CR1 spouse/receiving "green card"

[bbahder12 0]

Hi everyone,

I married my wife Nov. 30 2009 and the end of the process of getting her here is close at hand. The NVC scheduled our interview and it will be March 7 2011 in San Jose, Costa Rica at the US Embassy. We got married in Costa Rica and I filed all of the paperwork (I-130, affadavit, application, etc) in the US. My wife is coming to the US on an immigrant visa as a CR-1 (conditional spouse of US citizen). I am prepared for everything up until our arrival in the US. This is where the questions begin.

- What is it like entering the US witha spouse who is entering for the first time as a permanent resident?

- Once in the US, will the green card be issued automatically, or de we need to submit a form to verify she is here, legal, and ready for the green

card?

Thanks so much for any help!!!

[Done--Really 331]

99% odds that it will take ten minutes or less at the POE--not counting waiting in line--and she will get a warm welcome. There are those CBP offices now and then who are jerks, and they show it, but they actually are rare.

Her passport will be stamped with what amounts to an interim green card--the real one will come in the mail in a few weeks, but she is 100% LPR once she passes thru the POE. And she can also work immediately if she wants. She will need a SS#, and that also takes a few weeks--just enough time to get settled in and to start adapting to this wonderful country.

I'm going thru the same thing with my wife in CR, but not as far along, so would be VERY interested in what happens at the interview, how she reacts at the POE, and what the first few days here are like. Send me a private message if you prefer.

You may be wondering why I have the Mexican flag--it is because she was born and raised in Mexico City, and is a dual citizen with Costa Rica, and we can only pick one flag--she prefers we use her birthplace.

Best wishes.

Pura vida !!

Edited February 3, 2011 by magical

[Wayne and Claudia 40]

Hi everyone,

I married my wife Nov. 30 2009 and the end of the process of getting her here is close at hand. The NVC scheduled our interview and it will be March 7 2011 in San Jose, Costa Rica at the US Embassy. We got married in Costa Rica and I filed all of the paperwork (I-130, affadavit, application, etc) in the US. My wife is coming to the US on an immigrant visa as a CR-1 (conditional spouse of US citizen). I am prepared for everything up until our arrival in the US. This is where the questions begin.

- What is it like entering the US witha spouse who is entering for the first time as a permanent resident?

- Once in the US, will the green card be issued automatically, or de we need to submit a form to verify she is here, legal, and ready for the green

card?

Thanks so much for any help!!!

POE is simple. If you are with her go through with her in either visitor line or citizen/lpr line (whichever is shorter). The CBP will ask for her package that arrives with her passport/visa and this package is to remain sealed until CBP opens it. They will take her fingerprints and then you two will be escorted to a secondary room. Here they will look through the documents. In Atlanta the had both of us sign a statement verifying that we understood we had to apply for lifting of conditions within 3 months of the 2 year anniversary of POE. If anything is wrong in your paperwork have it corrected there. My wife's green card was set to be delivered in her maiden name so they did a name change there (free) and when the card arrived it was in her married name. Her passport will be stamped but, unlike the other poster stated, she is not allowed to work until she receives a SSN. My wife's GC arrived in 3 weeks and at 4 weeks still no SSN. She went to the office and they processed it and she will have the number in 3 days and the card in two weeks. Either with or without you she will manage the POE just fine. The agents in Atlanta at least seemed to understand that the applicant had already been through hell and were all so very nice and professional. Good luck to both of you.

[bbahder12 0]

POE is simple. If you are with her go through with her in either visitor line or citizen/lpr line (whichever is shorter). The CBP will ask for her package that arrives with her passport/visa and this package is to remain sealed until CBP opens it. They will take her fingerprints and then you two will be escorted to a secondary room. Here they will look through the documents. In Atlanta the had both of us sign a statement verifying that we understood we had to apply for lifting of conditions within 3 months of the 2 year anniversary of POE. If anything is wrong in your paperwork have it corrected there. My wife's green card was set to be delivered in her maiden name so they did a name change there (free) and when the card arrived it was in her married name. Her passport will be stamped but, unlike the other poster stated, she is not allowed to work until she receives a SSN. My wife's GC arrived in 3 weeks and at 4 weeks still no SSN. She went to the office and they processed it and she will have the number in 3 days and the card in two weeks. Either with or without you she will manage the POE just fine. The agents in Atlanta at least seemed to understand that the applicant had already been through hell and were all so very nice and professional. Good luck to both of you.

Hi Guys, thanks for posting! That eases my mind a lot. She already has a SSN because she was here awhile back on a J-1 visa for school/work in Florida (how we met ) so that is not a big concern.

Once she is here, do we have to do anything to get the green card in the mail or we do not have to do anything and it will be sent automatically?

thanks again for the info, I really appreciate. And magical, I will be sure to give a step by step of what we go through. What stage are you at?

[Wayne and Claudia 40]

Hi Guys, thanks for posting! That eases my mind a lot. She already has a SSN because she was here awhile back on a J-1 visa for school/work in Florida (how we met ) so that is not a big concern.

Once she is here, do we have to do anything to get the green card in the mail or we do not have to do anything and it will be sent automatically?

thanks again for the info, I really appreciate. And magical, I will be sure to give a step by step of what we go through. What stage are you at?

You don't do anything except check your mail. They tell you 6-8 weeks (standard government jargon) at POE. My preciosa received hers in 3 weeks. Hers actually came in a weird envelope and at first I just thought it was more junk mail...glad I did not throw that one out, lol, . Since your wife has a ssn she can work the moment her passport is stamped...the A number is written in.

[bbahder12 0]

You don't do anything except check your mail. They tell you 6-8 weeks (standard government jargon) at POE. My preciosa received hers in 3 weeks. Hers actually came in a weird envelope and at first I just thought it was more junk mail...glad I did not throw that one out, lol, . Since your wife has a ssn she can work the moment her passport is stamped...the A number is written in.

Excellent!!! Thanks so much for the help! It means a lot

[Tero 105]

Hi Guys, thanks for posting! That eases my mind a lot. She already has a SSN because she was here awhile back on a J-1 visa for school/work in Florida (how we met ) so that is not a big concern.

Once she is here, do we have to do anything to get the green card in the mail or we do not have to do anything and it will be sent automatically?

thanks again for the info, I really appreciate. And magical, I will be sure to give a step by step of what we go through. What stage are you at?

The process should not be new anymore since she has been here before.

[Gosha.Bee 1]

Since your wife has a ssn she can work the moment her passport is stamped...the A number is written in.

Even if it says "valid for work only with DHS authorization" on the ssn card?

I got mine when I was a student in the US 7 years ago. And that is the note I have on my card. Plus obviously it's in my maiden name. So are you saying once my passport gets stamped at POE I can start looking work work pretty much right away?

[Done--Really 331]

You simply go to the SS office and they will issue a new card with the SAME number without the legend--it is quick and painless. Once issued a SS# it is the same number for life.

[Wayne and Claudia 40]

Even if it says "valid for work only with DHS authorization" on the ssn card?

I got mine when I was a student in the US 7 years ago. And that is the note I have on my card. Plus obviously it's in my maiden name. So are you saying once my passport gets stamped at POE I can start looking work work pretty much right away?

Yes, because the notation was for a previous visa but now you are here on CR-1 which allows for work right away. I would do what magical says and go get another card but the number will be the same.