The Big IR-1/CR-1 DQ'd Message Group (Part V)

[Shades8 36]

10 hours ago, HoneyBadger26 said:

My husband went with everything but the kitchen sink - both our birth certs, his divorce decree, the death cert for my first husband; our marriage cert, his son's birth cert. Copy of his military discharge, RCMP check, my taxes/W2s... The immigration officer wound up only asking for and taking four things: his divorce decree, the death cert, our marriage cert, and my taxes. Double checked our address and contact information. That was it. So while I wouldn't say only bring those four things, I also will say that you shouldn't need to stress over it. As the officer told him, if something else were required, or if they wanted more docs, they would have told you before you were DQ'd. 

Awesome thank you!! I’m over prepared.  I would rather be.  

[Shades8 36]

9 hours ago, HoneyBadger26 said:

Husband picked up his visa about an hour ago - USCIS Immigrant Fee is paid - we are set for moving day on Friday! 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

 

And just FYI: when paying the immigrant fee, it was a little confusing because all of the documentation says you need the A Number and says that it is formatted  "A-XXXXXXXX" and will be in the upper right corner of the paper handout detailing how to pay the fee. However, this is not the case; on the Visa that is put into your passport, it is the Registration Number in the upper right corner, below your Case Number. Just thought I'd put that out there, in case anyone needs it!

Amazing news!!! So glad you got the passport back and are ready to go.  Happy days! 

[hawaiicostco 12]

Hello,

 

Could I activate my Immigrant Visa, and hence LPR status, at a land border, and then immediately return to Canada? This is so that my SSN gets processed as I need that to apply for jobs in the US, and I wish to not quit my job in Canada yet until I secure employment in the US. So basically, could I use my Immigrant Visa to re-enter the US in the future to visit my spouse while waiting for the green card to come in the mail because I know that could take several weeks? Is my situation a legit reason to not move to the US immediately and reside in Canada momentarily until i get employment in the US? I don't think my spouse and I can afford me being unemployed even for a bit.

 

Thanks!

[HoneyBadger26 55]

36 minutes ago, hawaiicostco said:

Hello,

 

Could I activate my Immigrant Visa, and hence LPR status, at a land border, and then immediately return to Canada? This is so that my SSN gets processed as I need that to apply for jobs in the US, and I wish to not quit my job in Canada yet until I secure employment in the US. So basically, could I use my Immigrant Visa to re-enter the US in the future to visit my spouse while waiting for the green card to come in the mail because I know that could take several weeks? Is my situation a legit reason to not move to the US immediately and reside in Canada momentarily until i get employment in the US? I don't think my spouse and I can afford me being unemployed even for a bit.

 

Thanks!

No, you cannot do that. Once your visa is activated, you enter the US and must wait for your green card.

[Shades8 36]

18 minutes ago, HoneyBadger26 said:

No, you cannot do that. Once your visa is activated, you enter the US and must wait for your green card.

I thought it was ok to go into the US and activate the visa, but then leave before you get the physical green card if you had to? If I get mine after my interview, I planned to go to the US right away but then I have to take an international trip a couple weeks later.  I was hoping that wouldn’t be an issue.  

[Lil bear 3,876]

1 hour ago, HoneyBadger26 said:

No, you cannot do that. Once your visa is activated, you enter the US and must wait for your green card.

Incorrect.  The stamped passport is the temporary gc document until the physical card arrives. 

[Crazy Cat 39,826]

1 hour ago, HoneyBadger26 said:

No, you cannot do that. Once your visa is activated, you enter the US and must wait for your green card.

That is not accurate.  The endorsed immigrant visa acts as a full-fledged Green Card for a year or until the plastic card arrives.  You can enter the US, the immediately exit if needed.  

Edited January 20 by Crazy Cat

[Lil bear 3,876]

55 minutes ago, Shades8 said:

I thought it was ok to go into the US and activate the visa, but then leave before you get the physical green card if you had to? If I get mine after my interview, I planned to go to the US right away but then I have to take an international trip a couple weeks later.  I was hoping that wouldn’t be an issue.  

This is not a problem 

[Crazy Cat 39,826]

59 minutes ago, Shades8 said:

I thought it was ok to go into the US and activate the visa, but then leave before you get the physical green card if you had to? If I get mine after my interview, I planned to go to the US right away but then I have to take an international trip a couple weeks later.  I was hoping that wouldn’t be an issue.  

You can.  

Edited January 20 by Crazy Cat

[Lil bear 3,876]

1 hour ago, hawaiicostco said:

Hello,

 

Could I activate my Immigrant Visa, and hence LPR status, at a land border, and then immediately return to Canada? This is so that my SSN gets processed as I need that to apply for jobs in the US, and I wish to not quit my job in Canada yet until I secure employment in the US. So basically, could I use my Immigrant Visa to re-enter the US in the future to visit my spouse while waiting for the green card to come in the mail because I know that could take several weeks? Is my situation a legit reason to not move to the US immediately and reside in Canada momentarily until i get employment in the US? I don't think my spouse and I can afford me being unemployed even for a bit.

 

Thanks!

You do not need to have the SSN in hand to be employed. You can work as soon as you find a job in the Us after entering. Go  to SSA the day you enter the US with all the documents they request and apply for your SSN. Returning  to the home country for a period after becoming an LPR is not unusual .. often needed to tie up loose ends etc..  But treating your LPR status as a visitor “ visa” Is not going to end well. CBP will eventually ask why. 

Edited January 20 by Lil bear

[Shades8 36]

this is probably a dumb question, but where on the CEAC website do you see the status of your case after you are done your interview? Mine is this Monday and I’m going to be obsessively checking it post interview.  

[Leo The Great 90]

10 hours ago, Shades8 said:

this is probably a dumb question, but where on the CEAC website do you see the status of your case after you are done your interview? Mine is this Monday and I’m going to be obsessively checking it post interview.  

https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?App=IV

[MRJ9987 31]

13 hours ago, Lil bear said:

You do not need to have the SSN in hand to be employed. You can work as soon as you find a job in the Us after entering. Go  to SSA the day you enter the US with all the documents they request and apply for your SSN. Returning  to the home country for a period after becoming an LPR is not unusual .. often needed to tie up loose ends etc..  But treating your LPR status as a visitor “ visa” Is not going to end well. CBP will eventually ask why. 

I was under the impression that once I cross the border and my visa 'activates' I cease to be a resident of Canada and that I am no longer employed by my employer, and that I am no longer eligible for maternity leave and Canada child tax benefits (I am on maternity leave).  Is that true?  

[Lil bear 3,876]

3 minutes ago, MRJ9987 said:

I was under the impression that once I cross the border and my visa 'activates' I cease to be a resident of Canada and that I am no longer employed by my employer, and that I am no longer eligible for maternity leave and Canada child tax benefits (I am on maternity leave).  Is that true?  

From what i read i know that certain benefits are no longer available such as health. I don’t know specifics 

[hawaiicostco 12]

16 hours ago, Lil bear said:

You do not need to have the SSN in hand to be employed. You can work as soon as you find a job in the Us after entering. Go  to SSA the day you enter the US with all the documents they request and apply for your SSN. Returning  to the home country for a period after becoming an LPR is not unusual .. often needed to tie up loose ends etc..  But treating your LPR status as a visitor “ visa” Is not going to end well. CBP will eventually ask why. 

 

Thanks for the replies everyone.

 

The employer I want to work for (and generally all the employers in my field) require me to input my SSN on the hiring portal otherwise I could not submit the job application/