Citizen24

Hi all,

My partner (currently on H1-B in the US) & I (USC) want to get married soon to get her a green card status so she can be employed independently and was hoping to get some insight on what the process looks like. She does use marijuana every once in a while (legal in her state), but I'm seeing that there will be medical tests run that may disqualify her from receiving resident status. She can quit immediately but realistically, if we get married in April/May, when would the medical tests be run and does anyone know if it'll be a blood test/saliva test/hair test/etc. ?

The question may seem a little technical, but it has scared me into thinking there are chances of her getting disqualified from getting a green card. Aside from this, does anyone know what traveling restrictions (if any) will be imposed on her once the application is in and whether or not she can travel out of the country for a month or two?

Thanks in advance!

Just now, appleblossom said:

 

It won't impact her ability, she can continue to work on her H1-B - and she can apply for EAD too if needed, that's quicker but still around 6-8 months so factor that in. 

Thank you so much for the quick response!

Thank you! Do you know anything about a green card EAD or how the application will impact her ability to work in the US?

My partner & I wish to get married soon so she can change her status to a green card holder as soon as possible because she is unable to switch jobs on her current H1-B status. I see the K-1 Visa is for engaged partner overseas and CR-1 is for married partner overseas, but I'm confused what Visa Application is apt for engaged/married partner currently on a different visa status residing in the US itself.

That said, what does the timeline look like for K-1/CR-1/Other Visas? Will it be quicker to get engaged and apply or get married and apply? Also, will my partner get an EAD allowing her to be employed independently before her green card arrives?

Apologies for so many questions, I recently got naturalized and this has been something we need in our lives rather urgently. Any help is greatly appreciated! 

Hi,

So I have a green card and I've been in the US for about 15 months now.

Initially we applied for NJ Family Care and they assigned us Well Care as our insurance provider. I called in today inquiring about general renewal information and I found out that I was no longer a member because they suspended my enrollment because I didn't fit the required criteria (they were unable to tell me what criteria that was or why any of this happened). I didn't even get an email or letter or anything!

Anyway, I started looking up NJ Family Care and it turns out that you need to be a Legal Resident for atleast 5 years (I have only been here for 1 year). So, does anyone have any idea what insurance I should apply for and how this works exactly?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Hi!

My family & I just moved to NJ with our green cards and were planning on applying for our drivers license in NJ.

We all have a valid Indian driving license. Do I still need to give the learners permit test?

Please help!

Thanks!

Hi,

My family & I received our immigration visa because my grandfather applied for us a while back. We landed on 10 Sept 2018 from India and we had brought a 3 month insurance with us. Now that is expiring and we have to get on an insurance plan in the US. 

Can we get on Obama Care? Are we allowed to? Or is that grounds for removal since we’ll be availing the country’s resources or something like that..?

Please help, we need to get on an insurance plan asap since our existing plan has expired.

Thanks in advance.

1 minute ago, aleful said:

no

it happens

 

 

Thank you for all your help

9 minutes ago, aleful said:

hi

 

for the GC, you have to wait, it can take months. for the SS as said, you can go to the nearest office and apply

 

 

Yeah i get that, thank you for your help.

i just wanted to know if its worrisome that my mom’s gc arrived and my dad’s and mine didn’t?

22 hours ago, aleful said:

hi

 

it happens all the time, most of the time it doesn't arrive even if you checked it on the form

 

you can apply for the card at the nearest office

 

 

Alright so new update:

My mom ( principal applicant ) got her green card today! Its only been 3 weeks!

however, there is no SSN for any of us ( mom, dad or me) in the mail and there wasn’t a green card for me and my dad ( derivative applicants) either.

should I be worried? What do I do?

7 minutes ago, aleful said:

hi

 

if it hasn't arrived by now, it won't. you can apply for the SS card at the nearest SS office

 

 

But we did apply for it while we filled in our DS-260?!

Hi everyone,

I arrived at NY on 11 September 2018 and I had read up that I should expect my SSN to arrive in the mail within 15 days. Its been 21 days now and there is no sign of the SSN?

What should I do? When does it usually arrive? Is this normal?

also, how soon will the green card arrive? Will it also arrive in regular mail?

Any help is appreciated.

16 hours ago, EmilyW said:

I'm an Australian and I'd say it was three months before I stopped saying - out loud to myself - stay to the right, stay to the right.  Even now, I tend to drive too close to the left side of the lane naturally.

Haha thank you, I'll keep this in mind  

11 hours ago, Pinkrlion said:

The issue I had was not the international license, but the car insurance did not accept it, so I was considered an uninsured driver which is illegal in my state, so check that also.

Yes I'll definitely check. Thank you  

10 hours ago, Coco8 said:

To get the license you might have to get a learner's permit, keep it for 30 days, and then do the test. You might need to take a couple of classes. Most states are pretty strict with the test and it is pretty easy to fail. Most people I know that were from other countries failed the first time. The test has several parts and you have to know the exam to pass, which is why you might better off taking at least 3 hours of classes with an instructor (you pay by the hour).

 

You can start by downloading the rules from the state you will be living in and learn the rules. You will have to take a writing test before you get the learner's permit or the driver's license.

 

Some states do not allow you to take the test unless you have a learner's permit for 30 days. Others, allow you to take the test directly but only if you have a driver's license from another country. It varies a lot.

Thank you so much. That is really helpful information and I'll get to it right away.

9 hours ago, missileman said:

This is incorrect!  As stated by @JFH , you must comply with the laws of the STATE IN WHICH YOU WILL BE A RESIDENT. 

I understand.. I'll look up the laws that apply for New Jersey and prepare accordingly. Thank you  

9 hours ago, Dutchster said:

1) Each state is different, so I would definitely check up on your state's laws
2) Usually, International DL's are being issued to those who are going on holiday. Cops will accept IDL from tourists, not so much from establishing residents. 
3) While your state might allow you driving on a IDL, your insurance might not. No insurance = not driving a car
4) In Tennessee I was allowed to drive on my Dutch license for 30 days, so that gave me at least 30 days to kind of get the feel of driving here --even though not much differs. 

I'll confirm at the DMV about the rules that apply at New Jersey. Thanks  

7 hours ago, databit said:

New Hampshire is the only state without mandatory driving insurance, and there you have to show you have the money to pay for any accident!

 

I don't see how you can drive without insurance, especially in New Jersey and New York. And those areas have heavy traffic. 

I understand that I'll just have to apply for a US License, only then will I get insurance and I'm gonna need insurance.

Thank you for your help!  

47 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

An international driver license will not work for you.

These are simply translation of what license you carry from the country issued. They are only good for tourist, something you will not be as soon as you enter with your visa.

 

You must follow State law, that can be 10 or 90 days to get it switch. 

 

You will most likely need to start from scratch. There are not many States that will except a DL to be switched over to a US DL, and the list of Countries that they do except is pretty small. 

 

Do not drive around on your Indian DL past the day they allow for that State. Many and I mean many members have ended up in court. State laws trump even if your insurance will cover you. 

Thank you so much for this. I''ll work to get the US License soon as I get  there. Thank you  

8 minutes ago, missileman said:

My wife entered the US on Jun 23, 2017.  Her Social Security Card arrived on July 3rd, 2017.......Her Green Card arrived on July 15th, 2017........all via US Postal Service.

Thats pretty quick I guess?

5 minutes ago, missileman said:

True.......usually.  There have been cases where the Social Security card did not arrive, thus prompting the immigrant to go to the SS office........but both the Green Card and the Social Security Card SHOULD arrive via the mail without further actions on your part.

Thank you for your help  

30 minutes ago, JFH said:

This!!!! Many people check the DMV website and see that overseas licenses are valid fir 6 or 12 months but don't see the next part or another part that says that if you are resident in that state you have only 30/60/90 days or so to get a state license. The 6-month or 12-month rule applies to people in a temporary status here - students, overseas contractors, tourists, etc. I think California only gives you 10 days! I live in Washington state and had 30 days to get my WA license.

 

OP, you only need to check the laws of the state where you will be resident, not every state you may be driving through. You want to get a license pretty fast anyway. I don't think people realise until they live here how much weight a driver's license carries. In the U.K., where I am from, it means nothing more than "this person can operate a vehicle" but over here it's the number 1 form of ID. My green card and U.K. passport were not considered good enough to get a library card from our little library here in a town of 2000 people. They would only accept a WA drivers license.

Oh wow. Okay then. I'll look it up and I'll definitely apply for the US Drivers license as soon as I get there.

And just because you're from UK, how long did you take to adapt from Right-Hand drive to Left-Hand drive?

1 minute ago, JFH said:

Yes, they both arrive in the mail. You don't have to be home to sign for them, they arrive by regular USPS first class mail.

 

My SSN took 3 weeks but I moved here 6 days before Christmas and so it took longer than others because of the holidays. Most people receive it around 2 weeks after they arrive.  Did you check the box on the DS-260 to apply for an SSN? If you did, it will just arrive in the mail. If you didn't, you'll need to go to an SSA office to apply for one.

 

The green card takes anything from 2 weeks to 6 months to arrive. Mine took over 2 months. 

Yes I did check the box where they asked to apply for SSN.

So basically, all we have to do is land in the US right? We dont have to apply anywhere or do anything? The SSN and the Green Card will arrive at their own pace?

Thank you for your help  

6 minutes ago, shumway88 said:

Yup, definitely best to check. Also keep in mind that some states differentiate "visitors in transit" and "residents". For example, my state (Georgia) will honor the international license for up to 6 months if you're just visiting/passing through for tourism, business, etc. But once you establish residence, they treat you differently.

 

I don't know if it's the same in New Jersey and/or New York, but that's something to keep in mind. "Resident" individuals and "Visiting" individuals are treated differently.

Thats a very good point you bring up. Thank you for that and I will definitely look into it.

Hi everyone,

We got our immigration visas through the FB-3 category and are flying to USA on 10th September!

The thing is, my dad will have to return in about 15 days because he is still in the works of wrapping up his business, which is taking very long, and then he will fly back. 

We have already paid the USCIS fee of 220 dollars each.

I read that the SSN arrives in about 2 weeks after we arrive? Is that true? And will it arrive by mail? Do we have to apply for it once we get there?

Also, I read that the plastic green card comes in the mail too. How long does that take? And will my dad have to be present to accept that mail or can we accept on his behalf? (Because he will have to coordinate his business and flying back accordingly)

Any help is appreciated and thanks in advance  

47 minutes ago, shumway88 said:

As has been mentioned, every state honors international licenses differently. Some states, such as Georgia, only allow the international license to be used for 30 days, after which you are considered a resident in the state (by continual presence) and must then have a valid Georgia license. The international license is then no longer honored or considered valid.

 

So, check specifically with the state that you'll be residing in to see their specific rules. Remember that the USA is unique in that many laws are not federal (applicable to the entire country), but are instead individual by state or territory. Driving laws fall under state/territory jurisdiction.

 

In all cases, for the period in which your international license is honored, I do believe it advisable to have an international license to accompany your foreign license. The USA and India are both part of the 1949 UN agreement to honor international driving permits, and states must therefore honor them for as long as you are legally permitted to drive on your foreign license.

I posted an image in this thread that says Indian Driving Licenses are valid for 6 months in USA.

However, I will check up on the laws in New Jersey and New York (because that's where I'll be staying and travelling).

International Driving Licenses dont cost much, and I think I'm gonna get it, just to be safe.

Thanks for your help