Process at POE - IR1 first time arrival

[UnaMexicana 153]

Hi All,

So I finally made it to the US.

I entered last Wednesday through Santa Ana, CA. (John Wayne Airport).

The officer waved me to come to this booth. I told him this was my first time entering as IR1.

He asked for the paperwork envelope. He did not open it. He typed something on the computer and wrote on the envelope cover sheet:

Res - Docs OK

He then asked me if I had anything related to the medical still with me - I said no. So he wrote:

Ds XXXX - OK

Then he wrote something like IR1 XXXX

and put a Stamp on the cover sheet

He proceeded to tell me that I was supposed to apply for an SSN. I told him I had applied for one in the DS260 and he advised to still go get one if I did not have it in 3 weeks.

He said if I should get the green card in six months, and if I did not have the green card in 11 months, they would send that package (myvisa docs) to the USCIS.

He NEVER opened the visa package. He never sent me to secondary. He did not ask any questions whatsoever other than what I am telling you above.

He got my four right hand fingerprints electronically.. he got my picture...

he stamped my passport WITH THE CURRENT DATE (APR 27 2016) and wrote IR1 along with my A number.

Was this correct? Was the date on the stamp not supposed to say 2017 if it serves as i551 for 1 year?

Please let me know if you think this was all OK...

After all the stories I have seen about the POE, I just could not believe it was so easy to come in for the first time.

I am also concerned because I want to travel back to Mexico for a week in July and I dont want to have issues in case I still dont have a greencard, only this endorsement.

Thanks so much!

[UnaMexicana 153]

Answered my own question..

https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/temporary-i-551-stamps-and-mrivs

Google is our friend.

UnaMexicana

[mallafri76 1,012]

Your visa stamp is valid one year from the date CBP stamps it.

And your process is pretty common for us on the IR-1, I wasn't asked a single question either. Personally, I think they should take it a little more seriously and ask at least a few questions but it's still better than being harassed.

Welcome to America.

[NikLR 13,227]

~~moved to moving here and your new life from IR1/CR1 process and procedures~~

[TBoneTX 45,308]

Your experience is FAR better than being harassed. Welcome!

[UnaMexicana 153]

Your visa stamp is valid one year from the date CBP stamps it.

And your process is pretty common for us on the IR-1, I wasn't asked a single question either. Personally, I think they should take it a little more seriously and ask at least a few questions but it's still better than being harassed.

Welcome to America.

Thank you! It was a LONG while but now that we sleep next to each other every night, it was all worth it.

Your experience is FAR better than being harassed. Welcome!

Agreed, haha... Thank you!

[ShadowCat170 0]

Our experience was somewhat similar except the immigration officer seemed like he was in a bad mood.

I (U.S. citizen) and my husband (Brazilian citizen) entered at JFK and I explained it was my husband's first entry on an IR-1 visa.

The officer asked, "Where'd ya marry him?" - I said "In Brazil." Officer opened the envelope, flipped briefly through the documents but didn't look at anything in-depth nor ask us any more questions. Then he sort of slammed the packet on the counter with a sigh. Stamped my husband's passport and took fingerprints/photo, then waved us through.

I even asked, "Is there anything else we need to do?" b/c I thought the officer would ask to confirm our address for sending the green card, but he said "No."

So I suppose it was easy, but the officer's attitude made me a little nervous and I sure hope my husband was entered into the system properly. Still waiting for the green card.

By the way, we also applied for an SSN with the visa, but 6 weeks later it hasn't arrived, so my husband has to apply at the social security office. Apparently that's pretty normal. If your SS card hasn't arrived within 3 weeks, just go to the local social security office w/your passport.