When does the actual Green Card come?

[Wouter 144]

Hello,

My wife immigrated on her CR-1 visa on Nov 13th, 2021.

I know her stamped visa is proof of her permanent resident status (for one year) and allows her to work.
She also already received her Social Security card (I have to compliment SS on that).

We expected the actual Green Card to come within a few weeks but it has been more than a month and still no card.

I understand that with the stamped visa there is no real urgency to get the card (although we already ran into a few instances where not having the actual card caused confusion and problems).

It would just be nice to finally have the card in hand and be done with all this for at least the next one-and-a-half years. How difficult is it for USCIS to just produce the card and send it in a timely manner, they have all the information and there shouldn't be any further 'processing' or 'decision to be made', right?

I am hoping some VJ'ers have recent experience in receiving their GC so we can have some expectations (and my wife can stop watching the mailbox every day 🙂 )

Thanks,

 

Wouter

 

 

[Redro 4,613]

There is another thread going and @Loren Y has reported 8-12 months. 

 

[Crazy Cat 43,091]

  On 12/27/2021 at 3:49 PM, Wouter said:

How difficult is it for USCIS to just produce the card and send it in a timely manner, they have all the information and there shouldn't be any further 'processing' or 'decision to be made', right?

Expand  

If your card was the only one in the queue, you would be correct.  However, they have to produce thousands and thousands of cards.  The stamped passport has ALL the benefits of a plastic card. 

Edited December 27, 2021 by Crazy Cat

[Daphne . 2,002]

Mine took 120 days to arrive, this was pre-covid.

[powerpuff 6,749]

~ Moved from IR1/CR1 Process to General Immigration Discussion where GC delivery topics are discussed ~
 

A thread to see what other’s timelines regarding GC arrival are: 

 

[Wouter 144]

  On 12/27/2021 at 4:34 PM, Crazy Cat said:

If your card was the only one in the queue, you would be correct.  However, they have to produce thousands and thousands of cards.  The stamped passport has ALL the benefits of a plastic card. 

Expand  

Yes, but thousands of cards shouldn't be that hard if you have a proper production line (think of how Visa and MasterCard and even the DMV produce millions of cards each year). It's not like they are made by elves in a workshop by hand...or...perhaps.... 

 

(And by the way, unfortunately, the stamped passport does not confer ALL the benefits. For example, when trying to sing up for a phone plan at AT&T they ask for your immigration status and when you say Permanent Resident they want to take a picture of the front and back of your GC. When you show the stamped passport they just look at you with a puzzled look and say the AT&T software requires a picture of the card and that they simply can't process a passport page with a stamp. Similarly, at the bank they also wanted to see the card. Coming up with a Russian passport to prove your American legal status is just something that is immediately met with skepticism by people who are not familiar with the rules and leave you stuck. Not the worst thing; you can simply go to another phone carrier or bank, but I wouldn't say the stamped passport is completely equivalent to the actual card.)

 

 

[Crazy Cat 43,091]

  On 12/27/2021 at 5:38 PM, Wouter said:

Yes, but thousands of cards shouldn't be that hard if you have a proper production line (think of how Visa and MasterCard and even the DMV produce millions of cards each year). It's not like they are made by elves in a workshop by hand...or...perhaps.... 

 

(And by the way, unfortunately, the stamped passport does not confer ALL the benefits. For example, when trying to sing up for a phone plan at AT&T they ask for your immigration status and when you say Permanent Resident they want to take a picture of the front and back of your GC. When you show the stamped passport they just look at you with a puzzled look and say the AT&T software requires a picture of the card and that they simply can't process a passport page with a stamp. Similarly, at the bank they also wanted to see the card. Coming up with a Russian passport to prove your American legal status is just something that is immediately met with skepticism by people who are not familiar with the rules and leave you stuck. Not the worst thing; you can simply go to another phone carrier or bank, but I wouldn't say the stamped passport is completely equivalent to the actual card.)

 

 

Expand  

I think Green Cards are a little more complicated.  The queue and Covid have affected delivery of Green Cards. Actually, the stamped passport has ALL the rights of a plastic card.  It identifies the immigrant as a legal resident. The issue you provided is with the AT&T employees and the bank employees...not the stamp.  Hopefully, you will get your plastic card (which is not status, itself) soon.  

Edited December 27, 2021 by Crazy Cat

[millefleur 5,050]

  On 12/27/2021 at 5:38 PM, Wouter said:

(And by the way, unfortunately, the stamped passport does not confer ALL the benefits. For example, when trying to sing up for a phone plan at AT&T they ask for your immigration status and when you say Permanent Resident they want to take a picture of the front and back of your GC. When you show the stamped passport they just look at you with a puzzled look and say the AT&T software requires a picture of the card and that they simply can't process a passport page with a stamp. Similarly, at the bank they also wanted to see the card. Coming up with a Russian passport to prove your American legal status is just something that is immediately met with skepticism by people who are not familiar with the rules and leave you stuck. Not the worst thing; you can simply go to another phone carrier or bank, but I wouldn't say the stamped passport is completely equivalent to the actual card.)

Expand  

What bank are you dealing with? I got my husband added to my bank account before he even had set foot in the US or had a visa. Some banks are better about this than others. Our bank was USAA (which is not available to everyone) but I know some are very skeptical of Russians (I've heard Chase bank) and others are nicer and more understanding.

 

If you ever plan to send money to/from Russia and the US, ask the bank about it beforehand. Some banks will look at you like you're a criminal for merely asking the question. Others don't care at all. We've had good luck with smaller, local banks and Capital One for that.