DCF (Japan) success: so what happens at the airport?
May 31st 2004, 1:07 pm
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6
DCF (Japan) success: so what happens at the airport?
First, many thanks for this message board and especially the kind folks who helped me in December! I got married in January, we did the Direct Consular Filing in Tokyo two days later, and by April my wife was approved to come over to the States.
That will happen in less than three weeks. So, I'm wondering: what exactly will happen at the airport? Which line does she go to at customs? What should she expect? How long will the airport process take? This will be at the Seattle airport, where I live and will be awaiting her arrival (and obviously wondering what's going on!).
Lastly, if anyone can give me the quick answer as to how/where she applies for her social security number, I'd be grateful.
Advanced thanks for the ongoing help!
That will happen in less than three weeks. So, I'm wondering: what exactly will happen at the airport? Which line does she go to at customs? What should she expect? How long will the airport process take? This will be at the Seattle airport, where I live and will be awaiting her arrival (and obviously wondering what's going on!).
Lastly, if anyone can give me the quick answer as to how/where she applies for her social security number, I'd be grateful.
Advanced thanks for the ongoing help!
Last edited by dimsumfan; May 31st 2004 at 1:12 pm.
May 31st 2004, 2:15 pm
#2
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,475
Re: DCF (Japan) success: so what happens at the airport?
Congratulations. She goes through the non-citizen line. She will go to secondary inspection where the brown envelope will be opened, her passport will be stamped with the I-551 stamp. The I-551 is the paper equivalent of the green card. She might be questioned as to your name, where she will live, when you got married. Answers which she will know. Then she is free to leave.
The green card will arrive in the mail at the address she confirms as she will be living in the US.
Time depends on the number of people going through secondary. Could be 15 minutes, could over an hour. If she is getting a connecting flight, leave her plenty of time to make it. Better to have down time for coffee at the airport then missing a connecting flight.
She can apply for her social security card at any SSA office. I thought you could apply for that when you DCF at the US Consulate?
Rete
The green card will arrive in the mail at the address she confirms as she will be living in the US.
Time depends on the number of people going through secondary. Could be 15 minutes, could over an hour. If she is getting a connecting flight, leave her plenty of time to make it. Better to have down time for coffee at the airport then missing a connecting flight.
She can apply for her social security card at any SSA office. I thought you could apply for that when you DCF at the US Consulate?
Rete
Originally posted by dimsumfan
First, many thanks for this message board and especially the kind folks who helped me in December! I got married in January, we did the Direct Consular Filing in Tokyo two days later, and by April my wife was approved to come over to the States.
That will happen in less than three weeks. So, I'm wondering: what exactly will happen at the airport? Which line does she go to at customs? What should she expect? How long will the airport process take? This will be at the Seattle airport, where I live and will be awaiting her arrival (and obviously wondering what's going on!).
Lastly, if anyone can give me the quick answer as to how/where she applies for her social security number, I'd be grateful.
Advanced thanks for the ongoing help!
First, many thanks for this message board and especially the kind folks who helped me in December! I got married in January, we did the Direct Consular Filing in Tokyo two days later, and by April my wife was approved to come over to the States.
That will happen in less than three weeks. So, I'm wondering: what exactly will happen at the airport? Which line does she go to at customs? What should she expect? How long will the airport process take? This will be at the Seattle airport, where I live and will be awaiting her arrival (and obviously wondering what's going on!).
Lastly, if anyone can give me the quick answer as to how/where she applies for her social security number, I'd be grateful.
Advanced thanks for the ongoing help!
Jun 1st 2004, 7:11 am
#3
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6
Re: DCF (Japan) success: so what happens at the airport?
Originally posted by Rete
Congratulations. She goes through the non-citizen line. She will go to secondary inspection where the brown envelope will be opened, her passport will be stamped with the I-551 stamp. The I-551 is the paper equivalent of the green card. She might be questioned as to your name, where she will live, when you got married. Answers which she will know. Then she is free to leave.
The green card will arrive in the mail at the address she confirms as she will be living in the US.
Time depends on the number of people going through secondary. Could be 15 minutes, could over an hour. If she is getting a connecting flight, leave her plenty of time to make it. Better to have down time for coffee at the airport then missing a connecting flight.
She can apply for her social security card at any SSA office. I thought you could apply for that when you DCF at the US Consulate?
Rete
Congratulations. She goes through the non-citizen line. She will go to secondary inspection where the brown envelope will be opened, her passport will be stamped with the I-551 stamp. The I-551 is the paper equivalent of the green card. She might be questioned as to your name, where she will live, when you got married. Answers which she will know. Then she is free to leave.
The green card will arrive in the mail at the address she confirms as she will be living in the US.
Time depends on the number of people going through secondary. Could be 15 minutes, could over an hour. If she is getting a connecting flight, leave her plenty of time to make it. Better to have down time for coffee at the airport then missing a connecting flight.
She can apply for her social security card at any SSA office. I thought you could apply for that when you DCF at the US Consulate?
Rete
No flight to catch, so no pressure there. I wasn't aware of the social security application at DCF. Was told it's pretty quick to take care of here in the States.
Jun 1st 2004, 2:29 pm
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: DCF (Japan) success: so what happens at the airport?
dimsumfan wrote:
>
> Originally posted by Rete
> > Congratulations. She goes
> through the non-citizen line. She will go to secondary inspection where
> the brown envelope will be opened, her passport will be stamped with the
> I-551 stamp. The I-551 is the paper equivalent of the green card. She
> might be questioned as to your name, where she will live, when you got
> married. Answers which she will know. Then she is free to leave.
> >
> >
> The green card will arrive in the mail at the address she confirms as
> she will be living in the US.
> >
> > Time depends on the number of people
> going through secondary. Could be 15 minutes, could over an hour. If
> she is getting a connecting flight, leave her plenty of time to make it.
> Better to have down time for coffee at the airport then missing a
> connecting flight.
> >
> > She can apply for her social security card at
> any SSA office. I thought you could apply for that when you DCF at the
> US Consulate?
> >
> > Rete
> This is really helpful - thanks,
> Rete!
>
> No flight to catch, so no pressure there. I wasn't aware of the
> social security application at DCF. Was told it's pretty quick to take
> care of here in the States.
If you go to an SSA office at the right time of day it will take 10
minutes. There may be a question about obtaining an SSN on one of the
forms. We did DCF in London and never heard about applying for a number
at the consulate (and would not have done so anyway)
>
> Originally posted by Rete
> > Congratulations. She goes
> through the non-citizen line. She will go to secondary inspection where
> the brown envelope will be opened, her passport will be stamped with the
> I-551 stamp. The I-551 is the paper equivalent of the green card. She
> might be questioned as to your name, where she will live, when you got
> married. Answers which she will know. Then she is free to leave.
> >
> >
> The green card will arrive in the mail at the address she confirms as
> she will be living in the US.
> >
> > Time depends on the number of people
> going through secondary. Could be 15 minutes, could over an hour. If
> she is getting a connecting flight, leave her plenty of time to make it.
> Better to have down time for coffee at the airport then missing a
> connecting flight.
> >
> > She can apply for her social security card at
> any SSA office. I thought you could apply for that when you DCF at the
> US Consulate?
> >
> > Rete
> This is really helpful - thanks,
> Rete!
>
> No flight to catch, so no pressure there. I wasn't aware of the
> social security application at DCF. Was told it's pretty quick to take
> care of here in the States.
If you go to an SSA office at the right time of day it will take 10
minutes. There may be a question about obtaining an SSN on one of the
forms. We did DCF in London and never heard about applying for a number
at the consulate (and would not have done so anyway)
Jun 2nd 2004, 9:04 am
#5
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6
Re: DCF (Japan) success: so what happens at the airport?
Originally posted by L D Jones
dimsumfan wrote:
>
> Originally posted by Rete
> > Congratulations. She goes
> through the non-citizen line. She will go to secondary inspection where
> the brown envelope will be opened, her passport will be stamped with the
> I-551 stamp. The I-551 is the paper equivalent of the green card. She
> might be questioned as to your name, where she will live, when you got
> married. Answers which she will know. Then she is free to leave.
> >
> >
> The green card will arrive in the mail at the address she confirms as
> she will be living in the US.
> >
> > Time depends on the number of people
> going through secondary. Could be 15 minutes, could over an hour. If
> she is getting a connecting flight, leave her plenty of time to make it.
> Better to have down time for coffee at the airport then missing a
> connecting flight.
> >
> > She can apply for her social security card at
> any SSA office. I thought you could apply for that when you DCF at the
> US Consulate?
> >
> > Rete
> This is really helpful - thanks,
> Rete!
>
> No flight to catch, so no pressure there. I wasn't aware of the
> social security application at DCF. Was told it's pretty quick to take
> care of here in the States.
If you go to an SSA office at the right time of day it will take 10
minutes. There may be a question about obtaining an SSN on one of the
forms. We did DCF in London and never heard about applying for a number
at the consulate (and would not have done so anyway)
dimsumfan wrote:
>
> Originally posted by Rete
> > Congratulations. She goes
> through the non-citizen line. She will go to secondary inspection where
> the brown envelope will be opened, her passport will be stamped with the
> I-551 stamp. The I-551 is the paper equivalent of the green card. She
> might be questioned as to your name, where she will live, when you got
> married. Answers which she will know. Then she is free to leave.
> >
> >
> The green card will arrive in the mail at the address she confirms as
> she will be living in the US.
> >
> > Time depends on the number of people
> going through secondary. Could be 15 minutes, could over an hour. If
> she is getting a connecting flight, leave her plenty of time to make it.
> Better to have down time for coffee at the airport then missing a
> connecting flight.
> >
> > She can apply for her social security card at
> any SSA office. I thought you could apply for that when you DCF at the
> US Consulate?
> >
> > Rete
> This is really helpful - thanks,
> Rete!
>
> No flight to catch, so no pressure there. I wasn't aware of the
> social security application at DCF. Was told it's pretty quick to take
> care of here in the States.
If you go to an SSA office at the right time of day it will take 10
minutes. There may be a question about obtaining an SSN on one of the
forms. We did DCF in London and never heard about applying for a number
at the consulate (and would not have done so anyway)
