Entry at JFK airport

[new2010 2]

Hi,

My father is coming to New York in a few days. He will enter at JFK airport. He does not speak or write any English.

Does anyone can tell us whether he has to fill out a CBP form on the plane and give it to US customs later on? Does it need to be written in English?

Another question is after he arrives, do we have to take him to a social security office to apply for his social security number? Or it will be mailed to us automatically? Green card will be mailed to us automatically, is that correct?

Thank you.

[RodDetroit 118]

Hi,

My father is coming to New York in a few days. He will enter at JFK airport. He does not speak or write any English.

Does anyone can tell us whether he has to fill out a CBP form on the plane and give it to US customs later on? Does it need to be written in English?

Another question is after he arrives, do we have to take him to a social security office to apply for his social security number? Or it will be mailed to us automatically? Green card will be mailed to us automatically, is that correct?

Thank you.

i suggest to ask him to carry a note or letter in English explaining his situation and then he can hand it over to the CBP agent , most international airports have translators. He will have to fill out a form on the plane if he is flying from china the form should be in English and Chinese but he will have to use the English alphabet letters

[Kastrs 723]

I have only ever seen the forms in English, but perhaps he can have a flight attendant or fellow passenger help him on the plane

Yes go apply for the SS card a couple weeks after he arrives and the GC will arrive automatically eventually assuming you paid the USCIS ELIS fee

[new2010 2]

I have only ever seen the forms in English, but perhaps he can have a flight attendant or fellow passenger help him on the plane

Yes go apply for the SS card a couple weeks after he arrives and the GC will arrive automatically eventually assuming you paid the USCIS ELIS fee

Thanks for the information.

Can we go to SS center the next day after his arrival? Will he be okay to apply that soon?

I'm sorry what is USCIS ELIS fee? I thought we have paid all fees through the application. Is there an additional fee that needs to be paid? I was doing some research and saw this link. Is it to pay the fee through this link? Is it a little late for me to pay it now since he is coming on Oct 7th?

https://www.uscis.gov/file-online/uscis-immigrant-fee#How%20to%20Pay%20the%20Fee

[new2010 2]

The fee does not need to be paid before he arrives, but the printing ptocess of the card will not start until after it has been paid. You can pay on his behalf but you will need his file number from the NVC process and his alien number both of which are on the visa in his passport

The link you have is correct.

I would like to pay for it before his arrival if possible.

I have his file# from NVC process. But I don't find A# from his visa. I have a picture of his visa but I did not see any A# printed... Can I call NVC to find out his A#?

[Kastrs 723]

Thanks for the information.

Can we go to SS center the next day after his arrival? Will he be okay to apply that soon?

I'm sorry what is USCIS ELIS fee? I thought we have paid all fees through the application. Is there an additional fee that needs to be paid? I was doing some research and saw this link. Is it to pay the fee through this link? Is it a little late for me to pay it now since he is coming on Oct 7th?

https://www.uscis.gov/file-online/uscis-immigrant-fee#How%20to%20Pay%20the%20Fee

You can try for the SS card next day, but I would give it a week just to ensure he is loaded into the system

[new2010 2]

It is the registration number on the visa. You may need to add a zero at the front of the 8 numbers as it needs a nine digit number ... so if his registration number is 12345678 you will need to use 012345678

When you pay online the system will generate a receipt number IOEXxxxxxxx

Note this down as you can track the progress from fee received, card being printed etc on the USCIS Cas status website..... but patience is needed again as it may take 4 months to be received.

Thanks for that information. I saw the registration# on the visa! Will arrange the payment and write it down the IOEX number.

You can try for the SS card next day, but I would give it a week just to ensure he is loaded into the system

That's good advice. I think we will wait for a week before we go.

Thank you!!

[new2010 2]

Update, I just paid it on line!

Thanks for everyone's help!

[KierenHby 899]

If it's a direct CHN => JFK flight, have him make friends with someone who speaks his language and could help with CBP form.

[Adil & Jeanne 296]

there is always someone on the plane to helpu check him fill out the form / i helped an older couple

JFK has people who speak his language so he will be ok

also, there was a place on the visa application form to check if you wanted USCIS to apply for SS card for him. DId you check it?

[Pishi_Pishi 63]

I found a sample copy online, filled it out for my fiancé and send him picture for him to mirror. He spoke basic English, but I didn't want him to make a mistake. All he needed was to copy what I sent him on the plane.

[alexpop13 173]

My mom came to visit me 5 weeks ago and what I did was fill in the Customs declaration online for my mom, printed it and had my mom sign it and I wrote a letter for the CBP officer stating how long she'll be in the States (she had the itinerary with her ready to show the officer but was not the case), where is she going to stay, the reason for her visit and also that she packed her baggage herself and that she does have any food in her baggage. I also wrote my own and wife's number in case they need more information and that we will be waiting for her in the arrivals hall. She had absolutely no problem. Her POE was Detroit - DTW.

Edited October 5, 2016 by alexpop13

[Sukie 1,465]

Yes, you will need to wait at least a week before heading to your local Social Security office. When your father is in secondary, the officer will be entering data into the system. That data will need to be sent from the immigration system to the Social Security system. I don't know if there is a daily batch program that sweeps all the new immigration info into the SSN system, or if it's done weekly or on-line real time.

But you need to give it time to post in the SS system before you go in. Otherwise, you might be wasting a trip.

Best of luck to your Dad. I think having a letter from you for him to carry is a good idea. If you are meeting him, give your cell phone number so that an officer can call you if your Dad needs help. JFK is pretty used to immigrants from all over!

Sukie in NY

[new2010 2]

there is always someone on the plane to helpu check him fill out the form / i helped an older couple

JFK has people who speak his language so he will be ok

also, there was a place on the visa application form to check if you wanted USCIS to apply for SS card for him. DId you check it?

Yes, on DS-260 the last few questions are for social security card. We did check we wanted USCIS to apply for SS card and gave authorization as well. So if this is the case, does it mean I don't have to take him to the SS office to apply in person?

[new2010 2]

Thank you all for the advice on the form.

I went online yesterday downloading CBP form and filled it out. I sent it to him via email so he printed it. I asked him to copy exactly what I typed on the real form which will be given to him by the flight attendant on the plane.

It's a good idea to type him a letter giving some information about me and my dad so he can present it to the officer at JFK. I will prepare the letter and send to him shortly.

He is leaving Shanghai China today at PM local time (Friday)