CR 1 spouse immigrant visa

[masterplots 0]

My wife is now in the USA on her CR1 Immigrant Visa. What is the next step we must take? We have already applied for her social security card. I believe now she must file for permission to work. Is form I-765 the proper form? The instructions on the form are vague at best. There is no where in the instructions that even mention immigrant. It only mentions nonimmigrant spouse. Also, to file this form, I must supply form I-94, passport, and K visa. The I-94 was taken at the border entry, and she does not have a K visa. As I said, the instructions are vague at best. Is this information going to be sent to me from NCIS? Also the I-551, will the green card be sent automatically?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Mononoke28 137]

Since your wife came to the US on a CR1 visa, she won't have to file for employment authorization. She should be getting her greencard in the mail any time soon, if she already hasn't. That's all she needs to be authorized to work in the US.

[bowflex 0]

My wife is now in the USA on her CR1 Immigrant Visa. What is the next step we must take? We have already applied for her social security card. I believe now she must file for permission to work. Is form I-765 the proper form? The instructions on the form are vague at best. There is no where in the instructions that even mention immigrant. It only mentions nonimmigrant spouse. Also, to file this form, I must supply form I-94, passport, and K visa. The I-94 was taken at the border entry, and she does not have a K visa. As I said, the instructions are vague at best. Is this information going to be sent to me from NCIS? Also the I-551, will the green card be sent automatically?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

My wife came over on a CR-1 visa back in June, and by getting that visa type, she was already allowed to work once it was stamped at the POE. We just got her Social Security card, her driver's license, and that was it. Good luck!

[Mononoke28 137]

Since we're on this subject. I know that this could be different based on the state you live in, but is the stamp they get at the airport enough to get a driver's license or do the have to have the greencard in hand?

[MargotDarko 0]

As the others have said, your wife is already authorised to work and will automatically receive her green card by mail fairly soon. All you have to worry about now is removing conditions on the green card 90 days or less before it expires (which will be in roughly two years). That's the I-751 form and there's a fee attached which I think is about to be $545 USD, but you don't have to worry about that for a while. Just don't forget to do it - you won't receive anything from USCIS saying that it's coming up.

[MargotDarko 0]

Since we're on this subject. I know that this could be different based on the state you live in, but is the stamp they get at the airport enough to get a driver's license or do the have to have the greencard in hand?

It should be enough - but individual DMVs or employees might not recognise it or accept it. It's a temporary green card but it comes with the same level of permanent resident privelges, it's just a temporary thing until the green card is printed and mailed.

[Mononoke28 137]

Thanks!

[pushbrk 13,238]

My wife is now in the USA on her CR1 Immigrant Visa. What is the next step we must take? We have already applied for her social security card. I believe now she must file for permission to work. Is form I-765 the proper form? The instructions on the form are vague at best. There is no where in the instructions that even mention immigrant. It only mentions nonimmigrant spouse. Also, to file this form, I must supply form I-94, passport, and K visa. The I-94 was taken at the border entry, and she does not have a K visa. As I said, the instructions are vague at best. Is this information going to be sent to me from NCIS? Also the I-551, will the green card be sent automatically?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Your wife is now a conditional (the C in CR1) permanent resident of the US and has all those rights and privileges. You are in the clear with the USCIS for 21 months. Then you file to remove the conditions on her permanent residence.

Applying for the Social Security card and State ID, putting her on bank accounts and company medical plans would be your focus now. The stamp in her passport gives her authorization to work, as does the "green card" you will receive shortly.

Edited July 27, 2007 by pushbrk

[simple_male 1]

My wife is now in the USA on her CR1 Immigrant Visa. What is the next step we must take? We have already applied for her social security card. I believe now she must file for permission to work. Is form I-765 the proper form? The instructions on the form are vague at best. There is no where in the instructions that even mention immigrant. It only mentions nonimmigrant spouse. Also, to file this form, I must supply form I-94, passport, and K visa. The I-94 was taken at the border entry, and she does not have a K visa. As I said, the instructions are vague at best. Is this information going to be sent to me from NCIS? Also the I-551, will the green card be sent automatically?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Your wife is now a conditional (the C in CR1) permanent resident of the US and has all those rights and privileges. You are in the clear with the USCIS for 21 months. Then you file to remove the conditions on her permanent residence.

Applying for the Social Security card and State ID, putting her on bank accounts and company medical plans would be your focus now. The stamp in her passport gives her authorization to work, as does the "green card" you will receive shortly.

I agree with you all.

[masterplots 0]

My wife is now in the USA on her CR1 Immigrant Visa. What is the next step we must take? We have already applied for her social security card. I believe now she must file for permission to work. Is form I-765 the proper form? The instructions on the form are vague at best. There is no where in the instructions that even mention immigrant. It only mentions nonimmigrant spouse. Also, to file this form, I must supply form I-94, passport, and K visa. The I-94 was taken at the border entry, and she does not have a K visa. As I said, the instructions are vague at best. Is this information going to be sent to me from NCIS? Also the I-551, will the green card be sent automatically?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Your wife is now a conditional (the C in CR1) permanent resident of the US and has all those rights and privileges. You are in the clear with the USCIS for 21 months. Then you file to remove the conditions on her permanent residence.

Applying for the Social Security card and State ID, putting her on bank accounts and company medical plans would be your focus now. The stamp in her passport gives her authorization to work, as does the "green card" you will receive shortly.

I agree with you all.

[masterplots 0]

Thank you all very much for your replies. I am a happy man now. My wife has been very patient and understanding through this whole process and we are elated just to be together after being apart for 19 months after our marriage. On her first full day here we applied for her social security card, got her Chinese computer and cell phone working so she can keep the communications open with her family and friends in China. I elected not to have a reception, as she will meet my family and friends soon enough. I remember my wedding in China where it was only her family and friends and I did not know anyone. It will be hard enough for her here just learning the new culture and adjusting to her new home and lifestyle. She can no longer take the bus or train everywhere and must learn to drive just go get around in the neighborhood. She'll need to drive across town for shopping when she is accustomed to walking across the street. She'll need to use credit cards and write checks where she is use to paying only with cash. And above all, she'll need ot have a command of the English language if she wants to get the job she deserves.

For all of you Citizens who's spouses and fiance's elected to come to be with you in your country, care and nurture them and cherish the prize that you have. They have made a great sacrifice of leaving their homeland and family behind to be with you.

Thank you all again for all the advice you have given me. I could not have gotten through the government maze without you.

Thanks again,

Tom