UK VJ's Progress Update Thread #2

[kevecca 2]

I had a successful POE on Feb 26 and am now finally settling in a bit! Just impatiently waiting on my SSN and green card !

[Kat&Jon 85]

Jon had a successful POE on Feb 28th! We had a whirlwind first few days of errands and now it's just time for him to adjust.

 

We got a letter from the SSA yesterday that he should have his SSN in 2 weeks! One thing down!

[Goldfinch2912 3]

On 3/6/2017 at 5:48 PM, kevecca said:

I had a successful POE on Feb 26 and am now finally settling in a bit! Just impatiently waiting on my SSN and green card !

 

1 hour ago, Kat&Jon said:

Jon had a successful POE on Feb 28th! We had a whirlwind first few days of errands and now it's just time for him to adjust.

 

We got a letter from the SSA yesterday that he should have his SSN in 2 weeks! One thing down!

Happy to hear of your successful POEs!

 

Almost been here 2 months now, can't believe how time has flown since I arrived! Got most things checked off the list now :).

Kat&Jon, I can imagine it's still probably warmer in Florida than here in Georgia, but Spring has definitely sprung here and the warmer days are coming in! I've already experienced 3 or 4 "British Summer Days" since being here haha .

[bcking 3,157]

Question for the CR-1's that are now in the US (I realize this isn't specific to UK folks),

 

How soon after you arrive can you actually start applying for jobs? Does she have to wait for her green card in the mail which sounds like takes 1 month+ to arrive? Would potential employers consider her application before then? It would be for highly specialized jobs (Petroleum Geoscience). She's been waiting so long already (since she had to leave her current job back in June), she is eager to start applying and already has some potentials that she is just waiting until April to submit her CV.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

22 hours ago, bcking said:

Question for the CR-1's that are now in the US (I realize this isn't specific to UK folks),

 

How soon after you arrive can you actually start applying for jobs? Does she have to wait for her green card in the mail which sounds like takes 1 month+ to arrive? Would potential employers consider her application before then? It would be for highly specialized jobs (Petroleum Geoscience). She's been waiting so long already (since she had to leave her current job back in June), she is eager to start applying and already has some potentials that she is just waiting until April to submit her CV.

The minute she processes through POE, she is a permanent resident eligible to work, driver's license, etc.. Her visa is stamped/annotated at entry and that serves as her proof  until the physical green card arrives in the mail.  The only problem she might incur is an employer who may not understand the whole immigration thing and expects to see a "card".  

 

Use that same entry annotation at the SSA office to apply in person for her SSN. Waiting for one to show up in the mail automatically may or may not happen. Other items are needed at SSA so look that up.

[AmandaBN 32]

Harry's POE on 2/23 in Seattle went smoothly and we were married at the Portland courthouse yesterday! The big family wedding is next month but it feels so good to have taken another huge step in the immigration journey. Now we file AOS and another round of forms, fees and waiting commences. Thank goodness for all of you to keep me sane(ish)  

[JFH 12,190]

On 3/9/2017 at 8:22 AM, bcking said:

Question for the CR-1's that are now in the US (I realize this isn't specific to UK folks),

 

How soon after you arrive can you actually start applying for jobs? Does she have to wait for her green card in the mail which sounds like takes 1 month+ to arrive? Would potential employers consider her application before then? It would be for highly specialized jobs (Petroleum Geoscience). She's been waiting so long already (since she had to leave her current job back in June), she is eager to start applying and already has some potentials that she is just waiting until April to submit her CV.

I applied for and was selected for my job before I left the U.K. I started work 2 weeks after I arrived. I would have started sooner but I arrived on December 19 and my new line manager had leave over Christmas and new year so I had two weeks off. I had no problems with my employer recognizing my endorsed IR-1. I had no SSN when I started work but they just put my salary payments on hold until I got it. My company is used to hiring people with immigrant visas due to the foreign language requirements and general nature of the job. People who work for airlines travel a lot and we have a high proportion of international marriages among employees as a result.

[bcking 3,157]

4 minutes ago, JFH said:

I applied for and was selected for my job before I left the U.K. I started work 2 weeks after I arrived. I would have started sooner but I arrived on December 19 and my new line manager had leave over Christmas and new year so I had two weeks off. I had no problems with my employer recognizing my endorsed IR-1. I had no SSN when I started work but they just put my salary payments on hold until I got it. My company is used to hiring people with immigrant visas due to the foreign language requirements and general nature of the job. People who work for airlines travel a lot and we have a high proportion of international marriages among employees as a result.

Good to know. She hasn't even tried to apply for anything assuming they wouldn't consider her without her visa. Oil and Gas also though has a lot of international people so maybe it's worth trying.