Wife got her visa... Can she work when she comes over now?

[bigangrytexan 0]

My wife will be finally arriving on Tuesday on her IR-1 visa. When can she work, legally? Can she start immediately, or does she have to wait for the green card to come in the mail?

Didn't find the answer in the FAQ section...

Thanks in advance for your answers.

[sachinky 465]

She can work immediately. The stamp in her passport is a greencard till the actual card arrives in the mail within 2-4 weeks.

[meowmeowmeow 1]

what about the social security card? can the arriving spouse be able to hit up the social security office and get one right away? that is necessary to work too, right?

[sachinky 465]

She will need a SSN before she can start working, though.

[bigangrytexan 0]

She will need a SSN before she can start working, though.

Two years ago she spent the summer over here on a J-1 visa, and was issued a social security card. It has stamped across the top "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION"

She still has it. Is it still valid? Can she use that to work?

[TayRivers 4]

She will need a SSN before she can start working, though.

Two years ago she spent the summer over here on a J-1 visa, and was issued a social security card. It has stamped across the top "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION"

She still has it. Is it still valid? Can she use that to work?

Yes she can still use that for work but she should go to the SSA office and update her status...

[christeen 966]

You can still owrk, just go to the SSA office after about 2 weeks (time for you to get in their system) and get the SSN

[meowmeowmeow 1]

bigangrytexan, just curious: how did your wife get an IR-1 visa? i thought you had to be married for more than 2 years to get that? is there a loophole that i'm not aware of?

[Malrothien 6]

bigangrytexan, just curious: how did your wife get an IR-1 visa? i thought you had to be married for more than 2 years to get that? is there a loophole that i'm not aware of?

He most likely meant CR1. There is no loophole.

[bigangrytexan 0]

bigangrytexan, just curious: how did your wife get an IR-1 visa? i thought you had to be married for more than 2 years to get that? is there a loophole that i'm not aware of?

He most likely meant CR1. There is no loophole.

I meant CR-1 in that case. I've never really understood the difference. We did not exploit any loophole that I am aware of.

[milimelo 4,486]

You can still owrk, just go to the SSA office after about 2 weeks (time for you to get in their system) and get the SSN

She already has a SSN - no waiting required. She can go over to SSA office for update the day of arrival or next morning.

[pushbrk 12,910]

My wife will be finally arriving on Tuesday on her IR-1 visa. When can she work, legally? Can she start immediately, or does she have to wait for the green card to come in the mail?

Didn't find the answer in the FAQ section...

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Technically, she's authorized to work immediately upon entry but it usually takes about two weeks for the SSN and three weeks for the Green card to come in the mail. She would need at least the SSN to execute the required I-9 form upon accepting employment.

The green card will come automatically and the SSN will too if you checked the right boxes on her DS 230.

[milimelo 4,486]

My wife will be finally arriving on Tuesday on her IR-1 visa. When can she work, legally? Can she start immediately, or does she have to wait for the green card to come in the mail?

Didn't find the answer in the FAQ section...

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Technically, she's authorized to work immediately upon entry but it usually takes about two weeks for the SSN and three weeks for the Green card to come in the mail. She would need at least the SSN to execute the required I-9 form upon accepting employment.

The green card will come automatically and the SSN will too if you checked the right boxes on her DS 230.

The OP said that his wife already has a SSN from when she was here on J-1. She doesn't have to wait on SSN, she just has to go update it so the restriction is removed.

[Malrothien 6]

bigangrytexan, just curious: how did your wife get an IR-1 visa? i thought you had to be married for more than 2 years to get that? is there a loophole that i'm not aware of?

He most likely meant CR1. There is no loophole.

I meant CR-1 in that case. I've never really understood the difference. We did not exploit any loophole that I am aware of.

CR1 = Less than two years of marriage, requires removal of conditions, 2 year green card

IR1 = 2+ years of marriage, 10 year green card

[pushbrk 12,910]

My wife will be finally arriving on Tuesday on her IR-1 visa. When can she work, legally? Can she start immediately, or does she have to wait for the green card to come in the mail?

Didn't find the answer in the FAQ section...

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Technically, she's authorized to work immediately upon entry but it usually takes about two weeks for the SSN and three weeks for the Green card to come in the mail. She would need at least the SSN to execute the required I-9 form upon accepting employment.

The green card will come automatically and the SSN will too if you checked the right boxes on her DS 230.

The OP said that his wife already has a SSN from when she was here on J-1. She doesn't have to wait on SSN, she just has to go update it so the restriction is removed.

Sorry, I missed that. She can take the passport with the I-551 stamp to the SS office and request an updated card. The number won't change, of course but she'll need a new card. It may take a few days for her new status to show in the system.