Time frame

[Davej]

My wife will be flying into the free-land of United States soon.  What is the average wait for her to get through customs.  Just wondering how long, so I don't start to worry, if it ends up taking a while.  Is there a bunch of hoops she has to jump through? or fairly straight forward (she has a green card, etc.)

thx,
dave

[romachko]

... in response to Time frame, posted by Davej on May 7, 2005

In our case just a bunch of questions were asked, which were totally irrelevant to what we were carrying in baggages. Then the officer simply signalled us to go ahead without opening baggages.

[Bobby Orr]

... in response to Time frame, posted by Davej on May 7, 2005

I know Kennedy Airport.  If she is going there the US passports usually go to the right lines with US citizens getting through in 5 minutes or so.  The FSU citizens go to the left and it seems they get through in 10 to 15 minutes.  In any event, most people are still waiting for baggage.

When I went through Kennedy with my Russian K-1 fiance, who subsequently became my wife, I went to the foreign passport line with her.  We luckily were first on our line.  I went up to the passport girl with my fiance and explained the situation.  She first got me through ie. I gave her the form and she processed me.  Then she closed down the line for us, took my girls packet, processed her visa, took us to another room where they made sure we got everything we should have ie. work visa stamped in the passport.  Then we went on our way.  Me being on the plane with her made alot of difference.  With the work visa stamped in her passport make sure she gets her social security card during the first 90 days even if she does not work.  Without a SS# it is difficult for her to get anything.

[romachko]

... in response to Re: Time frame, posted by Bobby Orr on May 8, 2005

Very important comment on SS! Even if your fiancee is not going to work, get SS. We made a big mistake on this. Without SS my wife cannot get a driver's license. Without a driver's license, she cannot get any form of ID other than her passport. She cannot get even a proof from our county office that she lives with me. We are having a numerous other problems just because she does not have her SS. GET IT FOR YOUR FIANCEE RIGHT AT PASSPORT CONTROL!!!!!!!!

At O'Hare, a fiancee is supposed to line up with her escorting sponsor at both the passport control and the customs.

[Ray]

... in response to Re: Re: Time frame, posted by romachko on May 9, 2005

Thanks for pointing out the importance of the SS Number. A lot of folks don’t bother with this until later when it often becomes a big hassle.

A K-1 visa holder does not need any written work authorization from CIS to be eligible for a SS Card. They are authorized to work during the first 90 days of their stay by virtue of their visa category and do not require any stamp from the passport control people at the POE. As long as she applies at a Social Security office within 75 days of her arrival, they are supposed to process her for a SS Card. She will need her passport, I-94, and birth certificate.

Unfortunately, there are still a lot of incompetent folks working for SSA who often turn away K-1 holders because they are ignorant of their own policies. If anyone is told by a SSA worker that a K-1 needs work authorization from Homeland Security before they can get a SS Number, ask to speak with a supervisor.

After her initial 90-days are up, she will need an EAD work authorization form CIS to apply for a SS Card and to legally work in the U.S.

See recent thread on Asian Board.

Ray