Caro1

I entered at Detroit airport, together with my us citizen wife, to activate IR1 visa. The officers were super friendly. They did send us to a second room to wait while they did their paper work, instead of doing everything in that booth after the passport line. The officers had no questions in that sense at all. He just confirmed a phone number and the address the green card was going to be sent to. There was nothing to worry about at all.

I asked for it, but they said they couldn’t tell me the number because the application needs to process and they don’t know the number. I called after a week and a half and asked for my number and they said they cannot access numbers on first applications until after the card gets mailed. so I didn’t know my SSN until I got the card in the mail, although I tried asking for it.

Yes, they did, I had to fill out a W4. And yeah, I think they used a placeholder number

Hey! just wanted to update this post with some new information in case someone else is researching the same thing I had followed up with HR and they said they were fine with starting as long as the SSN had been applied for. I entered the US on 5/16, official hire date was 5/21, first day of work was 5/22. I didn’t end up receiving my SSN until 6/20. (Had to apply in person, after not receiving the SSN after 3 weeks after entry) i got my first paycheck on 6/9 for work completed from 5/21 - 6/2, although I didn’t have a SSN then yet, my paycheck stub says taxes were withheld.

I would send an inquiry to NVC, if he is sure he submitted everything correctly

That is plenty of strong evidence. No need to add more weaker evidence like emails

I was finally able to apply for the SSN at the SS office last week. I had initially checked on the DS-260 to be issued a SSN, but it still has not arrived. so I called the local SS office 2 weeks after entry and they told me I couldn’t apply until 3 weeks after entry, because i checked that box on DS-260. so exactly 3 weeks after entry, i went to the SS office in person and they let me apply for one, because they still didn’t see the initial application in their system. I should hopefully get the SSN and card next week

Well that’s sad. As a German, I don’t feel like there are better opportunities for me here than they were in Germany. I do feel a lot more risk here. But my wife wasn’t happy living in Germany, which is why we are here now. I’m trying to give it a real shot of being happy here. I’m a pretty adaptable person. and I can definitely hold off on buying anything 21+ until after I get my KS license

Thanks everyone for taking the time to respond! I appreciate it! As a foreigner living here, I want to fit in with the people and customs, but I also want to be able to stand up for myself, if there are grounds to do so. I have definitely felt that people here (like HR, staff at the Social Security Office, etc) do not understand the US immigration system. It feels uncomfortable to stand up in front of them and act like I’m the expert, when I feel like they should be the experts. Ha ha. E.g.: I have been asked to provide EAD to the SS-office. I have been asked to provide I-94 record to HR. both situations where I feel like I shouldn’t have to quote google searches to them, and explain why I don’t have those. I understand it will all get better once I get the SSN, and then state ID/driver’s license, but for right now, I do feel like a second class person - even although I’ve done everything right throughout this whole immigration process. I guess I had the false expectation, that IR1 being the superior visa over K1 meant that I wouldn’t have any of these problems here. anyway, it’s good to understand what rights I have and what rights I don’t have. and apparently buying vapes is not a right. Ha ha. I figured as much, but I do appreciate your explanations.

Hi VJ-community, I entered the US in the middle of May on IR-1 visa, I’m still waiting for my SSN since DHS seemed to have „lost“ the application, whatever that means and the local SSN office wouldn’t let me apply for a new number until 3 weeks after I entered. Without a SSN, I also cannot get a Kansas drivers license or state ID yet. Today I went into a vape shop, which had a 21+ sign in the window. I am almost 30 years old and had my German ID and even my passport with me. I was asked for an ID, and then asked to leave, because they couldn’t „verify my age“ with my German ID or passport…… I guess they need to scan the ID and foreign IDs cannot be scanned by their computer program. That very much felt like discrimination. Is that legal? I know it will only take a few weeks to get a SSN now, and this isn’t really a life threatening problem or anything, but it still didn’t feel good to be asked to leave. has anyone else had similar experiences?

That is the timeline to approve only the I-130, however it’s only an estimate. If you get an RFE, for example, it will take longer for sure. And even if you don’t get an RFE, it might take longer anyways. It depends from case to case.

My visa was processed in Frankfurt and was approved in the beginning of the year, and we used only assets to sponsor. About 80k were in a US savings account in both of our names, more was in different accounts / some stocks in Germany in only my name. At the interview they barely glanced at the updated statements I had brought. They only confirmed our household size.

Thank you! I will do that!

Thank you! I will try to do that. do you think it will cause any problems, because I also checked the box on DS-260 asking to issue a SSN?

I have never had a job in the U.S. before. So this is all new to me. I just don’t want to do anything wrong

That’s what it says in the offer letter I received last night. Now I’m contemplating, if I’m allowed to sign the offer letter.

Does that mean it’s not possible to start without the SSN? Isn’t there any way to get the Number without the card? I was under the impression that I am allowed to work the day I arrive. is that not true? i explained to my employer when I would enter, and that my the stamp on my passport is work authorization. I told them I would provide the ssn as soon as I have it. I haven’t gotten a response yet, as they are probably still asleep.

Hi VJ-family, I have received an Offer Letter from my employer to accept a position in the US. They are aware, I’ll enter the US on May 16, where i will get the I-551 stamp, giving me authorization to work. However in the offer letter, it says I’m required provide a SSN before my start date. My start date is May 22, from what I’ve read on here, I won’t have the Social Security Card by then, which I opted to get on the DS-260. Do you guys think that’s a problem? am I allowed to accept the offer letter anyway? Thanks!!

I don’t know for sure, but I believe the chances to get a RFE are pretty high, because of the wrong style passport photo. Sorry

It’s safe to buy the tickets when you have the passport with the visa in your hand. it does not usually take 207 days for NVC. You can find the current NVC times here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/nvc-timeframes.html Current case review time: As of 24-Apr-23, we are reviewing documents submitted to us on 10-Apr-23. Timelines can vary a lot. And I would not recommend making any specific plans based on VJ timeline or estimate.

Hey! I‘m from Germany, too and I also had to give 3 month notice to my employer to resign. I didn’t tell anyone at work about the visa process until I had the visa in my hand. (I was up for promotions during the 2 year visa process and didn’t want to risk being passed up on the promotion due to my leaving plans.) Only then did I get all my affairs in order. I told my employer of the visa and its expiration date - so giving them even a few weeks more notice than required, because I was asking to transfer within my employer to a US office. I actually haven’t entered the US yet. We leave Germany in three weeks, about 4 weeks before the expiration of the visa.

IMO, this would be your third time filing for K1, which requires a waiver as you already filed twice in the past

Hi! my wife (she is the us citizen) and I used only assets to sponsor my spousal visa. my wife didn’t have any us income at all, and for spouses the requirement is only 3x the difference between income and poverty guideline. so it sounds like you have enough assets however, it all depends on the consular officer accepting the I-864 and I’ve read on here that some embassies are stricter than others. I don’t know about the Philippines, I am from Germany and our I-864 was not even questioned during my interview in Frankfurt. Only our household size was confirmed and it was confirmed that we are using only assets to sponsor, that was it. it was accepted without any problems, no RFEs, no delays. Expect to have a case note on ceac saying the sponsor doesn’t meet the income requirement and a decision will be made by the consular officer. But it does not keep you from getting DQ. you can always take multiple I-864 to the interview - first try with your assets only, if the consular officer doesn’t accept, give him a different I-864 with a co sponsor. 😊

I’m not sure about Madrid, but in Frankfurt I had the chance to pick up my passport with the visa in it.

Hey, I believe we just downloaded I-130a from uscis website, filled out the pdf, and uploaded it along with all the rest of the I-130 evidence/attachments in my wife’s uscis (my wife is the us citizen). hope that helps