same day, jump plane back to Thailand.

coming in to USA triggers the production and subsequent mailing (to the USA address in the DS-230) of the greencard.

now - the SSN - sorry, it's at least '2 weeks' to wait, past POE date, for the SAVE database system to sync up with the CBP/DHS computers, then yer wife will have an entry in the SAVE database system, showing that she has some legal status and qualifies to apply for a SSN. If you don't want to wait 2 weeks - don't wait 2 weeks - handle the SSN application AFTER you return back into the USA, that 2nd trip - she'll have already triggered something for SAVE during the first trip, and she'll most likely be found in SAVE after you arrive, that 2nd trip.

Good Luck !

[OBX 51]

@OBX

Thanks for your feedback and for the link. So that means that her CR1 visa is like a temporary green card. So I'm guessing that technically, she could leave the country for say a couple months if needed BEFORE she receives the green card by mail. Will this 'welcome letter' be given at POE or sent by mail? Good to know we get a receipt number that enables us to track the process of issuing her a SSC online.

As Darnell posted ( more clearly than I ) "a STAMP in her passport, that validates the VISA to be used as a temporary green card, I-551 document, with a new duration of 1 year."

There is nothing to do to start the production of the green card other than being processed at the point of entry. The "Welcome letter" will be mailed to your address; I received mine about 2 weeks after POE and the green card two weeks after that. I also received email updates.

[bubbleout 0]

As per my understanding, your wife's passport will be stamped with the A number (green Card) or it's called I-551 stamp on the airport once she arrive into the United States. She dose not have to wait for the green card to arrive in the mail. That stamp is valid for one year and she can work or travel outside of the United States on that stamp. That stamp work as you have a actual green card. For the social security, now days usually immigration apply for your social security card, if you have asked them to do son form DS-230 when you actually apply for visa. If you have choose to do it your self then your wife can go to social security office next day of the arrival or the same day and apply for the card with the passport and a stamp in the passport. Again you do not need the social security card to travel out side of the United States

[iyah 0]

Great, Thanks a lot for your replies. I think I got a pretty clear picture of the process and time frame now.

@Darnell

Yes, very clear and detailed explanations. Thanks. We are not in any major hurry for this first trip. We will probably schedule at least 1 month there to try to get a feel of how we see ourselves leaving there so hopefully enough time to get at least SSC and possibly Green card in the mailbox. We would then go back to Thailand (where we have been living together for 5 years), pack our stuff etc and back on US soil within a few months (should be less than 6 months from what I understand if we want to avoid risk of having her green card revoked, correct?)

Thanks @ Bubbleout and OBX again

So once my wife has been given a SSN, she is allowed to work (legaly) in the US, correct?