MichaelaH

I have the EB-2 with National Interest Waiver, I have the visa in my passport, what is left to do is arrive to the States and get a job. I understand I get my SSN after I arrive to the States. Should I wait with job hunting until I get SSN? I would prefer to get a job offer before I arrive, then arrive, get SSN and start working. I just don't know if that's acceptable in how hiring process goes in the States, and I don't want to spend the time and effort hunting for a job for them to tell me they won't even consider me until I have SSN, or for them to tell me they went with someone else because I don't have SSN yet. I can arrive to the States on short notice once I secure job offer, but with the U.S. job market being kind of wild from what I've read on the internet, I don't know if that will take weeks or months.. which is why I'd prefer to arrive only once I secure job offer. Thoughts or advices on this? How did you do it?

Wow! Great idea. I found direct flight from Frankfurt to St.Louis 😁 That means St.Louis will be my point of entry and and I don't have to worry about keeping enough time to change flights. Thanks a lot!

My arrival time to Chicago falls into afternoon. I'd pick less busy time but my travel takes 2-3 layovers so got to work with what I got. Five times in last 2 years, last time two months ago on the photo. Its always super packed with people. Global entry sounds cool, I'll find info on that. I'll be flying a lot across atlantic in next several years anyway.

Awesome, thanks! So, alien line, +1 hour for opening package and in office interview. Good!

TL;DR: How much longer does it take for getting through immigration services as first-time arriving immigrant compared to ESTA visitor on arrival to the U.S. airport? Me and my son finally got our immigration visas stamped into our passports and immigration packets handed to us from U.S. Embassy. I'm looking to book us a flight. We will arrive most probably to ORD (Chicago O'Hare) airport, which I know well. I need to book us a connecting flight to our destination, but I'm not sure how much time I need to keep for processing to enter the States when arriving on immigration visa? When we flied on ESTA, we went through queques with all the arriving aliens, which took us typically about 1-2 hrs spent in the waiting lines and a couple minutes talk with immigration officer. I remember there being separate empty lines for Green Card holders - but I am not sure if we count as Green Card holders when we will get the green card mailed only after we arrive to the States? So it could go faster, if we go into Green Card holder line. But also, the immigration packages are kind of bulky, are they going to go through all that paperwork with us? It could go much slower if they do. All together, I may need 1 or 5+ hours for the layover, I have no clue. Any insight and own experiences on first time immigration visa arrival appreciated. Thank you. Michaela

Thank you!

Hello, I am getting EB-2+NIW immigration visa. As I understand it, on my Interview I will get a stamp in my passport and a sealed packet, which I will hand out on my Point of Entry to the States. I fill a form there to get the physical Green Card, but it will take up to 90 days to obtain the card. In meanwhile, I can work if I obtain EAD. But I got NIW (National Interest Waiver), which is supposed to mean that I do NOT need work permit. Does it mean I can start working as soon as I enter the States? What do I show to the prospective employer - the passport stamp? I'm really scared of the up to 90 days period I would have to stay without work and therefore without health insurance. How can I work before I receive my Green Card as a EB-2+NIW holder? Thank you.