HoneyBadger26

Back again! We just received a I-797C for biometrics this morning - husband has been in the US 43 days by this point. I don't recall seeing anything about biometrics after entrance to the US but there's so much information out there that its hard to keep track. Normal thing?

I thought so as well - the lady said not to worry about it, though. We tried to do that - they would not start him working without the SSN. When he went back into SSA to request a new card and to have it sent to our PO box, the lady casually laid a piece of paper on the desk, told him "I'm not allowed to give you this, but I have to go get a piece of paper off the printer, so if you happen to see a number on this paper that I am absolutely not supposed to give you... so be it" and she walked away. He quickly jotted down his SSN, and when she came back she said "Yes, I definitely cannot give you this paper" and shredded it with a smile and a nod. I don't know this woman, but I would love to send her flowers lol We were able to get hubby working starting Tuesday night, and we are just waiting now for the replacement card to come. The lady said 7-10 days, so I'm watching our Informed Delivery like a hawk. Checked with USCIS and the green card is being produced as of Jan 29.

Question for anyone who can help. Husband's SSN was "delivered and returned" - pretty sure our petty mail carrier (whom I reported for damage when he threw packages at my door - literally) had something to do with it. Husband is currently trying to fast-track a replacement down at SSA because he was offered a job today. But the SSA agent asked if we had received husband's I-94 after crossing - and we haven't received a single thing. We thought we were still waiting on his SSN card, and that was it. I know I can pull an I-94 of their website to show travel history, but is there something else I'm missing? His I-94 record still has his old passport number - for some reason, when he renewed his passport in Aug 2022, they issued a whole new passport number and it never got "attached" to anything. Now I'm worried that we've missed something somewhere. Does anyone know anything that might help inform me?

So we found out today that the social security card was issued 3 days after crossing, but was "delivered and returned" - we never got it. We were having issues with our mail carrier at the time, "losing" mail, so we think he deliberately lost my husbands SSN card. Husband is currently at SSA trying to get a rush replacement, because he was offered a job today and we cant complete his tax info and onboarding without it. My husband has pawprints on his arm, and a name (not mine). The tattoo was never even mentioned.

I'll do my best to remember! He has a job interview on Wednesday, and we are pretty sure he is going to get it. We are hoping to have his SSN by Feb 9; someone said it should take about three weeks, so we shall see!

That's interesting... so if my husband signs his check to me, I should be able to deposit it in my bank even though his name isn't on the account yet? That would be hugely beneficial, honestly. I will definitely speak with my bank to see if there would be any pushback on that!

It took us about 30-40 minutes at the crossing; we did a land point of entry. The only notification we got after issuing the visa was that it was ready for pickup. There was no tracking number provided. Two business days for delivery for us.

That is great news, thank you. With regard to not having a SSN, we can't get him added to my bank account for paychecks; I assume with proof of identity (visa) he could take his paychecks somewhere to cash them? In all likelihood, his SSN will arrive before getting hired, so probably won't even need to worry about that, but still like to plan ahead. Thank you, that is helpful!

Husband entered US 1/19 😁 We are now just waiting for the green card/etc. We selected to have SSA issue a SSN card for him, and I'm curious how long that typically takes to arrive? I've also seen some things saying that the immigrant visa in his passport is proof that he is able to work, until his green card arrives, but I don't know if that is accurate. Can anyone shed any light on these two items?

No, you cannot do that. Once your visa is activated, you enter the US and must wait for your green card.

Husband picked up his visa about an hour ago - USCIS Immigrant Fee is paid - we are set for moving day on Friday! 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳 And just FYI: when paying the immigrant fee, it was a little confusing because all of the documentation says you need the A Number and says that it is formatted "A-XXXXXXXX" and will be in the upper right corner of the paper handout detailing how to pay the fee. However, this is not the case; on the Visa that is put into your passport, it is the Registration Number in the upper right corner, below your Case Number. Just thought I'd put that out there, in case anyone needs it!

My husband went with everything but the kitchen sink - both our birth certs, his divorce decree, the death cert for my first husband; our marriage cert, his son's birth cert. Copy of his military discharge, RCMP check, my taxes/W2s... The immigration officer wound up only asking for and taking four things: his divorce decree, the death cert, our marriage cert, and my taxes. Double checked our address and contact information. That was it. So while I wouldn't say only bring those four things, I also will say that you shouldn't need to stress over it. As the officer told him, if something else were required, or if they wanted more docs, they would have told you before you were DQ'd.

Yes, I know its after - my question was actually separate from my answer to yours. Silly system lumped it all together

Yes, the building is, from what I understand, very nondescript. Question - The immigrant fee handout with husband's A Number: will that be included in the packet with his passport/visa when it is mailed back?

Thank you! Yep, they did - and his CEAC status is already changed to "Issued" 😊 The officer he dealt with was really pleasant; he said "I like telling people yes" lol

Husband's interview is complete. WELCOME TO THE USA. 🥳 🥳 🥳 🥳 🥳

No, you don't get a copy of the report.

My husband didn't get one either (exam on 12/19). He did receive an email a few days after, with a copy of his immunization record. The results are sent directly to the Consulate.

Four more day's til husband's interview!! Here's to getting good news and (hopefully) having him home with us sometime next week!

My husband is in Ottawa, and we had to get it done in the states because no one there would do it and he hasn't had a doctor in 30 years. In the US its called an immunity test, immunity titer, or antibody titer depending on who you talk to. We ordered our test through LabCorp and went to a Walgreen's pharmacy to get the blood drawn; had the results less than 24 hours later.

Question: when crossing as PR the first time, do we just tell the border guard this and present the visa/passport, or is there more we need to do?

I can't read French so well. These were the shots he got (image attached)

For anyone wonfering about medicals: Husband had his medical yesterday at Telus in Montreal. You can not schedule the exam more than 30 days prior to your interview, and it should be at least a week beforehand so there is time for tests and such to come back and transmittal to the consulate. Husband had physical exam, chest xray, flu shot, hepb b shot, and tetanus. Because it had been more than 12 months, he was forced to get another covid shot. No bloodwork or urinalysis since he is over 44. Thought this might be helpful to others, since this is not plainly laid out on the website. We had an immunity titer done because he didn't have his childhood immunization card, so we knew to expect the ones he got, but the covid requirement was recently updated (previously was accepted to have 2 or 3 doses, whatever was considered the full protocol) to the 12 month requirement. Interview is Jan 12. We are almost done 🙌

They did ask whether it was convenient for us, if we could make it, so its not one of those "because we say so" type thing.

Thank you! Nope, not a clue. Came as a complete surprise. Only thing I can think is that someone ahead of us must have canceled or something 🤷‍♀️