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mikey78

waiting for green card after POE

By mikey78 in Canada

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mikey78 Enthusiast

mikey78   6

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Filed: Other Country: Canada
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Hi guys,

So it's been almost a month already and I still haven't received my green card in mail. I gathered that first I was supposed to get some kind of 'Welcome to the US' letter in mail after I crossed the border. So far silence...

Does everyone get a letter before the green card comes in mail? Maybe I didn't get one coz Steve's wife got 3! :hehe:

What's a long wait and when should I exactly become worried that it might have been lost in mail?

Any ideas will be appreciated!

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Rustbelt Explorer

Rustbelt   0

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
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Hi guys,

So it's been almost a month already and I still haven't received my green card in mail. I gathered that first I was supposed to get some kind of 'Welcome to the US' letter in mail after I crossed the border. So far silence...

Does everyone get a letter before the green card comes in mail? Maybe I didn't get one coz Steve's wife got 3! :hehe:

What's a long wait and when should I exactly become worried that it might have been lost in mail?

Any ideas will be appreciated!

Oh yeah, wait, I think the second one was yours . . . :lol:

When I did the POE, the guy that processed me said that he used to work in Las Vegas, and green cards could take 9 MONTHS to arrive, so I don't know that you should worry just yet. I haven't got my SSN card yet, but I'm not so worried about that because I already had one from before and the number wasn't changing or anything . . .

- Steve's wife

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mikey78 Enthusiast

mikey78   6

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Filed: Other Country: Canada
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Yeah I am not that worried about Social Security card at all because I have had SSN as long as I remember but I just want to have my green card so that I can apply for a new passport coz the old one is running out of pages...and I don't want to invalidate this passport with endorsed IV before I get my GC to prove perm residency...vicious circle of bureaucracy :wacko:

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antda Experienced

antda   13

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Hi Mikey78,

Sorry to hear about you not getting your green card yet, even though it is a month later after your approval. On the bright side, at least you have an SSN, so that's less of a worry there.

Lol..If it makes you feel any better, I never got my "Welcome to the USA" letter either (and it's been 3+ years since I've been here...lol..)....methinks someone else has my letter too....:lol:

Ok, as for how long it takes for a green card....

From my experience:

2yr green card = I got it one week after I was approved from the interview

10yr green card = I got it eight weeks (yes you read that right) after I was approved. Apparently there was some 'backlog' with the card production at that time. Had to schedule an infopass appointment, get a passport stamp, and get my congressman involved again...not good.....

SSN = I got that in eight weeks (yes you read that right), as they were backlogged in verifying my immigration status...

So if you don't get your green card in the next few weeks or so, seriously you can:

a) Contact the mis-information line (aka. USCIS customer service phone number)

b ) Make an infopass appointment with your local USCIS office, and ask about your case, and in the meantime see if you can get a temporary I-551 stamp (which acts as a green card) in your passport. Hopefully that inquiry will help you get your actual green card faster too.

Hope this helps. Good luck in getting your green card soon.

Ant

Hi guys,

So it's been almost a month already and I still haven't received my green card in mail. I gathered that first I was supposed to get some kind of 'Welcome to the US' letter in mail after I crossed the border. So far silence...

Does everyone get a letter before the green card comes in mail? Maybe I didn't get one coz Steve's wife got 3! :hehe:

What's a long wait and when should I exactly become worried that it might have been lost in mail?

Any ideas will be appreciated!

Edited by Ant+D+A

**Ant's 1432.gif1502.gif "Once Upon An American Immigration Journey" Condensed Timeline...**

2000 (72+ Months) "Loved": Long-Distance Dating Relationship. D Visited Ant in Canada.

2006 (<1 Month) "Visited": Ant Visited D in America. B-2 Visa Port of Entry Interrogation.

2006 (<1 Month) "Married": Wedding Elopement. Husband & Wife, D and Ant !! Together Forever!

2006 ( 3 Months I-485 Wait) "Adjusted": 2-Years Green Card.

2007 ( 2 Months) "Numbered": SSN Card.

2007 (<1 Months) "Licensed": NYS 4-Years Driver's License.

2009 (10 Months I-751 Wait) "Removed": 10-Years 5-Months Green Card.

2009 ( 9 Months Baby Wait) "Expected": Baby. It's a Boy, Baby A !!! We Are Family, Ant+D+BabyA !

2009 ( 4 Months) "Moved": New House Constructed and Moved Into.

2009 ( 2 Months N-400 Wait) "Naturalized": US Citizenship, Certificate of Naturalization. Goodbye USCIS!!!!

***Ant is a Naturalized American Citizen!!***: November 23, 2009 (Private Oath Ceremony: USCIS Office, Buffalo, NY, USA)

2009 (<1 Month) "Secured": US Citizen SSN Card.

2009 (<1 Month) "Enhanced": US Citizen NYS 8-Years Enhanced Driver's License. (in lieu of a US Passport)

2010 ( 1 Month) "Voted": US Citizen NYS Voter's Registration Card.

***~~~"The End...And the Americans, Ant+D+BabyA, lived 'Happily Ever After'!"...~~~***

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Persona Enthusiast

Persona   0

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Country: Canada
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hum my fiance said i can't travel until i get my green card..but we thought it take 2 year to get it... so what am i expecting now ? i just did my interview for the K-1 ..are we talking about the same interview ?

how long from now should it be ...

im thinking its only after i do my aos interview that it start the process to get one..but even then... how long XD 2 years or 3 weeks..

Process took us 1 year and 5 month from I-129F to Green Card

*09-??-2006* Met online @ world of warcraft

*~3 years later*

*01-??-2009* Relationship started

*03-01-2009* Went to see him 1 week

*03-05-2009* We got engaged

*04-06-2009* Sent I-129F

*04-07-2009* I-129F received at USCIS (California)

*04-09-2009* NOA1 received

*04-17-2009* He came to see me that weekend

*05-30-2009* He came visit me for 1 week

*07-01-2009* Still waiting the Noa2

*07-17-2009* OMG IT GOT TOUCH!! XD

*07-20-2009* Got the Noa2 without trouble!

*08-14-2009* Went to see him 2 week!

*08-18-2009* Got the packet 3!

*09-08-2009* sent Pack 3

*10-27-2009* Packet 4 received!

*11-06-2009* Gone for 1 week to see my baby

*11-20-2009* Medical at medisys + Police certificate

*12-01-2009* INTERVIEW Passed!! success!

*01-08-2010* Big Move ^^

*01-09-2010* Wedding

*02-26-2010* Filling for AoS

*03-10-2010* NOA

*03-30-2010* Biometrics taken

*09-24-2010* AOS Aproval

*I did not request my EAD or AP

*We did not get an interview

*09-30-2010* Green Card in hand!

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trailmix Grand Master

trailmix   77

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
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Posted (edited)

You get your green card after you file for Adjustment of Status.

So:

File for K1 >>> K1 Approved, receive visa in passport >>>> Enter the U.S. apply to Adjust Status (apply for EAD and AP)>>>> Receive 2 year conditional Green Card >>>> after 2 years apply to remove conditions from your green card then receive a 10 year green card.

When you apply to adjust status you should apply, at the same time, for an EAD (employment authorization document) and AP (advance parole so you can travel before you get your green card if you wish to do so).

Edited by trailmix
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Persona Enthusiast

Persona   0

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Country: Canada
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You get your green card after you file for Adjustment of Status.

So:

File for K1 >>> K1 Approved, receive visa in passport >>>> Enter the U.S. apply to Adjust Status (apply for EAD and AP)>>>> Receive 2 year conditional Green Card >>>> after 2 years apply to remove conditions from your green card then receive a 10 year green card.

When you apply to adjust status you should apply, at the same time, for an EAD (employment authorization document) and AP (advance parole so you can travel before you get your green card if you wish to do so).

excuse me that confuse me... so i get the green card after waiting 2 years ? or your saying i get it and its good for 2 years... XD

Process took us 1 year and 5 month from I-129F to Green Card

*09-??-2006* Met online @ world of warcraft

*~3 years later*

*01-??-2009* Relationship started

*03-01-2009* Went to see him 1 week

*03-05-2009* We got engaged

*04-06-2009* Sent I-129F

*04-07-2009* I-129F received at USCIS (California)

*04-09-2009* NOA1 received

*04-17-2009* He came to see me that weekend

*05-30-2009* He came visit me for 1 week

*07-01-2009* Still waiting the Noa2

*07-17-2009* OMG IT GOT TOUCH!! XD

*07-20-2009* Got the Noa2 without trouble!

*08-14-2009* Went to see him 2 week!

*08-18-2009* Got the packet 3!

*09-08-2009* sent Pack 3

*10-27-2009* Packet 4 received!

*11-06-2009* Gone for 1 week to see my baby

*11-20-2009* Medical at medisys + Police certificate

*12-01-2009* INTERVIEW Passed!! success!

*01-08-2010* Big Move ^^

*01-09-2010* Wedding

*02-26-2010* Filling for AoS

*03-10-2010* NOA

*03-30-2010* Biometrics taken

*09-24-2010* AOS Aproval

*I did not request my EAD or AP

*We did not get an interview

*09-30-2010* Green Card in hand!

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KnJ Collaborator

KnJ   0

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Canada
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You get your green card after you file for Adjustment of Status.

So:

File for K1 >>> K1 Approved, receive visa in passport >>>> Enter the U.S. apply to Adjust Status (apply for EAD and AP)>>>> Receive 2 year conditional Green Card >>>> after 2 years apply to remove conditions from your green card then receive a 10 year green card.

When you apply to adjust status you should apply, at the same time, for an EAD (employment authorization document) and AP (advance parole so you can travel before you get your green card if you wish to do so).

excuse me that confuse me... so i get the green card after waiting 2 years ? or your saying i get it and its good for 2 years... XD

This thread is confusing me LOL

The original question seems to be: I entered the US a month ago. When can I expect a green card?

Once you enter the US POE with the K-1 visa, you get an I-94. You get married, and then you have to apply to Adjust status (AOS), and get EAD permission to work and AP permission to travel.

Once you've filed for AOS, you have to get biometrics, and you wait for an interview (usually but not always). If approved, usually you get a green card that's good for 2 years and has *conditions* but I don't know what those conditions are. Eventually, you file for "removal of conditions", and get a green card that is good for 10 years.

the I94 is essentially a slip that states your status, and how long you're allowed to be in the US for. If you came here and didn't get married and didn't file for AOS, then you HAVE to turn in that I-94 slip to Canadian border guards. Otherwise, you are in the country illegally and that will go on record as an "overstay" and you may have trouble visiting the US in the future.

So to answer original question: After POE you have some more hoops to jump through before you get your green card.

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Flames9_RN Grand Master

Flames9_RN   358

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

I think Mikey did DCF (thus a cr-1 or ir-1), different set of rules

Edited by Flames9_RN

Canadians Visiting the USA while undergoing the visa process, my free advice:

1) Always tell the TRUTH. never lie to the POE officer

2) Be confident in ur replies

3) keep ur response short and to the point, don't tell ur life story!!

4) look the POE officer in the eye when speaking to them. They are looking for people lieing and have been trained to find them!

5) Pack light! No job resumes with you

6) Bring ties to Canada (letter from employer when ur expected back at work, lease, etc etc)

7) Always be polite, being rude isn't going to get ya anywhere, and could make things worse!!

8) Have a plan in case u do get denied (be polite) It wont harm ur visa application if ur denied,that is if ur polite and didn't lie! Refer to #1

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trailmix Grand Master

trailmix   77

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted
You get your green card after you file for Adjustment of Status.

So:

File for K1 >>> K1 Approved, receive visa in passport >>>> Enter the U.S. apply to Adjust Status (apply for EAD and AP)>>>> Receive 2 year conditional Green Card >>>> after 2 years apply to remove conditions from your green card then receive a 10 year green card.

When you apply to adjust status you should apply, at the same time, for an EAD (employment authorization document) and AP (advance parole so you can travel before you get your green card if you wish to do so).

excuse me that confuse me... so i get the green card after waiting 2 years ? or your saying i get it and its good for 2 years... XD

No you don't have to wait 2 years, you get your Green Card soon-ish (not sure how long it is currently taking to adjust status, i'm sure someone here can give you an idea) - it is only good for 2 years. After 2 years you apply for your 10 year card (called 'removing conditions)

Bottom line - you can't travel until you get your green card or your advance parole, whichever one shows up first.

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christeen Experienced

christeen   966

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Italy
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Posted (edited)

OP, dont worry just yet... My husband just got GC in the mail after about 3 weeks and the Welcome letter came the same day... I have heard of it taking up to 3 months when there is a backlog... But if you do not hear anything or get anything at the 8 week timeframe, then I would make an appt at the local USCIS office and inquire... But I would not fret just yet... from what I have been reading 6 weeks seems to be about the norm...

Edited by christeen

10/14/2000 - Met Aboard a Cruise ship

06/14/2003 - Married Savona Italy

I-130

03/21/2009 - I-130 Mailed to Chicago lockbox

11-30-09: GOT GREEN CARD in mail!!!!!!

Citizenship Process;

1/11/2013: Mailed N400 to Dallas Texas

3/11/2013: interview.. Approved

4/4/2013. : Oath! Now a U.S. citizen!

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