Green Card, SSN after entry into the US

[kclloyd 0]

My husband just arrived from Ireland via the Chicago O'Hare airport. Exhausted, he's having a hard time remembering what, if anything, the Immigration officer told him at his Port of Entry.

They took his sealed brown envelope, stamped his passport and wrote an A- number. The envelope and its contents were not returned to him.

So, I'm wondering a few things:

1. Should we expect a Welcome Letter in the mail? I've heard some people get these in the mail after entering the US.

2. Should we expect a Green Card in the mail? If so, what's the usual wait time? (I assume this is his official Alien Registration Card/Conditional Residence card.)

3. Once he gets this Green Card (assuming he gets it), he can then go apply for his SSN?

He entered on a CR1 visa that was good for six months. He was told in London that this meant he had six months from the visa's date of issue to enter into the US, otherwise we'd have to start the whole process over. He is my spouse, not fiance. I'm American.

Any info is greatly appreciated! (Sorry I don't have the whole list of steps and dates at the end of this post that most members have. I have not figured out how to do that in a simple way.)

[Saylin 1,605]

My husband just arrived from Ireland via the Chicago O'Hare airport. Exhausted, he's having a hard time remembering what, if anything, the Immigration officer told him at his Port of Entry.

They took his sealed brown envelope, stamped his passport and wrote an A- number. The envelope and its contents were not returned to him.

So, I'm wondering a few things:

1. Should we expect a Welcome Letter in the mail? I've heard some people get these in the mail after entering the US.

2. Should we expect a Green Card in the mail? If so, what's the usual wait time? (I assume this is his official Alien Registration Card/Conditional Residence card.)

3. Once he gets this Green Card (assuming he gets it), he can then go apply for his SSN?

He entered on a CR1 visa that was good for six months. He was told in London that this meant he had six months from the visa's date of issue to enter into the US, otherwise we'd have to start the whole process over. He is my spouse, not fiance. I'm American.

Any info is greatly appreciated! (Sorry I don't have the whole list of steps and dates at the end of this post that most members have. I have not figured out how to do that in a simple way.)

Hi,

1. Yes, you should be getting a welcome letter in the mail within a few weeks.

2. Yes again, the green card will arrive a few weeks after the welcome letter. And yes, it will be the conditional permanent resident card (if you've been married for less than two years)

3. If you checked off 'yes' on the DS-230 to get a SSN, then it MAY arrive in the mail. If it doesn't, wait 3 weeks from POE, then go apply at a local SSA office. He doesn't need the green card to apply for the SSN. He just needs his passport as that acts as a temporary green card until your actual, plastic green card arrives. When I had to go apply at a local office (since 3 weeks had passed from POE and I hadn't gotten it in the mail), I actually had my green card at the time, but I just used my passport instead.

And if you want to put your steps and dates, then follow these steps: scroll up to the top right. Next to your picture, there's a link that says 'Settings', click that. Then click on the profile tab and then click on 'Change Signature'. Then add whatever you want in the textbox

[misterbigtoe 45]

1. Should we expect a Welcome Letter in the mail? I've heard some people get these in the mail after entering the US.

2. Should we expect a Green Card in the mail? If so, what's the usual wait time? (I assume this is his official Alien Registration Card/Conditional Residence card.)

3. Once he gets this Green Card (assuming he gets it), he can then go apply for his SSN?

Specific to O'hare as recently as June 2011

1. O'hare is slow in processing POE information. If it is as slow as our case, you may expect to receive your welcome letter after 7 to 8 weeks and the green card to follow within a week or two

2. if no SS card in the mail within two weeks which it probably will not,, go to your local SSA office and check on the status. You will probably need to apply directly at your local SSA office for your card.

3. The temp I-551 stamp in the passport serves as ya temporary green card so there is no need to wait until the actual card arrives.

MBT