September 2014 Interviews

[stackeria 280]

I actually already checked there. I was speaking more generally when I asked above.

Gotcha. Sorry, I was trying to be helpful with hose links!

As BOS_LHR mentioned, the I-551 stamp in a passport is in theory equivalent to the I-551 / Green Card... But my guess is that many people who work at the DMV might not be aware of this. I would come prepared with USCIS/DOS documentation that states the stamp is equivalent... just in case.

But as I said, you will definitely need a SSN to get a DL and there seems to be lots of problems getting one of those promptly following POE these days.

Edited August 22, 2014 by stackeria

[r060106 109]

Gotcha. Sorry, I was trying to be helpful with hose links!

As BOS_LHR mentioned, the I-551 stamp in a passport is in theory equivalent to the I-551 / Green Card... But my guess is that many people who work at the DMV might not be aware of this. I would come prepared with USCIS/DOS documentation that states the stamp is equivalent... just in case.

But as I said, you will definitely need a SSN to get a DL and there seems to be lots of problems getting one of those promptly following POE these days.

No worries! Thanks for the help.

I will definitely be there with USCIS documentation. Employers are required to consider the I-551 stamp, I would assume...?

I think the Wisconsin DMV website said an SSN is only required "if you have one". Maybe I read wrong.

[MoBar65 520]

Quick question: since it seems like it's been taking a whilte to get the Green Card in the mail, if my wife would want to get her driver's license how would she show permanent residence status? Will the I-551 stamp suffice? I can't seem to find information on this. Thanks

It depends on the state. Check your state's DMV website for requirements and contact them if you're not sure. In theory the visa stamp is proof of legal permanent residency status but the people at your DMV office will probably not know that. I believe a lot of states now require a SSN card so you may need to wait for one of those to be mailed anyway. Again, check your state's DMV site for DL application requirements.

I second that. Moreover, some local DMV offices might not know the state rules properly regarding new immigrants.

How does the I-551 stamp work? They automaticaly give it to her upon entry? Is there another stamp or something else in the passport? Is an I-94 involved, or is that only for non-permanent residents? I was trying to look for a VJ guide on this topic (specifically entering at a POE) but couldn't find one. Any links you could provide?

The temporary I-551 is the IV foil itself once it is validated with a POE stamp on the opposite page within your passport. Here is an example posted by Changnoi two months ago:

[stackeria 280]

I think the Wisconsin DMV website said an SSN is only required "if you have one". Maybe I read wrong.

I doubt that. I think you need to show your SSN and prove it is yours, OR convince them you are not eligible for a SSN in a way that still allows you to get a DL.

A permanent resident is eligible for a SSN so I suspect you will need one and be able to prove it is yours at the time you apply for a DL.

See: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/drivers/apply/doc/proof-ssn.htm

[MoBar65 520]

I doubt that. I think you need to show your SSN and prove it is yours, OR convince them you are not eligible for a SSN in a way that still allows you to get a DL.

A permanent resident is eligible for a SSN so I suspect you will need one and be able to prove it is yours at the time you apply for a DL.

See: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/drivers/apply/doc/proof-ssn.htm

It's crazy how it varies from State to State. Colorado started issuing DLs to illegal immigrants this month if they can prove residency in the State!!!! But then they made Marijuana legal last year. The State Hall must've been hazy when they approved those DLs.

[USCIS2013 22]

Case Completed on 18th August.. Still no email reg CC. Should i call or wait?

CC email will take 1 week ,so you can expect on monday or tuesday...

[Sukie 1,454]

I second that. Moreover, some local DMV offices might not know the state rules properly regarding new immigrants.

The temporary I-551 is the IV foil itself once it is validated with a POE stamp on the opposite page within your passport. Here is an example posted by Changnoi two months ago:

MoBar is right. The visa sticker or visa page (the IV foil) by itself is NOT valid. You must have the visa page (foil) AND the handstamp that you get in your passport at the POE to have a "valid" I-551. I was petrified that the CBP officer would lackadaisically stamp the passport and the stamp might be illegible. But he did a good "clean" job of stamping!

Sometimes the officer makes the stamp "touch" the foil and sometimes it's just on the page next to the visa page.

Sukie in NY

[r060106 109]

I second that. Moreover, some local DMV offices might not know the state rules properly regarding new immigrants.

The temporary I-551 is the IV foil itself once it is validated with a POE stamp on the opposite page within your passport. Here is an example posted by Changnoi two months ago:

So it's just a regular DOS entry stamp that details IR/CR-1 on it?

I doubt that. I think you need to show your SSN and prove it is yours, OR convince them you are not eligible for a SSN in a way that still allows you to get a DL.

A permanent resident is eligible for a SSN so I suspect you will need one and be able to prove it is yours at the time you apply for a DL.

See: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/drivers/apply/doc/proof-ssn.htm

Awesome. She has an ITIN, but I doubt that will be sufficient in any way.

MoBar is right. The visa sticker or visa page (the IV foil) by itself is NOT valid. You must have the visa page (foil) AND the handstamp that you get in your passport at the POE to have a "valid" I-551. I was petrified that the CBP officer would lackadaisically stamp the passport and the stamp might be illegible. But he did a good "clean" job of stamping!

Sometimes the officer makes the stamp "touch" the foil and sometimes it's just on the page next to the visa page.

Sukie in NY

So the stamp needs to be touching the foil? Or just near it and legibile?

[K&T19 1]

Hi, hoping someone on here can answer my question. My husband's file has been sent from NVC to the consulate in Sydney. Do we now need to complete and submit the DS-230 Part I and II and DS-2001 (?) immediately or do we wait to hear from the consulate? Additionally, would you advise we book the medical appointment now or wait until we receive the letter from the consulate. Any information, advice, or suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks!!

[Chia&sean 17]

FINALLY!! I got the magic "ISSUED" today!! It took 29 days since interview approved!!

And 8/21 is my original interview date, I think they make some mistake so I can't get issued until original interview date. ANYWAY! I'm so happy!!! Good luck to all.

Honey I'm fly home~~~~~~~~~

Congratsss!!!!!!!!! So happy for you!!!

[stackeria 280]

So it's just a regular DOS entry stamp that details IR/CR-1 on it?

Awesome. She has an ITIN, but I doubt that will be sufficient in any way.

So the stamp needs to be touching the foil? Or just near it and legibile?

The ITIN is only for dealing with the IRS. You will not get a DL with an ITIN in place of a SSN.

ITINs are now ridiculously difficult to obtain and expire after five years. It's a complete pain in the rear for the spouse of a USC. But that rant is for another thread...

If you look at the picture MoBar65 sent a link to earlier, the stamp is a regular DOS entry stamp mentioning "IR-1" and is next to the IR-1 foil IV in the passport. Presumably, those two things together are equivalent to a green card but good luck explaining that to someone at your local DMV office...

[Cupcake23 90]

The ITIN is only for dealing with the IRS. You will not get a DL with an ITIN in place of a SSN.

ITINs are now ridiculously difficult to obtain and expire after five years. It's a complete pain in the rear for the spouse of a USC. But that rant is for another thread...

If you look at the picture MoBar65 sent a link to earlier, the stamp is a regular DOS entry stamp mentioning "IR-1" and is next to the IR-1 foil IV in the passport. Presumably, those two things together are equivalent to a green card but good luck explaining that to someone at your local DMV office...

I didn't find that getting an ITIN was difficult at all. It just took a long time. Like 3 months. The fact that filing has taken 1 year, it was worth it to collect the extra money on my tax return. Especially because I'm the only one working.

[Steve & Zhi 8]

It is likely that the case file is still in transit from the National Visa Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In general, the transmission of an approved petition from NVC to the Consulate can take four months or longer. Please contact NVC via email at NVCInquiry@state.gov to see if your case is under review. Other ways to contact NVC can be found http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3177.html.

This is what I got from guz embassy. I emailed them today asking about the case, and they replied and that was really quick response.

I think that information is on the consulate web site already also. I read that some time ago. I also think the 4 months or more is old information for snail mail filers not EP filers. Have you looked at the country specific forms for china? I have a few posts there asking about the EP time frame in china. The last time i updated my post there, the ancient ones on this site, told me maybe september interview or early october.

It's really nice to have another petitioner for china with a CC date so close to ours. Within 4 days is pretty close and i hope to learn from you as we go thru this.

[stackeria 280]

I didn't find that getting an ITIN was difficult at all. It just took a long time. Like 3 months. The fact that filing has taken 1 year, it was worth it to collect the extra money on my tax return. Especially because I'm the only one working.

Maybe my experience was unusual. When did you get your ITIN?

They changed the rules recently (late 2013?) and now they require that you mail in the applicant's passport or a "certified copy" (i.e. "notarized" is no longer good enough) of the passport along with your tax return and W-7 ITIN application. There is NO WAY we would mail my wife's passport to the IRS. It's really unclear to me what a "certified copy" of a UK passport might be, especially since "certified" has a different meaning in the UK than in the US. I can't really chance my tax return not getting processed in time because, after sitting on her W7 for 1-2 months, they decide they're not satisfied with the level of certification of her passport copy.

I called the IRS office in London to ask them... They rarely bother to answer the phone so that was an exercise in patience. They didn't say anything about certified documents. They said it's easier if my wife just drops off our return and her W7 at the IRS office at the London embassy.

So while I was visiting London in March we went to the IRS office in London with our 2013 tax return, W7, and my wife's UK passport. I don't even know how she could have gone in without me because that's on the USC services side of the embassy. They said it would take 2 months to process the ITIN application and that the ITIN notification would be mailed to her UK address. I had to call them last month because she still had not received the notification. Apparently it was finally delivered this morning.

If you're not resident in the US, you would then have to go through this dance every 5 years? I cannot wait for my wife to get a SSN for life!

[Jenny_USCIS 27]

I think that information is on the consulate web site already also. I read that some time ago. I also think the 4 months or more is old information for snail mail filers not EP filers. Have you looked at the country specific forms for china? I have a few posts there asking about the EP time frame in china. The last time i updated my post there, the ancient ones on this site, told me maybe september interview or early october.

It's really nice to have another petitioner for china with a CC date so close to ours. Within 4 days is pretty close and i hope to learn from you as we go thru this.

I know right? I was like 4 months u gotta be kidding me.... Wait 10 months for cc and another 4 months for scheduling and maybe another couple months for actual interview. That's lame.

I thought the end of September and beginning October might be reasonable time. But the embassy did look up for my case, they didn't find anything so I'm assuming NVC haven't contacted them regarding our CC.... Coz if NVC has done it, the embassy should have my case at least regardless of scheduling. Who knows.

Let's hope for the best.