Entering US - what applies to fiance(e)s and what to spouses?
Nov 30th 2002, 8:00 pm
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Entering US - what applies to fiance(e)s and what to spouses?
I've got my mysterious brown envelope and my visa via the US embassy
in London. I'm flying to Cincinnati on Saturday (that's my point of
entry), and I'm wondering what happens next? The discussion regarding
EAD stamps/cards - do they apply to spouses as well as fiances? I was
under the impression that at my POE I'll get a temporary document that
is as good as the green card, until it comes a few weeks (months?)
later. Is this the thing it seems I'll have to fight for at a local
INS office (which I think will be in Kentucky)?
Then, what will I need for a SSN? I'm having trouble separating what
is for fiances and what is for spouses.
I'll be working remotely for my current employer in the UK for a
month, so employment isn't the problem here, but I know I need the SSN
as soon as poss.
The information in this group is invaluable (it's made the process so
much easier for us), but sometimes it's hard to figure out what
applied to you.
Thanks in advance.
Jim and Kim
in London. I'm flying to Cincinnati on Saturday (that's my point of
entry), and I'm wondering what happens next? The discussion regarding
EAD stamps/cards - do they apply to spouses as well as fiances? I was
under the impression that at my POE I'll get a temporary document that
is as good as the green card, until it comes a few weeks (months?)
later. Is this the thing it seems I'll have to fight for at a local
INS office (which I think will be in Kentucky)?
Then, what will I need for a SSN? I'm having trouble separating what
is for fiances and what is for spouses.
I'll be working remotely for my current employer in the UK for a
month, so employment isn't the problem here, but I know I need the SSN
as soon as poss.
The information in this group is invaluable (it's made the process so
much easier for us), but sometimes it's hard to figure out what
applied to you.
Thanks in advance.
Jim and Kim
Nov 30th 2002, 8:21 pm
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Entering US - what applies to fiance(e)s and what to spouses?
Depends..
Are you a spouse or fiance?
Entering on K visa or other?
Jim Lockwood wrote:
>
> I've got my mysterious brown envelope and my visa via the US embassy
> in London. I'm flying to Cincinnati on Saturday (that's my point of
> entry), and I'm wondering what happens next? The discussion regarding
> EAD stamps/cards - do they apply to spouses as well as fiances? I was
> under the impression that at my POE I'll get a temporary document that
> is as good as the green card, until it comes a few weeks (months?)
> later. Is this the thing it seems I'll have to fight for at a local
> INS office (which I think will be in Kentucky)?
>
> Then, what will I need for a SSN? I'm having trouble separating what
> is for fiances and what is for spouses.
>
> I'll be working remotely for my current employer in the UK for a
> month, so employment isn't the problem here, but I know I need the SSN
> as soon as poss.
>
> The information in this group is invaluable (it's made the process so
> much easier for us), but sometimes it's hard to figure out what
> applied to you.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Jim and Kim
Are you a spouse or fiance?
Entering on K visa or other?
Jim Lockwood wrote:
>
> I've got my mysterious brown envelope and my visa via the US embassy
> in London. I'm flying to Cincinnati on Saturday (that's my point of
> entry), and I'm wondering what happens next? The discussion regarding
> EAD stamps/cards - do they apply to spouses as well as fiances? I was
> under the impression that at my POE I'll get a temporary document that
> is as good as the green card, until it comes a few weeks (months?)
> later. Is this the thing it seems I'll have to fight for at a local
> INS office (which I think will be in Kentucky)?
>
> Then, what will I need for a SSN? I'm having trouble separating what
> is for fiances and what is for spouses.
>
> I'll be working remotely for my current employer in the UK for a
> month, so employment isn't the problem here, but I know I need the SSN
> as soon as poss.
>
> The information in this group is invaluable (it's made the process so
> much easier for us), but sometimes it's hard to figure out what
> applied to you.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Jim and Kim
Dec 1st 2002, 1:43 am
#3
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,474
Re: Entering US - what applies to fiance(e)s and what to spouses?
You will do the same thing as a K-1 visaholder actually.
You will be taken to secondary inspection where your brown envelope and passport will be taken from you. The envelope will be opened. You may be asked simple questions, i.e. where will you be living in the US. Your single digit fingerprint will be taken and your signature for the I-89 which will be used to produce your green card. It will be mailed to the address you give them. They will then place an I-551 stamp in your passport. Be sure that they mark it good for one year and that they write your alien registration number on the same page.
The I-551 is the paper equivalent of the green card and will serve the same purpose as the green card until it comes in the mail. It takes from one to six months to be received.
As for a social security number, you can walk into any SSA office and apply for it as soon as you want. The only hold up on this is that the SSA has been told it cannot issue cards/numbers without first verifying with INS your legal status. If your name is already in the databanks you will have the card within 10 days. You can call after two days and get the number over the phone. If, however, your name is not in the databanks yet, it might take a month or so before it is issued.
Rete
You will be taken to secondary inspection where your brown envelope and passport will be taken from you. The envelope will be opened. You may be asked simple questions, i.e. where will you be living in the US. Your single digit fingerprint will be taken and your signature for the I-89 which will be used to produce your green card. It will be mailed to the address you give them. They will then place an I-551 stamp in your passport. Be sure that they mark it good for one year and that they write your alien registration number on the same page.
The I-551 is the paper equivalent of the green card and will serve the same purpose as the green card until it comes in the mail. It takes from one to six months to be received.
As for a social security number, you can walk into any SSA office and apply for it as soon as you want. The only hold up on this is that the SSA has been told it cannot issue cards/numbers without first verifying with INS your legal status. If your name is already in the databanks you will have the card within 10 days. You can call after two days and get the number over the phone. If, however, your name is not in the databanks yet, it might take a month or so before it is issued.
Rete
Dec 1st 2002, 5:32 am
#4
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 35,082
Re: Entering US - what applies to fiance(e)s and what to spouses?
Originally posted by Rete
You will do the same thing as a K-1 visaholder actually.
You will be taken to secondary inspection where your brown envelope and passport will be taken from you. The envelope will be opened. You may be asked simple questions, i.e. where will you be living in the US. Your single digit fingerprint will be taken and your signature for the I-89 which will be used to produce your green card. It will be mailed to the address you give them. They will then place an I-551 stamp in your passport. Be sure that they mark it good for one year and that they write your alien registration number on the same page.
The I-551 is the paper equivalent of the green card and will serve the same purpose as the green card until it comes in the mail. It takes from one to six months to be received.
As for a social security number, you can walk into any SSA office and apply for it as soon as you want. The only hold up on this is that the SSA has been told it cannot issue cards/numbers without first verifying with INS your legal status. If your name is already in the databanks you will have the card within 10 days. You can call after two days and get the number over the phone. If, however, your name is not in the databanks yet, it might take a month or so before it is issued.
Rete
You will do the same thing as a K-1 visaholder actually.
You will be taken to secondary inspection where your brown envelope and passport will be taken from you. The envelope will be opened. You may be asked simple questions, i.e. where will you be living in the US. Your single digit fingerprint will be taken and your signature for the I-89 which will be used to produce your green card. It will be mailed to the address you give them. They will then place an I-551 stamp in your passport. Be sure that they mark it good for one year and that they write your alien registration number on the same page.
The I-551 is the paper equivalent of the green card and will serve the same purpose as the green card until it comes in the mail. It takes from one to six months to be received.
As for a social security number, you can walk into any SSA office and apply for it as soon as you want. The only hold up on this is that the SSA has been told it cannot issue cards/numbers without first verifying with INS your legal status. If your name is already in the databanks you will have the card within 10 days. You can call after two days and get the number over the phone. If, however, your name is not in the databanks yet, it might take a month or so before it is issued.
Rete
SSA told us it would take about 10 days to confirm status with INS and after that we could call and get the number.
Prior to that, getting my alien added to my bank account was not easy. We had to exert a little power of personality on them to accomplish it.
At the POE, our total time through primary and secondary was 10 minutes or less.
Dec 1st 2002, 6:34 am
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Entering US - what applies to fiance(e)s and what to spouses?
Jim Lockwood wrote:
>
> I've got my mysterious brown envelope and my visa via the US embassy
> in London. I'm flying to Cincinnati on Saturday (that's my point of
> entry), and I'm wondering what happens next? The discussion regarding
> EAD stamps/cards - do they apply to spouses as well as fiances? I was
No, fiances only
> under the impression that at my POE I'll get a temporary document that
> is as good as the green card, until it comes a few weeks (months?)
> later. Is this the thing it seems I'll have to fight for at a local
> INS office (which I think will be in Kentucky)?
>
> Then, what will I need for a SSN? I'm having trouble separating what
> is for fiances and what is for spouses.
If you enter the US as a spouse of a US citizen you will receive the
"I-551" stamp in your passport. The greencard will arrive some time
later. The stamp and the passport itself was all my wife needed at the
SSA office to apply for an SSN. She filled out a two page form and was
given her SSN after calling their toll free number a few days later. The
actual card arrived in the post within 2 weeks.
You won't have to deal with the local INS office at all. Since it
appears you have been married for more than two years at the time you
received your visa your greencard will be good for 10 years.
>
> I've got my mysterious brown envelope and my visa via the US embassy
> in London. I'm flying to Cincinnati on Saturday (that's my point of
> entry), and I'm wondering what happens next? The discussion regarding
> EAD stamps/cards - do they apply to spouses as well as fiances? I was
No, fiances only
> under the impression that at my POE I'll get a temporary document that
> is as good as the green card, until it comes a few weeks (months?)
> later. Is this the thing it seems I'll have to fight for at a local
> INS office (which I think will be in Kentucky)?
>
> Then, what will I need for a SSN? I'm having trouble separating what
> is for fiances and what is for spouses.
If you enter the US as a spouse of a US citizen you will receive the
"I-551" stamp in your passport. The greencard will arrive some time
later. The stamp and the passport itself was all my wife needed at the
SSA office to apply for an SSN. She filled out a two page form and was
given her SSN after calling their toll free number a few days later. The
actual card arrived in the post within 2 weeks.
You won't have to deal with the local INS office at all. Since it
appears you have been married for more than two years at the time you
received your visa your greencard will be good for 10 years.
Dec 1st 2002, 8:34 am
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Entering US - what applies to fiance(e)s and what to spouses?
L D Jones wrote:
>
> Jim Lockwood wrote:
> >
> > I've got my mysterious brown envelope and my visa via the US embassy
> > in London. I'm flying to Cincinnati on Saturday (that's my point of
> > entry), and I'm wondering what happens next? The discussion regarding
> > EAD stamps/cards - do they apply to spouses as well as fiances? I was
>
> No, fiances only
Wht about K-3?
>
> If you enter the US as a spouse of a US citizen you will receive the
> "I-551" stamp in your passport.
Not if you arriving on K-3. You have to wait for adjustment of status
for that.
>
> Jim Lockwood wrote:
> >
> > I've got my mysterious brown envelope and my visa via the US embassy
> > in London. I'm flying to Cincinnati on Saturday (that's my point of
> > entry), and I'm wondering what happens next? The discussion regarding
> > EAD stamps/cards - do they apply to spouses as well as fiances? I was
>
> No, fiances only
Wht about K-3?
>
> If you enter the US as a spouse of a US citizen you will receive the
> "I-551" stamp in your passport.
Not if you arriving on K-3. You have to wait for adjustment of status
for that.
Dec 1st 2002, 8:56 am
#7
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 47
Re: Entering US - what applies to fiance(e)s and what to spouses?
Originally posted by L D Jones
The stamp and the passport itself was all my wife needed at the
SSA office to apply for an SSN. She filled out a two page form and was
given her SSN after calling their toll free number a few days later. The
actual card arrived in the post within 2 weeks.
The stamp and the passport itself was all my wife needed at the
SSA office to apply for an SSN. She filled out a two page form and was
given her SSN after calling their toll free number a few days later. The
actual card arrived in the post within 2 weeks.
Looks like in other areas it can be done faster though.
Dec 1st 2002, 9:52 am
#8
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,474
Re: Entering US - what applies to fiance(e)s and what to spouses?
Originally posted by JuMu
I recently applied for SSN in Seattle (Nov. 27th) and they told me it would take 4-6 weeks due to crosschecking with the INS.
Looks like in other areas it can be done faster though.
I recently applied for SSN in Seattle (Nov. 27th) and they told me it would take 4-6 weeks due to crosschecking with the INS.
Looks like in other areas it can be done faster though.
Rete
Dec 1st 2002, 1:24 pm
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Entering US - what applies to fiance(e)s and what to spouses?
mrtravel wrote:
>
> L D Jones wrote:
> >
> > Jim Lockwood wrote:
> > >
> > > I've got my mysterious brown envelope and my visa via the US embassy
> > > in London. I'm flying to Cincinnati on Saturday (that's my point of
> > > entry), and I'm wondering what happens next? The discussion regarding
> > > EAD stamps/cards - do they apply to spouses as well as fiances? I was
> >
> > No, fiances only
>
> Wht about K-3?
>
> >
> > If you enter the US as a spouse of a US citizen you will receive the
> > "I-551" stamp in your passport.
>
> Not if you arriving on K-3. You have to wait for adjustment of status
> for that.
The OP didn't specify what type of visa he has
>
> L D Jones wrote:
> >
> > Jim Lockwood wrote:
> > >
> > > I've got my mysterious brown envelope and my visa via the US embassy
> > > in London. I'm flying to Cincinnati on Saturday (that's my point of
> > > entry), and I'm wondering what happens next? The discussion regarding
> > > EAD stamps/cards - do they apply to spouses as well as fiances? I was
> >
> > No, fiances only
>
> Wht about K-3?
>
> >
> > If you enter the US as a spouse of a US citizen you will receive the
> > "I-551" stamp in your passport.
>
> Not if you arriving on K-3. You have to wait for adjustment of status
> for that.
The OP didn't specify what type of visa he has
Dec 1st 2002, 5:43 pm
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Entering US - what applies to fiance(e)s and what to spouses?
L D Jones wrote:
>
> mrtravel wrote:
> >
> > L D Jones wrote:
> > >
> > > Jim Lockwood wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I've got my mysterious brown envelope and my visa via the US embassy
> > > > in London. I'm flying to Cincinnati on Saturday (that's my point of
> > > > entry), and I'm wondering what happens next? The discussion regarding
> > > > EAD stamps/cards - do they apply to spouses as well as fiances? I was
> > >
> > > No, fiances only
> >
> > Wht about K-3?
> >
> > >
> > > If you enter the US as a spouse of a US citizen you will receive the
> > > "I-551" stamp in your passport.
> >
> > Not if you arriving on K-3. You have to wait for adjustment of status
> > for that.
>
> The OP didn't specify what type of visa he has
I believe that was my point.
You said a EAD was only needed for fiances.
You said if entering as a spouse of a USC you "will" receive the I-551
stamp in your passport.
If you are entering as a SPOUSE on a K-3, would you agree those two
statements are incorrect?
>
> mrtravel wrote:
> >
> > L D Jones wrote:
> > >
> > > Jim Lockwood wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I've got my mysterious brown envelope and my visa via the US embassy
> > > > in London. I'm flying to Cincinnati on Saturday (that's my point of
> > > > entry), and I'm wondering what happens next? The discussion regarding
> > > > EAD stamps/cards - do they apply to spouses as well as fiances? I was
> > >
> > > No, fiances only
> >
> > Wht about K-3?
> >
> > >
> > > If you enter the US as a spouse of a US citizen you will receive the
> > > "I-551" stamp in your passport.
> >
> > Not if you arriving on K-3. You have to wait for adjustment of status
> > for that.
>
> The OP didn't specify what type of visa he has
I believe that was my point.
You said a EAD was only needed for fiances.
You said if entering as a spouse of a USC you "will" receive the I-551
stamp in your passport.
If you are entering as a SPOUSE on a K-3, would you agree those two
statements are incorrect?
Dec 1st 2002, 8:49 pm
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Entering US - what applies to fiance(e)s and what to spouses?
Sorry - I can't believe I forgot to specify. I am a spouse.
Thanks for the responses. Looks like maybe it's a little easier for spouses?
Jim
mrtravel wrote in message news:...
> Depends..
>
> Are you a spouse or fiance?
> Entering on K visa or other?
Thanks for the responses. Looks like maybe it's a little easier for spouses?
Jim
mrtravel wrote in message news:...
> Depends..
>
> Are you a spouse or fiance?
> Entering on K visa or other?
Dec 1st 2002, 8:57 pm
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Entering US - what applies to fiance(e)s and what to spouses?
Are you entering on a K-3 visa?
Jim Lockwood wrote:
>
> Sorry - I can't believe I forgot to specify. I am a spouse.
>
> Thanks for the responses. Looks like maybe it's a little easier for spouses?
>
> Jim
>
> mrtravel wrote in message news:...
> > Depends..
> >
> > Are you a spouse or fiance?
> > Entering on K visa or other?
> >
Jim Lockwood wrote:
>
> Sorry - I can't believe I forgot to specify. I am a spouse.
>
> Thanks for the responses. Looks like maybe it's a little easier for spouses?
>
> Jim
>
> mrtravel wrote in message news:...
> > Depends..
> >
> > Are you a spouse or fiance?
> > Entering on K visa or other?
> >
