Received IR1 - Now what?

[HomewardBound 0]

I'm a USC living in Australia with my Australian husband and two dual citizen kids. We applied for, and received, an IR1 visa through the U.S. Consulate in Sydney. It arrived today (YAY)! We have six months to enter the U.S. I have some questions, though.

First, we used to live in the U.S. My husband had applied for an Adjustment of Status from his H1B visa and had a Employment Authorization Document while his AOS was pending. After five years and little movement on the AOS (9/11 happened during that time and we got caught up in the upheaval of the INS), we moved to Australia to help his family out (father was ill). My husband has a SSN and his SS Card says, "Valid for Work Only With INS Authorization." With his new IR1 Visa and that card, will he be able to work immediately upon entering the U.S.? Should we order a new SS Card with the same number? Is the reference to the INS going to cause problems?

Second, his IR1 Visa reads "Upon Endorsement Serves as Temporary I-551 Evidencing Permanent Residence for 1 Year." It has an expiration date of 1 year from the date we are required to enter the U.S. Once we enter the U.S., what do we need to do to extend this? We thought it was going to be for a longer period of time.

Basically, what is the process from this point forward? (Sorry if this seems like a silly question )

[pharmacist 0]

hey i dont have any help with ur questions, but i just wanted to say congratulations.

Pharmacist

[simple_male 1]

I'm a USC living in Australia with my Australian husband and two dual citizen kids. We applied for, and received, an IR1 visa through the U.S. Consulate in Sydney. It arrived today (YAY)! We have six months to enter the U.S. I have some questions, though.

First, we used to live in the U.S. My husband had applied for an Adjustment of Status from his H1B visa and had a Employment Authorization Document while his AOS was pending. After five years and little movement on the AOS (9/11 happened during that time and we got caught up in the upheaval of the INS), we moved to Australia to help his family out (father was ill). My husband has a SSN and his SS Card says, "Valid for Work Only With INS Authorization." With his new IR1 Visa and that card, will he be able to work immediately upon entering the U.S.? Should we order a new SS Card with the same number? Is the reference to the INS going to cause problems?

Second, his IR1 Visa reads "Upon Endorsement Serves as Temporary I-551 Evidencing Permanent Residence for 1 Year." It has an expiration date of 1 year from the date we are required to enter the U.S. Once we enter the U.S., what do we need to do to extend this? We thought it was going to be for a longer period of time.

Basically, what is the process from this point forward? (Sorry if this seems like a silly question )

With the CR-1, your husband can work immediately upon his arrival in the USA as a permanent resident. With his green card proof, he can go to the local social security office and explaim them that "Valid for Work ony with INS Authorization" can be removed now, since he is a permanent resident of USA. Social Security people know that a permanent resident can work in the USA and does not need INS authorization. The social security people then will mail him a social securiy card without that sentence. He will have same social security number.

It means, you are married for more than two years and after one year upon his arrival in the USA, he will be eligible to apply for US citizenship, if you two remain married (of course, you will, I am just telling you the rules).

[JRluvsLhyn 0]

I'm a USC living in Australia with my Australian husband and two dual citizen kids. We applied for, and received, an IR1 visa through the U.S. Consulate in Sydney. It arrived today (YAY)! We have six months to enter the U.S. I have some questions, though.

First, we used to live in the U.S. My husband had applied for an Adjustment of Status from his H1B visa and had a Employment Authorization Document while his AOS was pending. After five years and little movement on the AOS (9/11 happened during that time and we got caught up in the upheaval of the INS), we moved to Australia to help his family out (father was ill). My husband has a SSN and his SS Card says, "Valid for Work Only With INS Authorization." With his new IR1 Visa and that card, will he be able to work immediately upon entering the U.S.? Should we order a new SS Card with the same number? Is the reference to the INS going to cause problems?

Second, his IR1 Visa reads "Upon Endorsement Serves as Temporary I-551 Evidencing Permanent Residence for 1 Year." It has an expiration date of 1 year from the date we are required to enter the U.S. Once we enter the U.S., what do we need to do to extend this? We thought it was going to be for a longer period of time.

Basically, what is the process from this point forward? (Sorry if this seems like a silly question )

1. Yes he can work once he get the new SS Card without ristriction. Once you get here you can go to SS office and bring your SS Card and your IR1 stamp. I think they will give him the same number I don't think his previous case will going to cause him any problem.

2. His IR1 visa stamp is just a temporary one. once you get here he will going to get his Green Card in the mail. Good Luck!

[Marilyn. 340]

I'm a USC living in Australia with my Australian husband and two dual citizen kids. We applied for, and received, an IR1 visa through the U.S. Consulate in Sydney. It arrived today (YAY)! We have six months to enter the U.S. I have some questions, though.

First, we used to live in the U.S. My husband had applied for an Adjustment of Status from his H1B visa and had a Employment Authorization Document while his AOS was pending. After five years and little movement on the AOS (9/11 happened during that time and we got caught up in the upheaval of the INS), we moved to Australia to help his family out (father was ill). My husband has a SSN and his SS Card says, "Valid for Work Only With INS Authorization." With his new IR1 Visa and that card, will he be able to work immediately upon entering the U.S.? Should we order a new SS Card with the same number? Is the reference to the INS going to cause problems?

Second, his IR1 Visa reads "Upon Endorsement Serves as Temporary I-551 Evidencing Permanent Residence for 1 Year." It has an expiration date of 1 year from the date we are required to enter the U.S. Once we enter the U.S., what do we need to do to extend this? We thought it was going to be for a longer period of time.

Basically, what is the process from this point forward? (Sorry if this seems like a silly question )

With the CR-1, your husband can work immediately upon his arrival in the USA as a permanent resident. With his green card proof, he can go to the local social security office and explain them that "Valid for Work only with INS Authorization" can be removed now, since he is a permanent resident of USA. Social Security people know that a permanent resident can work in the USA and does not need INS authorization. The social security people then will mail him a social securiy card without that sentence. He will have same social security number.

It means, you are married for more than two years and after one year upon his arrival in the USA, he will be eligible to apply for US citizenship, if you two remain married (of course, you will, I am just telling you the rules).

This is not quite right.... You have to live in the US with your spouse for 3 years or more after activating your visa before you can apply to be a US citizen...

The OP mentioned that they are getting an IRI visa which means they have been married for over 2 years....

after you activate the IR1 visa you will get your Greencard in the mail a few weeks later that is good for 10 years.... Like was mentioned in an earlier post, the stamp in your passport is just temporary and serves as your green card till you get the actual green card in the mail....

Edited August 8, 2006 by MarilynP

[HomewardBound 0]

This is not quite right.... You have to live in the US with your spouse for 3 years or more after activating your visa before you can apply to be a US citizen...

The OP mentioned that they are getting an IRI visa which means they have been married for over 2 years....

after you activate the IR1 visa you will get your Greencard in the mail a few weeks later that is good for 10 years.... Like was mentioned in an earlier post, the stamp in your passport is just temporary and serves as your green card till you get the actual green card in the mail....

Thank you all for your replies and information. In order to activate the IR1, do we have to contact USCIS once we get to the US or does just entering the country automatically activate it?

[aussiewench 9]

This is not quite right.... You have to live in the US with your spouse for 3 years or more after activating your visa before you can apply to be a US citizen...

The OP mentioned that they are getting an IRI visa which means they have been married for over 2 years....

after you activate the IR1 visa you will get your Greencard in the mail a few weeks later that is good for 10 years.... Like was mentioned in an earlier post, the stamp in your passport is just temporary and serves as your green card till you get the actual green card in the mail....

Thank you all for your replies and information. In order to activate the IR1, do we have to contact USCIS once we get to the US or does just entering the country automatically activate it?

You will go through immigration at your POE to the US. Have a read of some POE experiences HERE

[HomewardBound 0]

You will go through immigration at your POE to the US. Have a read of some POE experiences HERE

Ah. Cool. Thanks for that link....I'm just starting to read it and it looks like it's exactly what I need. You know, they really should give you some sort of pamphlet or something with this information. Do they have those and we just didn't get one? All we got back from the Consulate was my husband's passport w/ visa and the sealed envelope that we have to take to the Port of Entry.

:off to read (and pack!):

[simple_male 1]

One correction I wanna make from my previous post. Yes, as soon as the foreign alien spouse enter into the USA with CR-1 visa, he/she becomes a permanent resident of USA. He/she will receive the permanent green card by mail after few weeks. Therfore, he/she does not need to remove the conditions. In the meantime, the seal in the passport can be used as the proof of the permanent residency. The Permanent resident can apply for the US citizenship after 3 years (You can apply after 2 years 9 months) of becoming a permanent resident.

[simple_male 1]

One correction I wanna make from my previous post. Yes, as soon as the foreign alien spouse enter into the USA with CR-1 visa, he/she becomes a permanent resident of USA. He/she will receive the permanent green card by mail after few weeks. Therfore, he/she does not need to remove the conditions. In the meantime, the seal in the passport can be used as the proof of the permanent residency. The Permanent resident can apply for the US citizenship after 3 years (You can apply after 2 years 9 months) of becoming a permanent resident.

Another Correction: I mistakenly mentioned CR-1 instead of IR-1. So the corrected post is:

Yes, as soon as the foreign alien spouse enter into the USA with IR-1 visa, he/she becomes a permanent resident of USA. He/she will receive the permanent green card by mail after few weeks. Therfore, he/she does not need to remove the conditions. In the meantime, the seal in the passport can be used as the proof of the permanent residency. The Permanent resident can apply for the US citizenship after 3 years (You can apply after 2 years 9 months) of becoming a permanent resident.

Edited August 8, 2006 by simple_male