timelines for green card, ssn once arriving in the US

[Allison in Peru 0]

Hello! 

My husband is going to have his interview soon in the Lima embassy and we have a few questions on the next steps. 

- If they approve him the day of the interview, how long will it take to get his visa?

- Once we arrive in the US, how long is it taking to for the green cards to arrive?

- He can only apply for the SSN after he has the green card, correct? Is that back to normal timing? 

- Do people tend to wait to look for jobs until after you have completed all of these steps? 

Thanks so much! 

[bakphx1 789]

 

- If they approve him the day of the interview, how long will it take to get his visa?  It can vary.  I might look up the Lima Embassy reviews, but in Honduras it was a week or so.  

- Once we arrive in the US, how long is it taking to for the green cards to arrive?  It took 6 weeks-however for employment and everything, the stamp D551 they give upon arrival acts as a green card till then.

- He can only apply for the SSN after he has the green card, correct? Is that back to normal timing?  If you checked the box in the petition (hard to remember now, I know), the Social Security card processing is triggered by arriving.  I remember it was fast-like 10 days.

- Do people tend to wait to look for jobs until after you have completed all of these steps?   You can get a job upon receiving the SS#.  Possibly before but employers usually ask for it.  
 

Akso if he’s under 26-remember to sign up for Selective Service.  Important for citizenship.  Need to do it within 30 days.

Thanks so much! 

[bakphx1 789]

I checked the Embassy reviews-same deal-they DHL the passport/visa in a week or less.

[bakphx1 789]

Correction: I551 stamp.

[TBoneTX 45,813]

Thread is moved to the "Moving to the US" forum -- most questions involve that phase.

[Chancy 6,243]

17 hours ago, Allison in Peru said:

Once we arrive in the US, how long is it taking to for the green cards to arrive?

 

As mentioned above, your husband will have a "green card" as soon as he clears airport immigration.  His immigrant visa + CBP entry stamp will serve as his temporary I-551 for 1 year after US arrival.  As for the plastic card, USCIS estimate is within 90 days of arrival, assuming the $220 immigrant fee has been paid.  But many here on VJ, including me, received the plastic GC way past day 90.

 

17 hours ago, Allison in Peru said:

He can only apply for the SSN after he has the green card, correct?

 

If he checked the box on his DS-260 form to apply for SSN, he should automatically get his SSN card in the mail within a month of his arrival.  If he doesn't get his SSN after 1 month, he may book an appointment at an SSA office to apply for SSN in person.