Thought I would write down my experience of arriving in the US with an Immigrant Visa and the problems so far.

I arrived in California on the 10th of January, 2010 at San Francisco. They have a separate line for new immigrants to the far left of the room, I was the first in line. I went up to the desk when I was called forward and gave the CBP officer my passport and my big white envelope. He went through it and gave me a sheet of paper with information on the CR1 immigration category and told me to stand to the side until he called me again. By this time there was a young family from Romania who had won the DV Lottery behind me (a couple with an infant). The officer kept me standing there for 1 hour and 30 mins while he completely processed all 3 members of the family.

Finally, I was called forward again and explained to him that it had been 2 years and 2 days since I was married so I should receive IR1 status not CR1. He said he would have to look it up and he checked out something on his computer and then called another CBP officer, they asked to see my marriage certificate and from the conversation it looked like the officer admitting me wasn't very experienced as his colleague had to guide him through the computer system, etc. She dictated a note for him to add to the case file on the computer explaining why I was receiving IR1 status and that they should check the copy of my marriage certificate in the file, etc. After this he made me sign and provide an index finger print with ink on a green card application form, he also took my finger prints on the scanner and took a picture of me with the camera on his desk, stamped my passport and let me go.

On the 20th of January, 2012 I received a Social Security card in the mail. I was excited that it arrived in only 10 days! However, when I looked at it I realized that they had misspelled one of my middle names (I have 2 middle names) and they had spelled "John" as "Joh".

I couldn't go to the Social Security office that day because nobody had the time to take me and it was a Friday, so I waited till the 23rd of January and went to the Social Security office; I was seen after an hour by a young woman who didn't talk very much. I gave her my passport and explained that my name had been misspelled and she said my name was too long, they don't have enough characters to fit it on their computer system but that she had added a note and requested them to send another card displaying my full name correctly and that I would receive it in 2-3 weeks. I asked her if the number would be different on the new card and whether I could use the current card to apply for a drivers licence and she said that it would not change so I could go ahead and use it.

Went to the DMV in Oakland the next day and took the written test which I had been studying for, got all 40 questions correct (you are allowed to get 6 wrong and still pass) and received an Instruction Permit. Spent time driving around with my father-in-law whenever he didn't have to work and exploring the bay area. Scheduled my behind the wheel test for the 9th of February at the DMV in Hayward and passed but I had 11 minor errors (you are allowed to make 15 minor errors and still pass). I personally think the instructor who tested me was a bit strict and she marked me down for not checking for traffic at intersections; I was checking my mirrors but I guess they probably want you to show them that you are checking your mirrors by moving your whole head instead of just your eyes. Anyway, I passed and was given a temporary paper driver license.

Just over a week later on the 17th of February I received my driver's license card and green card in the mail on the same day. Opened it up and the green card was only valid for 2 years and showed CR1 status! Called up USCIS, they said I would need to make an InfoPass appointment and talk to an immigration officer in San Francisco to clear it up. I scheduled an appointment for the 22nd of February and went over there on the 21st of February to find the office ahead of my appointment. Arrived an hour early for my appointment but was let in anyway. Waited about 15 mins for my number to be called, and explained the situation. He told me that I would need to file form I-90 for replacement of the green card and that I should enclose the original green card that I received, a copy of my marriage certificate, a copy of the stamp in my passport showing IR1 status, write a covering letter and send it all to an address in Phoenix, AZ that is on the USCIS website. I was a bit irritated that they didn't tell me to do this on the phone as I wasted time and money travelling to San Francisco under the assumption that they would sort it out. I mailed the entire package using USPS Express Mail on the 23rd of February.

In the meantime, I still hadn't received anything from the Social Security office so I went there again on the 21st of February and was seen by another woman who explained that they have 22 characters for the First Name and mine is 23 so they couldn't fit it in. I told her that John and my other middle name were my MIDDLE names, not part of my First Name so she asked to see my passport and then told me she would switch them over, she gave me a receipt and told me that she didn't know why the last request was still pending on the computer system but that I should receive a new card in the mail within 2 weeks and if I don't I should go back to them again.

Did you have a UK drivers license when you took your written test? If you did, they should have issued you a 90 temporary license and if they didn't, you should be able to go back to the DMV and get the temporary license which will allow you to drive without a licensed driver.

He passed the driving test though, so doesn't matter now.

And arrived in 2010....just how long was that queue?

You're right. I missed that.

Sounds like your encounters with the various bureaucracies are moving along as expected so far. What are the problems you wanted to tell us about?

Why are you using your middle name on your ss card? I'm 63 years old and have never used my middle name on the card. Just wondering.

I meant 10th Jan 2012 , we got married in 2010 on the 8th of Jan...

I filled out my first, middle and last names on the visa application and they were forwarded to the SS people

I didn't know that they were that bad, I thought it would be the exception for them to screw up rather than the norm

Perhaps because his social security card was generated of the basis of his DS-230 visa application, which has his middle name? How is that relevant?
Interesting. I note that the SS-5 application for a social security card requests "Full Middle Name". Maybe that information was not requested back when you applied for your card, and your age is relevant after all. Regards, JEff

Because in my 63 years I have held three social security cards with three different names and all have had the same number. And never once had I used my middle name.

I see where SS would have picked it up for this poster. Shame you didn't just tell them to eliminate the use of them and/or just lived with the Joh

As an update the SS card showing my correct name arrived in the mail on the 25th of February. So only waiting on the 10 year GC now...

My SS card shows my middle name; it always has. My original one showed it, and the new one I received after marriage also shows it. Everyone else in my family also has their middle name printed on theirs (including my 50y/o mom). Based on my small sample size, I'd say it seems to be the norm to have it printed on the card, and you're the oddball Rete.

I don't think so. My SS card does not have my middle name either.

When I was 15, I got my social security card by just going to the local social security office and said who I was (I may have had a drivers license for identification but not sure but no birth certificate) and at that time, they just typed my name and number on blank social security card and gave it to me.

Over the next two years, I eventually lost the card and have not had one since then but had remembered my social security number. For the past 40 years, I have never been asked for the card including when I went into the military or any job that I applied for.

When I went down to the social security office to apply for social security and medicare benefits at age 64, he asked for my social security number and birth certificate (I don't believed he asked for my drivers license) and looked up their records and said my name is recorded as "Mike" instead of "Michael" which was the name on my birth certificate. He said you will be receiving your benefits with "Mike" on the check which I said fine.

After that he asked me a few questions about the maiden names of my ex wives and I had a brian freeze and couldn't remember one their maiden names. Then he asked when the divorces were final and I couldn't even remember the year let alone the date. He finally said, that information is not that important and the interview was over. The following month I received my first check in the mail and when I hit 65, I received my medicare card in the mail.

So I'm not sure how important the physical social security is and even whether the name on it has to be correct.