Question about eligibility to work

[Fullbien 11]

Hi everyone. Thanks to this site we have survived the visa process and my husband is now in the US on an IR-1 visa which was stamped when we entered. He received his SSN but we haven't received the green card. Do we have to wait for the green card for him to be able to work?

 

I read somewhere that technically he can work with just the visa & stamp in his passport but that, in practice, employers will want to see the green card itself. It has only been about a month since he entered the US and we paid the fee immigrant visa fee back in July. Also, is there a way to track if his green card has been sent? When I log into my account all it says is that they received our fee payment in July and that the card should arrive within 90 days, but I wasn't sure if there was another way to track it. 

[mam521 2,062]

Your husband can work.  His stamped I-551 in his passport is proof of legal status.  He has his SSN, there's nothing stopping him.  It's probably worth your time to go and look at the instructions for the I-9 form in case an employer's HR personnel are not familiar with the rules for new immigrants.  

 

You won't see much beyond what you see when you log into USCIS account for the greencard.  If you haven't received it after 90 days, submit an inquiry.  Once they do send it, you can track the mail using the USPS Mobile app and signing up for informed delivery.  

[Fullbien 11]

Thank you so much for the info mam!!!

[millefleur 5,046]

2 hours ago, Fullbien said:

When I log into my account all it says is that they received our fee payment in July and that the card should arrive within 90 days, but I wasn't sure if there was another way to track it. 

If it's been longer than 90 days, it's technically outside normal processing time. I would contact USCIS about this and see if you can file an e-Request under OS155A, which I believe is the correct code in this case:

https://egov.uscis.gov/e-request/displayONPTForm.do?entryPoint=init&sroPageType=onpt

[carmel34 3,625]

18 hours ago, Fullbien said:

It has only been about a month since he entered the US

You've only waited 30 days.  Normal processing time is 90 days.  Yes a new immigrant who enters with a spousal visa can work immediately.  Good luck!