Entering US after IR1 approval: Job offer before entry

[Kenyan Couple 21]

Hi all,

 

I live in Kenya. I have an IR1 visa and just received a job offer for the US. My family and I are not yet ready to make the permanent move (we have 2 young kids, a house to sell, a car etc) but I need to show work authorization for the US. I read in the previous post that upon entering I should be able to work. 

 

• While waiting for the green card, will I be able to open a bank account?
• How soon will I receive the SSN?
• Do I need the Physical green card to work? Do I need it to be able to travel outside and then return to the US after a month? 
• And most important, I am about to sign my contract- are there any documents online that I can show my employer to prove I should be able to work immediately upon entry and there are no limitations to my status?

Thank you so much!

 

[JeanneAdil 6,539]

When entering the US the visa is stamped with I 551 which acts as a temporary green card

and SS #,  either if USCIS or u apply directly,   get a letter from SS office saying "SS card applied for"

IR1 means married over 2 years so the USC should have added u to at least last 2 years of taxe  returns and u should have a ITIN from IRS giving u ability to use that to open bank account till the SS # comes 

Documents online ?    copy your visa and send to employer 

and when  u enter show them your visa I 551 endorsement

our I 551 stamp says "upon endorsement serves as temporary i 551 evidencing permanent residency for 1 year"  

permanent residents can work

[Kenyan Couple 21]

40 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

When entering the US the visa is stamped with I 551 which acts as a temporary green card

and SS #,  either if USCIS or u apply directly,   get a letter from SS office saying "SS card applied for"

IR1 means married over 2 years so the USC should have added u to at least last 2 years of taxe  returns and u should have a ITIN from IRS giving u ability to use that to open bank account till the SS # comes 

Documents online ?    copy your visa and send to employer 

and when  u enter show them your visa I 551 endorsement

our I 551 stamp says "upon endorsement serves as temporary i 551 evidencing permanent residency for 1 year"  

permanent residents can work

Thank you for this information. Is there anywhere I can read this information?

[Dashinka 24,579]

11 minutes ago, Kenyan Couple said:

Thank you for this information. Is there anywhere I can read this information?

Do you mean the fact that the stamped visa acting as a temporary I551 GC?  If so, it is printed right on the bottom of your IR1 visa.

[JeanneAdil 6,539]

14 minutes ago, Kenyan Couple said:

Thank you for this information. Is there anywhere I can read this information?

all information is on USCIS site from how to file to what happens at POE and entering US , getting SS card 

its all there

and the new immigrant should be given (by embassy ) a phamlet or rights and responsibilities as a permanent resident like men under 26 need to sign up for selective service

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/family-immigration/immigrant-visa-for-spouse.html

[JeanneAdil 6,539]

12 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

Do you mean the fact that the stamped visa acting as a temporary I551 GC?  If so, it is printed right on the bottom of your IR1 visa.

The I 551 is an actual saying (stamped) that says "upon endorsment (meaning has this sentence) serves as temporary I 551 evidencing residence for 1 year)

that sentence wasn't on the visa till he entered

 

he also had a IR1 dated stamp on another passport  page 

Edited November 3, 2021 by JeanneAdil

[Dashinka 24,579]

4 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

The I 551 is an actual saying (stamped) that says "upon endorsment (meaning has this sentence) serves as temporary I 551 evidencing residence for 1 year)

that sentence wasn't on the visa till he entered

 

he also had a IR1 dated stamp on another passport  page 

I thought that sentence was on every IV (CR1s, IR1s, DVs, etc.) affixed in someone's passport, not put in when they arrive.  Looking at examples, it is not on NIVs such as B2s, K1s, etc.

[JeanneAdil 6,539]

3 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

I thought that sentence was on every IV (CR1s, IR1s, DVs, etc.) affixed in someone's passport, not put in when they arrive.  Looking at examples, it is not on NIVs such as B2s, K1s, etc.

it wasn't on Adil's till he got to Chicago  /  he said they used a stamp pad and carefully rolled it on the space so it could be easily read

i am assuming that sentence itself is what they call the I 551 stamp as there is no other stamp on the visa but that 

with a separate customs stamp saying IR1 on a separate page 

 

and this I 551 sentence on the visa is what SS looked at when we went to check on his SS card 

Edited November 3, 2021 by JeanneAdil

[Kenyan Couple 21]

I found a site with relevant information: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/temporary-i-551-stamps-and-mrivs

[pushbrk 12,968]

8 hours ago, Kenyan Couple said:

I found a site with relevant information: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/temporary-i-551-stamps-and-mrivs

That's correct.  Your first post said your family is not ready to make the move.  Please note that the foreign spouse is not allowed to enter the US ahead of the petitioner.  Petitioner must enter ahead of or at the same time as the visa holder.

[Chancy 6,241]

*** Moved from IR1/CR1 Process & Procedures to Working & Traveling During US Immigration -- OP already has IR1 visa; topic is related to authorization to work after US entry ***

 

[HRQX 4,145]

10 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

i am assuming that sentence itself is what they call the I 551 stamp as there is no other stamp on the visa

The stamp is blue, says "ADMITTED," and is on or near the visa: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/temporary-i-551-stamps-and-mrivs "If the stamp in the passport is endorsed and is near but not on the immigrant visa, it is still a valid endorsement."

[HRQX 4,145]

10 hours ago, Kenyan Couple said:

Is there anywhere I can read this information?

https://www.e-verify.gov/faq/my-employee-applied-for-a-social-security-number-ssn-but-has-not-yet-received-it-what-should-i

My employee applied for a Social Security number (SSN) but has not yet received it. What should I do?
If a newly hired employee has applied for, but has not yet received his or her SSN (e.g., the employee is a newly arrived immigrant), attach an explanation to the employee’s Form I-9 and set it aside. Then create a case in E-Verify using the employee’s SSN as soon as it is available. If you are unable to create a case by the third business day after the employee’s first day of employment, select Awaiting Social Security number when prompted by E-Verify.

[Mike E 11,740]

12 hours ago, Kenyan Couple said:

Hi all,

 

I live in Kenya. I have an IR1 visa and just received a job offer for the US. My family and I are not yet ready to make the permanent move (we have 2 young kids, a house to sell, a car etc) but I need to show work authorization for the US.

 

You don’t need to show work authorization until you start working and have to fill out I-9.  As others have said, your endorsed MRIV in your passport is all you need for your I-9.  
 

Generally it  is illegal for your employer to require you to show proof of work authorization before you start working and generally the employer gets to pick which I-9 documents to use to show authorization to work.  
 

And in any case, until you use your IR1, you are not authorized to work in the USA.  

[HRQX 4,145]

8 minutes ago, Mike E said:

generally the employer gets to pick which I-9 documents to use to show authorization to work.

The employer doesn't get to pick that: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-9-paper-version.pdf "Employers CANNOT specify which document(s) an employee may present to establish employment authorization and identity."

Edited November 4, 2021 by HRQX