Just got to the US with an IV that expires on Feb 2014

[SarAyouBliss 38]

I'm a holder of family-based visa (IR-1= 10 years green card), entered the US 15 days ago, but with this government shutdown, social security offices can't help me, neither online, meanwhile, i'm waiting for the delivery of my green card - maybe it is undeliverable due to the gov shutdown!

My visa says that it expires on Feb 2014, am i illegally staying in the US if i don't get my social security or green card after expiry date?

Which documentation that gives me a legal stay, the green card or the social security or both? Thank you so much for your information

[cathy2904 97]

The stamp in your passport acts as a temporary green card until your physical green card arrives in the mail.

[destiny64 222]

The stamp in your passport is good for one year.

[caly 48]

Welcome to the US! Don't worry, you are a Legal Permanent Resident now, even though you don't have your green card in hand yet. As everyone else has said, the stamp in your passport serves as a temporary green card that's good for one year.

Also just wanted to point out that your IR-1 visa was a one-time-use visa. You have used it and it no longer has any bearing on anything.

[SarAyouBliss 38]

The stamp in your passport acts as a temporary green card until your physical green card arrives in the mail.

That's good to know, I & my wife were concerned that i may have to back home before the expiry date, then i will need a new visa to re-enter the US, but we don't know if it's doable or not, we have no idea, thank you.

[SarAyouBliss 38]

The stamp in your passport is good for one year.

Hi there, glad to see you, thank you for the info, i'm relieved a bit now but the stamp is for one year, i wonder if i can renew that stamp in case the shutdown is extended till then, i mean a year from now. thank you

[sunshine79 7]

For the most part, the shutdown is not affecting USCIS since it is a fee based agency and self supporting. It takes around a month for the actual card to arrive.

Edited October 10, 2013 by sunshine79

[SarAyouBliss 38]

Welcome to the US! Don't worry, you are a Legal Permanent Resident now, even though you don't have your green card in hand yet. As everyone else has said, the stamp in your passport serves as a temporary green card that's good for one year.

Also just wanted to point out that your IR-1 visa was a one-time-use visa. You have used it and it no longer has any bearing on anything.

I see what you mean, it's good to know the stamps is good for 1 year, i hope the shutdown won't be extended till then, but then if i am without my GC + no SS, should i leave the US? do you know if it it will be easy to get another visa from my country to re-enter the US? thanks alot for the info

[caly 48]

I see what you mean, it's good to know the stamps is good for 1 year, i hope the shutdown won't be extended till then, but then if i am without my GC + no SS, should i leave the US? do you know if it it will be easy to get another visa from my country to re-enter the US? thanks alot for the info

Woah! Calm down... You won't need to leave the US.

As sunshine79 pointed out above, USCIS is one of the least affected agencies during the shutdown. They are still working and your greencard should arrive in the mail in about 3-6 weeks. If you don't receive it by then, I would call USCIS and ask about it.

Unfortunately the SSA isn't issuing new SSNs right now, but you WILL eventually get your greencard in the mail. Until then, the stamp in your passport will serve the same function as a physical greencard.

[Darnell 8,478]

Which documentation that gives me a legal stay, the green card or the social security or both? Thank you so much for your information

Your passport, visa stamp, and endorsement stamp . That gives you 1 year of presence.

The endorsement stamp turns the visa stamp into a temporary I-551 document, a 1 year green card.

Don't believe me? Pull out yer passport, read a bit.

--

Later, when your green card arrives, that'll be your documentation giving you a legal stay.

Now, it's just the stuff in your passport.

[SarAyouBliss 38]

Your passport, visa stamp, and endorsement stamp . That gives you 1 year of presence.

The endorsement stamp turns the visa stamp into a temporary I-551 document, a 1 year green card.

Don't believe me? Pull out yer passport, read a bit.

--

Later, when your green card arrives, that'll be your documentation giving you a legal stay.

Now, it's just the stuff in your passport.

Ok, sounds good ish! thank you again Darnell

[Darnell 8,478]

sure ! no problemo ! wei ! check yer visa nowish, read the bit containing the word 'endorsement' . ok-ish ?

[SarAyouBliss 38]

sure ! no problemo ! wei ! check yer visa nowish, read the bit containing the word 'endorsement' . ok-ish ?

Im attaching a picture of my visa stamp, it doesnt look like it has the term "endorsement"

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[Darnell 8,478]

i not write of 'visa stamp', for this reading exercise Well, I did use 'visa stamp' in a sentence, but you'll note that this is the thing GLUED into the passport, takes an entire page. You've shown a pic of the endorsement stamp, fwiw, given at entry at the POE.

Please read the visa. when you see the word 'endorsement' or 'endorses' - yer in the right place.

Edited October 11, 2013 by Darnell

[caly 48]

Hint: what Darnell wants you to look for says something like "upon endorsement serves as a temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year"