Dbman

I moved here on 04/04/06 on a K3 visa.

My questions are;

1. How long does do I have to wait to get my social security
number/green card? I was told it could take 3 to 6 weeks.

2. I have had a couple of job interviews already, but the agencies seem
wary of taking me on without a green card/social security number(even
though I hve showed them the K3 visa stamped in my passport. Do I have
to get an EAD? Will this help convince prospective employers that I have
to right to work here?

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Meauxna

> I moved here on 04/04/06 on a K3 visa.
> My questions are;
> 1. How long does do I have to wait to get my social security
> number/green card? I was told it could take 3 to 6 weeks.
> 2. I have had a couple of job interviews already, but the agencies
> seem wary of taking me on without a green card/social security
> number(even though I hve showed them the K3 visa stamped in my
> passport. Do I have to get an EAD? Will this help convince prospective
> employers that I have to right to work here?

Are you absolutely sure you are on a K-3 visa? Forgive me for
asking, but some people don't know & you've got some conflicting
info in your post.

A K-3 must apply for a work permit; you may not work before you
receive it.

A K-3 may not apply for or receive a Social Security account until
they are work-authorized by USCIS. That means applying for an
EAD/work permit.

Who told you you would get a Green Card in 3-6 weeks? That would be true
if you entered on an immigrant visa. If you did enter on an immigrant
visa, your Green Card and Social Security card are mailed directly to
you, although you are already work authorized and could accept a
position if it were offered.

Clarify how you were admitted, and your questions can be answered.

--

Noorah101

> I moved here on 04/04/06 on a K3 visa.
> My questions are;
> 1. How long does do I have to wait to get my social security
> number/green card? I was told it could take 3 to 6 weeks.
> 2. I have had a couple of job interviews already, but the agencies
> seem wary of taking me on without a green card/social security
> number(even though I hve showed them the K3 visa stamped in my
> passport. Do I have to get an EAD? Will this help convince prospective
> employers that I have to right to work here?

Hi dbman,

Some of your questions were actually covered in your 2003 post:
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=180522

But meauxna has it right. You need to clarify whether you entered on a
K-3 visa or the CR/IR-1.

Either way, congrats on your return to the USA.

Best Wishes,
Rene

--

Dbman

> Hi dbman,
> Some of your questions were actually covered in your 2003 post:
> http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=180522
> But meauxna has it right. You need to clarify whether you entered on
> a K-3 visa or the CR/IR-1.
> Either way, congrats on your return to the USA.
> Best Wishes,
> Rene

Thanks for your responses.

I may have confused myself and you in my initial post.

This is my visa situation........

My wife filed a visa petition for me in the US.

The US embassy in London has issued me a visa which I assumed to be a
K-3 visa.
The exact wording on the visa is IV Category - IR1

A note at the bottom of the visa says "Upon endoresement serves as
temporary 1-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year.

I have entered the US on this visa; I handed the mysterious brown
envelope to the Immigration person and my pssport(visa) was
stamped admitted.

I do not belive that we have to file for adjustment of status as
we celeb rated the 2nd year anniversary of our wedding last year.
Am I right?

--

Dbman

> Hi dbman,
> Some of your questions were actually covered in your 2003 post:
> http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=180522
> But meauxna has it right. You need to clarify whether you entered on
> a K-3 visa or the CR/IR-1.
> Either way, congrats on your return to the USA.
> Best Wishes,
> Rene

Hi Noorah101,

I had actually forgotten that I had posed some questions way back in
2003.
Believe it, my visa was finally issued on 3oth march 2006. It's been
quite a wait.

Thanks for pointing me to it though.

--

Noorah101

> Thanks for your responses.
> I may have confused myself and you in my initial post.
> This is my visa situation........
> My wife filed a visa petition for me in the US.
> The US embassy in London has issued me a visa which I assumed to be a
> K-3 visa.
> The exact wording on the visa is IV Category - IR1
> A note at the bottom of the visa says "Upon endoresement serves as
> temporary 1-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year.
> I have entered the US on this visa; I handed the mysterious brown
> envelope to the Immigration person and my pssport(visa) was stamped
> admitted.
> I do not belive that we have to file for adjustment of status as
> we celeb rated the 2nd year anniversary of our wedding last year.
> Am I right?

Ahhh nope, that's not the K-3. You got an Immigrant Visa, category IR-
1. You should receive your green card and SS card in a few weeks. No,
you don't need to apply for EAD. No, you don't need to remove
conditions.

It will be hard to prove your status to an employer who isn't familiar
with immigration. Just sit tight until your docs come in. Trying to
chase down a SS letter verifying your status will be more trouble than
it's worth, when your card will be coming in the mail in the near
future. That is, if you ticked the box that said you wish to receive
one upon entry to the USA.

Best Wishes,
Rene

--

Dbman

> Ahhh nope, that's not the K-3. You got an Immigrant Visa, category
> IR-1. You should receive your green card and SS card in a few weeks.
> No, you don't need to apply for EAD. No, you don't need to remove
> conditions.
> It will be hard to prove your status to an employer who isn't familiar
> with immigration. Just sit tight until your docs come in. Trying to
> chase down a SS letter verifying your status will be more trouble than
> it's worth, when your card will be coming in the mail in the near
> future. That is, if you ticked the box that said you wish to receive
> one upon entry to the USA.
> Best Wishes,
> Rene

Thank you. I guess it's a waiting game now

Yes I ticked the box to apply for the SSN on the form which I signed at
my visa interview in London.

Is my visa a K-3 or not?

--

Dbman

> Ahhh nope, that's not the K-3. You got an Immigrant Visa, category
> IR-1. You should receive your green card and SS card in a few weeks.
> No, you don't need to apply for EAD. No, you don't need to remove
> conditions.
> It will be hard to prove your status to an employer who isn't familiar
> with immigration. Just sit tight until your docs come in. Trying to
> chase down a SS letter verifying your status will be more trouble than
> it's worth, when your card will be coming in the mail in the near
> future. That is, if you ticked the box that said you wish to receive
> one upon entry to the USA.
> Best Wishes,
> Rene

Thank you; I guess I'll have to be patient till the docs show up.

Yes I ticked the box to apply for the SSN on the form I signed at my
visa interview in London.

--

Elvira

> Ahhh nope, that's not the K-3. You got an Immigrant Visa, category
> IR-1. You should receive your green card and SS card in a few weeks.
> No, you don't need to apply for EAD. No, you don't need to remove
> conditions.
> It will be hard to prove your status to an employer who isn't familiar
> with immigration. Just sit tight until your docs come in. Trying to
> chase down a SS letter verifying your status will be more trouble than
> it's worth, when your card will be coming in the mail in the near
> future. That is, if you ticked the box that said you wish to receive
> one upon entry to the USA.
> Best Wishes,
> Rene

Might be worth going down to the local SS office though - if his number
has come through, they'll be able to tell him. Might save him a week or
two.
(Tip: Go late afternoon, just before closing time- NOT in the morning!)

--

Meauxna

> Thanks for your responses.
> I may have confused myself and you in my initial post.
> This is my visa situation........
> My wife filed a visa petition for me in the US.
> The US embassy in London has issued me a visa which I assumed to be a
> K-3 visa.
> The exact wording on the visa is IV Category - IR1
> A note at the bottom of the visa says "Upon endoresement serves as
> temporary 1-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year.
> I have entered the US on this visa; I handed the mysterious brown
> envelope to the Immigration person and my pssport(visa) was stamped
> admitted.
> I do not belive that we have to file for adjustment of status as
> we celeb rated the 2nd year anniversary of our wedding last year.
> Am I right?

Well, good news for you. You are now a Permanent Resident of the United
States. You have permission to live and work here indefinitely, as long
as you follow the rules. You can find your rights and responsibilities
spelled out here:

Now That You Are A Permanent Resident
http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/PermRes.htm

You are class "IR-1" because you were married for more than two years
when you became a PR. THat's what you are stabbing at in your last
sentence (only it's not called Adjustment of status--never mind, you
don't have to do it).

Your visa is an Immigrant Visa, and the endorsement on it makes it the
same thing as a Green Card. If your prospective employers are having a
hard time with it, you may want to educate them gently. There is a LOT
of information for employers on SSA.gov including a picture of the MRIV
(your visa) and an explanation of what it is, and instructions for how
the employer can hire you NOW before you get your Social Security card.

The most important thing is that you are not a K-3, you are a Permanent
Resident/Green Card holder.
You may be eligible to apply for US citizenship in 3 years.

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