Green card aplication after getting visa?

[AdamL 0]

Hello all,

My wife and I have successfully obtained her CR1 visa and she will be moving to the US in May. Since my work contract does not end until June I will be staying in China while she starts to get settled in the US.

My question is when do we receive the forms to apply for a social security number and green card? I have done quite a bit of digging and cannot find the forms online. Does she get the papers at immigration when she arrives? Will she have difficulty applying for the ss# and green card if I am not in the states with her?

Thanks all for your help!

Adam and Novell

[canadian_wife 1,823]

Please double check, I am not sure your wife can enter the US before you. You, the USC, must enter before or with your wife

I'll see if I can cite it

GOod luck

[canadian_wife 1,823]

There is a section of the I864 in the instructions that says you must travel with or before the beneficary, did you read that? Does it apply to you?

Good luck

PS someome with more expertise will correct me if I'm wrong

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864instr.pdf

[Inky 1,111]

CR-1 visa holders do not apply for a green card. The green card arrives in the mail after entry. SSN should also arrive in the mail after entry. If it does not then you go to the SSN office with your wife and fill out the forms to get one.

Also agree with the above poster, I believe the USC needs to be in the US or enter the US with the visa holder.

[Not me 1]

They others are right. You wife cannot enter the US through the POE without you. You have two choices. You either go ahead of her or you go together. If she try's to enter without you she could be refused entry.

Also, you should update your timeline. It might not seem important, but many of us use them to get an idea of what to expect.

[AdamL 0]

Thank you everyone for your help. We did not know my wife could not enter the US before me.

Do you know if I enter the US with my wife and then turn around and fly back will that adversely effect my wife?

Sorry about not updating our time line. I will do it soon.

[canadian_wife 1,823]

Look at page 6 of the link I gave you. It said you must establish domicile in the US before or with your wife, not after.

Take a look at that link, it should answer all your questions

Good luck

[AdamL 0]

Look at page 6 of the link I gave you. It said you must establish domicile in the US before or with your wife, not after.

Take a look at that link, it should answer all your questions

Good luck

Thank you for all your help Canadian Wife. My permanent address is with my parents, and that is where we are moving to (temporarily, until we find a suitable apartment) doesn't that mean we have an established domicile? My father, who owns the house we are moving to, was the join sponsor for our I-864.

Looking over the I-864 instructions that you sent me we qualify to have domicile in the US since I have voting records and bank statements and a permanent mailing address back home. I even have to go to jury duty when I arrive back in the states in June (a nice welcome home gift).

That is why I think we felt my wife could enter before me, because we already have a home to go to. Do I still need to enter with her, or be waiting for her at our new home?

Thank you for all your help with this.

Edited March 28, 2011 by AdamL

[OBX 51]

As others have posted you need to enter prior to or with your wife; she cannot enter before you.

[Harsh_77 718]

Thank you for all your help Canadian Wife. My permanent address is with my parents, and that is where we are moving to (temporarily, until we find a suitable apartment) doesn't that mean we have an established domicile? My father, who owns the house we are moving to, was the join sponsor for our I-864.

Looking over the I-864 instructions that you sent me we qualify to have domicile in the US since I have voting records and bank statements and a permanent mailing address back home. I even have to go to jury duty when I arrive back in the states in June (a nice welcome home gift).

That is why I think we felt my wife could enter before me, because we already have a home to go to. Do I still need to enter with her, or be waiting for her at our new home?

Thank you for all your help with this.

Yes you have to enter before her or with her, you filed for CR1 for her.

You might be able to turn around and return back or you guys can wait until you are done with your contract and move togeather.

[pushbrk 12,994]

Thank you everyone for your help. We did not know my wife could not enter the US before me.

Do you know if I enter the US with my wife and then turn around and fly back will that adversely effect my wife?

Sorry about not updating our time line. I will do it soon.

You leaving the USA shortly after arriving with your wife will not adversely effect her immigration. Your other option is to delay her entry until you can arrive together and stay.

I'll confirm what others have said, in that you are required to enter before or with her. Many CR1 visa holders enter alone because their spouse already lives in the USA. At most, they may be asked about the residence or current whereabouts of the petitioner but the answer is that they are already in the USA. Because your case was filed directly with the Consulate, your wife will surely be asked where you are. If not with her or already in the USA, she'll be denied entry.

[Not me 1]

Thank you for all your help Canadian Wife. My permanent address is with my parents, and that is where we are moving to (temporarily, until we find a suitable apartment) doesn't that mean we have an established domicile? My father, who owns the house we are moving to, was the join sponsor for our I-864.

Looking over the I-864 instructions that you sent me we qualify to have domicile in the US since I have voting records and bank statements and a permanent mailing address back home. I even have to go to jury duty when I arrive back in the states in June (a nice welcome home gift).

That is why I think we felt my wife could enter before me, because we already have a home to go to. Do I still need to enter with her, or be waiting for her at our new home?

Thank you for all your help with this.

Domicile only mattered when you were trying to get the CR1 visa. Now that you have the visa it doesn't matter were you live or what you do for employment. Everyone has to follow the rules, and this one is important if you want to get through the POE. I don't know how long you have to stay in the US for your wife not to violate the conditions of her visa.

I know it seems inconvenient, but I don't think having your wife's visa revoked is worth finishing three months of your contact. Could your wife stay a little longer in China? I wish there was an easier way since I'll be in the same situation as you.