Starting work on arrival

[CarolineEddie 6]

Hi there,

 

My CR1 visa was approved in April but as I’m a teacher I wanted to wait until the end of the school year to fly to NYC so planning to fly on the 24th of July.

 

It seems as though I may have secured a job to start at the end of August, but interviewed assuming that my Greencard would arrive soon after arrival. Can anyone tell me how long it takes to arrive? Is it true that I will not be able to start work until I receive it?

 

Is there anything that I need to have with me aside from my passport with visa page? I know previously you needed to take an envelope with medical details but I think that has moved online now?

 

Thank you,

Caroline

[Crazy Cat 41,894]

You will become a legal resident the minute you enter the US via your CR-1 visa.  Upon arrival, CBP will stamp (endorse) the visa, which then becomes your temporary Green card until the plastic one arrives.  Upon arrival, you will be immediately authorized to work in the US.   You will, likely,  need a Social Security card/number in order for employers to pay you.

[CarolineEddie 6]

5 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

You will become a legal resident the minute you enter the US via your CR-1 visa.  Upon arrival, CBP will stamp (endorse) the visa, which then becomes your temporary Green card until the plastic one arrives.  Upon arrival, you will be immediately authorized to work in the US.   You will, likely,  need a Social Security card/number in order for employers to pay you.

Thanks so much @Lucky Cat That’s a relief! Does anyone have a timeline on how long the Social Security number takes to arrive?

[Crazy Cat 41,894]

Just now, CarolineEddie said:

Thanks so much @Lucky Cat That’s a relief! Does anyone have a timeline on how long the Social Security number takes to arrive?

If you marked the box on the DS-260, it should arrive automatically.  In mid 2017, my wife's SS Card arrived 11 days after she entered the country.  These days, I hear it can be a few weeks to a few months.  

[SIRE 71]

16 hours ago, CarolineEddie said:

Thanks so much @Lucky Cat That’s a relief! Does anyone have a timeline on how long the Social Security number takes to arrive?

Hi Caroline,

 

We are in a similar situation, moved to US about 3 weeks ago and still waiting on both to arrive.

 

Created a thread to keep a track and help each other out. 

 

 

[CarolineEddie 6]

18 minutes ago, SIRE said:

Hi Caroline,

 

We are in a similar situation, moved to US about 3 weeks ago and still waiting on both to arrive.

 

Created a thread to keep a track and help each other out. 

 

 

Thank you! Do you mind me asking about what happens at preclearance? Did you have any other documents with you other than your passport/visa?

[payxibka 10,045]

11 minutes ago, CarolineEddie said:

Thank you! Do you mind me asking about what happens at preclearance? Did you have any other documents with you other than your passport/visa?

No difference between Pre clearance and clearance upon arrival other than it is done before you get on the plane 

[SIRE 71]

26 minutes ago, CarolineEddie said:

Thank you! Do you mind me asking about what happens at preclearance? Did you have any other documents with you other than your passport/visa?

As mentioned above, no difference really.

 

I traveled from Ireland and we do have US preclearance here but my POE happened at New York since we flew to London first. 

[P0907 127]

17 hours ago, CarolineEddie said:

Does anyone have a timeline on how long the Social Security number takes to arrive?

Just to give you a more recent account. My SSN arrived on Monday, 11 days after I arrived in the US. I ticked the box on the DS-260

[CarolineEddie 6]

4 minutes ago, SIRE said:

As mentioned above, no difference really.

 

I traveled from Ireland and we do have US preclearance here but my POE happened at New York since we flew to London first. 

Thank you! I was more so just wondering if questioning & information that you need to present is very different from your usual visits ? The embassy didn’t send me a sealed envelope to hand over so I wanted to make sure that wasn’t a problem. 

[SIRE 71]

9 minutes ago, CarolineEddie said:

Thank you! I was more so just wondering if questioning & information that you need to present is very different from your usual visits ? The embassy didn’t send me a sealed envelope to hand over so I wanted to make sure that wasn’t a problem. 

They don't give you sealed packet anymore for CR1, its all electronic now so all good there.

 

[P0907 127]

11 minutes ago, CarolineEddie said:

The embassy didn’t send me a sealed envelope to hand over so I wanted to make sure that wasn’t a problem. 

Your visa will have the line "IV docs in CCD" - That's the "sealed envelope" now. All digital.

Edited July 2, 2021 by P0907

[CarolineEddie 6]

3 minutes ago, P0907 said:

Your visa will have the line "IV docs in CCD" - That's the "sealed envelope" now. All digital.

 

4 minutes ago, SIRE said:

They don't give you sealed packet anymore for CR1, its all electronic now so all good there.

 

Thank you both! That’s really helpful. Just starting to get nervous that anything should go wrong now that I’m finally getting over to my husband but that’s a relief that it’s just my visa page they need.

[SIRE 71]

8 minutes ago, CarolineEddie said:

 

Thank you both! That’s really helpful. Just starting to get nervous that anything should go wrong now that I’m finally getting over to my husband but that’s a relief that it’s just my visa page they need.

Yup, its quite straight forward. I still had my documents with me such as marriage certificate and birth certificate etc to be on a safe side, they didn't ask for any though. 

[HRQX 4,145]

18 hours ago, CarolineEddie said:

of the school year

The period before getting SSN may result in the obstacle of not being able to go through background check process (for employment with school) until after getting the SSN. Also expect a delay in receiving the paycheck:

 

 

You can work legally without SSN. If the employer uses E-verify, then they should select "Awaiting Social Security number." https://www.e-verify.gov/faq/my-employee-applied-for-a-social-security-number-ssn-but-has-not-yet-received-it-what-should-i

If a newly hired employee has applied for, but has not yet received his or her SSN (e.g., the employee is a newly arrived immigrant), attach an explanation to the employee’s Form I-9 and set it aside. Then create a case in E-Verify using the employee’s SSN as soon as it is available. If you are unable to create a case by the third business day after the employee’s first day of employment, select Awaiting Social Security number when prompted by E-Verify.

 

https://www.twc.texas.gov/news/efte/employees_without_ssns.html

It is certainly legal to hire someone who is authorized to work in this country, but who does not have a social security number or who chooses not to disclose it.

Edited July 2, 2021 by HRQX