Thanks Guys!

[AmitNY 0]

Hi Everyone,

My wife was given her DCF last week in Mumbai and she is now here with me . No hassles at the interview. One thing to keep in mind, even though the new rules states to only bring recent year tax return and not to have them I864 notarized. I suggest you still get it notarized and submit last 3 years. When she went to the VFS office in Mumbai, they asked her for all 3 years when preparing all the documents for her. Luckily I had sent everything. Also, even though my salary was more than enough, he asked for my bank statements and property papers.

My wife asked him why are you including these papers, when my salary is sufficient, he advised that it should be included just to be on the safe side. So I suggest, you send your spouse all the papers.

One thing to keep in mind, make sure you make photocopies of all your tax returns because they take them.

In any case everyone, thank you for all the help. You have all made this happen, very swiftly and painless.

I do have few more questions. When does she get her green card. They gave her an A# on her passport when she entered USA at the airport. Is that considered a temp. green card, until she actually gets one in mail? Also, do I need to go to the Social Security office to obtain an SSN, or will they send me one? I know I had checked "yes" on the DS230, PII form. Also, do I need to get a registered marriage done in NY?

Thanks again for all the help!

[meauxna 15]

Congratulations on completing the visa process! Your wife is now a Permanent Resident. Great tips on a more conservative approach to documents for Mumbai; I have heard they are their own world there!

I recommend that everyone always keep a photocopy of EVERYTHING they dubmit to USCIS or a Consulate. You may need them later on.

Regarding your questions... The endorsed visa is your wife's temporary (one year) evidence of her PR status. It is an equal substitute for her Green Card, which is being mailed to her. As stated many times, she has now applied for a SSN. If three weeks pass an no SS card arrives, go to your local SSA office.

You do not need to register your marriage in the US; you are legally married as far as anyone here is concerned.

From the DCF Guide:

5- The foreign spouse enters the US, and at the port of entry will have their MRIV endorsed with a stamp. That is now proof of the immigrant’s new status: Permanent Resident. It is adequate evidence for most purposes and is equal to the I-551card that will be mailed to them, also known as the Green Card.

The foreign spouse receives immediate work and travel authorization from the “green card stamp”, and will only need their social security card before starting to work. You may have already applied for this on the visa application DS-230 II. If you have applied for the Social Security number via the visa application, your SS Card s mailed to you separately within a month. Your Green Card will be mailed to you in the same time frame.If you haven’t received anything within a month, it’s time for follow up.

Note: If you have been married for less than 2 years when you enter the US, your Permanent Resident status has “conditions”. A CR-1 PR is no less a PR than anyone else, but they do have an additional step to take 2 years after they enter the US. Please see the Guides for Removal of Conditions (form I-751).

The visa resulting from a DCF case is the same Immigrant Visa that one would get by filing I-130 in the US: CR-1 or IR-1.

I recommend the following reads to anyone who is becoming a Permanent Resident, so you can better understand your rights and responsibilities.

Now That You Are A Permanent Resident

http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/PermRes.htm

How Do I Remove the Conditions on Permanent Residence Based on Marriage?

http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/remcond.htm

Welcome to the United States:

A Guide for New Immigrants

http://uscis.gov/graphics/citizenship/imm_guide.htm

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[AmitNY 0]

Thank you for the response.

[Cygnet 0]

Congratulations to you and your wife!