IR1 Visa

[schaeferj 0]

Hi everyone,

We are in the process of DCF in London and are sending out or prrof of bona fide marriage this week- we expect (ok well hope...) to have the visa and be able to move by October.

We are now starting to think about what will happen when we actually get to California. My husband will need to get his SSN, get a driver's permit and then a license, bank accounts, all that fun stuff

Our question is once he receives the IR-1 visa in his passport and we enter the US how long will it take to receive the green card? Do we need the actual green card in order to go down to the SS office and apply for a SSN or will the paperwork and the visa in his passport be proof enough? He needs the SSN to be able to do pretty much anything so we're trying to figure out a timeline for all of this.

Also I remember reading somewhere that it was much faster to go and apply for the SSN yourself when you arrive and not to have them send it to you automatically- anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks!

[MargotDarko 0]

Hi everyone,

We are in the process of DCF in London and are sending out or prrof of bona fide marriage this week- we expect (ok well hope...) to have the visa and be able to move by October.

We are now starting to think about what will happen when we actually get to California. My husband will need to get his SSN, get a driver's permit and then a license, bank accounts, all that fun stuff

Our question is once he receives the IR-1 visa in his passport and we enter the US how long will it take to receive the green card? Do we need the actual green card in order to go down to the SS office and apply for a SSN or will the paperwork and the visa in his passport be proof enough? He needs the SSN to be able to do pretty much anything so we're trying to figure out a timeline for all of this.

Also I remember reading somewhere that it was much faster to go and apply for the SSN yourself when you arrive and not to have them send it to you automatically- anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks!

Hello there! The green card arrival time has been varying quite a bit, but about six or seven weeks is probably right and sometimes less. You do not need the actual green card to apply for the SSN. It's unfortunately a ####### shoot with whether or not checking no on the DS-230 Part II and going to apply for the SSN yourself is faster/better. Somtimes people check yes and get their SSN in two weeks or less and sometimes they check yes and it never shows and then they have hassle when applying in person. We personally decided to check no and we went to SSA office the day after arrival. They were helpful and did it right away. I think it helped that we had brought a copy of the DS-230 Part II to proove that we had checked "no" because the woman did express concern that a SSN may already be in process for him. Good luck!

[Dr. Obvious 49]

I agree. Just go down to the SSA office and apply yourself for a SSN.

My husband's green card arrived 1 month to the day exactly after he arrived. Of course, ymmv. Good luck!

[schaeferj 0]

That's great news- thanks!

I think we'll go and apply for the SSN ourselves- can't really go wrong that way and hopefully within a couple of weeks we'll have it so he can go take care of everything.

[hendra1 0]

It's unfortunately a ####### shoot with whether or not checking no on the DS-230 Part II and going to apply for the SSN yourself is faster/better. S

I didn't check at all ( because I am not sure want to ask the embassy, but forgot about that ). So I asume I have to apply my SSN by myself, Is it correct?

Thanks