green card

[teeb57]

My wife arrived on July 10, 2010. Was told the Green card would arrive WITHIN three weeks with a 'welcoming packet'. The Social Security card should arrive within four weeks. No welcoming packet, no green card yet. My wife has heard on 001 that the Green card process is taking up to three months, which I find very difficult to believe. I've researched on the CBP web site under their FAQ but could find nothing. I've tried calling but the volume of calls wont allow me to get thru.

 

Is anyone else out there having this problem? I'd really like hearing from anyone thathas arrived in the past few months how long it has taken them to receive their Green and Social Security cards.

[Zhou Zhou]

My wife received her,"Welcome to the US" letter with her "A Number" on the 23rd day after POE...still waiting for her SS and Green Card....film at eleven.

[teeb57]

Thanks, When did your lao po arrive? See? I can speak Mandarin too! Was she an IR1?

Edited August 2, 2010 by teeb57 (see edit history)

[Zhou Zhou]

My lao po, arrived on 06.30.10 on a CR-1...

[Kyle]

No need to worry about this. Technically speaking, your wife already has one. The stamp in her passport serves as a temp I-551 (good for one year). We got Jingjing's I-551 a little less than a month after entering the States. She received her social security card in the mail about a week prior to receiving her I-551.

[teeb57]

No need to worry about this. Technically speaking, your wife already has one. The stamp in her passport serves as a temp I-551 (good for one year). We got Jingjing's I-551 a little less than a month after entering the States. She received her social security card in the mail about a week prior to receiving her I-551.

 

You're right, it wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for all the relocating. Also, the fact that no one will put her on my bank account or give her a job until she has a SS #. Thanks for your reply Kyle, every bit helps.

[dnoblett]

You're right, it wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for all the relocating. Also, the fact that no one will put her on my bank account or give her a job until she has a SS #. Thanks for your reply Kyle, every bit helps.

Note, You can apply for a replacement SSN card using passport (I-551 stamp), and other ID and docs like Birth Cert. You can visit your SSA office and order one there.

 

Also "Relocating" If you move since POE entry, and filing I-864, then an AR-11 and I-865 need to be filed to update your address with USCIS. This needs to be done any time you move.

[teeb57]

Yep, we're aware. But they dont make it easy. We were told that we need to wait 30 days before we can change our address. Thanks for the input.

[dnoblett]

Yep, we're aware. But they dont make it easy. We were told that we need to wait 30 days before we can change our address. Thanks for the input.

Be aware, AR-11 must be filed within 10 days of any address change. I-865 needs to be filed within 30 days of a change of address.

 

One problem with this is USCIS will send Green-card to old address, and the mail is marked "Return Service Requested" which usually results in item getting returned to USCIS, and NOT forwarded by posta forward service. This can result in GC being considered lost in the mail.

 

Is there someone at old address that can receive this for you?

Edited August 3, 2010 by dnoblett (see edit history)

[teeb57]

I moved to the Dallas area just before she arrived thinking it would increase my job opportunities. My cousin was kind enough to let me stay here with him in Arlington. I passed this new address onto my wife before she departed Beijing so she could convey this address to immigration when she arrived at her POE. Complicating things even more, we were given the wrong address before I moved up here. (I was lucky no one tried to shoot me as I was trying to move into the wrong house....took me about five minutes before I realized something was not right).

 

As far as the AR11 is concerned, we informed the folks from USCIS of our mistake but were told nothing could be done to change an address until Lao Po was here for at least 30 days. By this time I'm thinking her papers will have already been sent.

 

She was told by immigration that no more than three weeks for her green card, four weeks for her SS card. It's been almost four weeks & we have nothing. This was my purpose for asking here on Candles. Thanks for your input dnoblett, but we're very much aware. I'd just feel a lot better when her papers get here.

Edited August 3, 2010 by teeb57 (see edit history)

[dnoblett]

As far as the AR11 is concerned, we informed the folks from USCIS of our mistake but were told nothing could be done to change an address until Lao Po was here for at least 30 days. By this time I'm thinking her papers will have already been sent.

Correct nothing can be done for at least 30 days, but this does not prevent filing an AR-11 and I-865.

 

Hopefully the move has not gotten the GC lost.

 

As for SSN, you can simply visit SSA and apply for a SSN card at this time.

[teeb57]

I didn't know that. Thanks for the good info, Steve

[warpedbored]

It's usually not a good idea to move until immigration matters are settled for awhile. It may be a good idea to make an info pass appointment and see what the current status is.

[teeb57]

thank you warped. thats a good starting point.