IMMIGRANT VISAS
New Immigrants
U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Consular Section, Immigrant Visas
Information For New Immigrants To The U.S.
Congratulations on receiving your immigrant visa and welcome (almost) to the U.S! Your immigrant visa is valid for a single entry to the U.S. during the validity period that is stated on front of the visa packet. Please do not open this visa packet. Handcarry it and give it to an immigration inspector of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at a U.S. port of entry. You will gain U.S. immigrant status after DHS admits you to the U.S. The following information will assist you in your transition to the U.S.
Green Card
Upon admission to the U.S. as an immigrant, the DHS immigration inspector will place a red stamp in your passport stating your class of immigrant entry, work authorization and alien registration number (A#). Some time later you should receive your alien registration card (I-551, “green card”) from the DHS at the U.S. mailing address on the front of your visa packet. Either your passport with the immigrant entry stamp or your green card is evidence of your lawful stay in the U.S. If you wish to travel out of the U.S. before you receive your green card, please be sure you have a valid immigrant entry stamp on your passport, which you will receive at the port of entry from the DHS immigration inspector. Otherwise, you may need a special boarding letter from the U.S. consul or DHS immigration officer at a U.S. Embassy overseas, for which there may be a fee.
Reentry Permit
If you plan to leave the U.S. as an immigrant for extended time, please get a reentry permit (I-327) from DHS in the U.S. before you leave. Without a valid I-327 you must requalify for a new immigrant visa if you are out of the U.S. over one year. With a valid I-327 in your hands you can keep your immigrant status for two years out of the U.S. There is a special allowance for the spouse and minor children only of a U.S. government direct hire civilian employee or servicemember assigned overseas. These immigrants can remain out of the U.S. for the duration of the employee’s assignment plus four months and retain their immigrant status. Please see the DHS website at http://www.uscis.gov/ for forms and instructions.
Conditional Resident Status
If you receive immigrant status as the result of a marriage to a U.S. citizen before the second wedding anniversary, you will be admitted as a conditional (CR), not permanent (IR), resident. To gain permanent resident status, please file an I-751 or I-752 with the DHS within 90 days of the expiration of your conditional status, which is stated on the front of your green card. Please visit the DHS website for forms and instructions. If you take no action DHS may terminate your conditional resident status automatically and you may be lawfully removed from the U.S.
Social Security Cards
If you requested a Social Security Number when you applied for your visa, U.S. Department of State (DOS), Form DS230, Part II, Question 33a and 33b, and you are age 18 or older when you arrive in the United State, the U.S. DOS and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will share with us the information needed to issue you an SSN card. Therefore, you do not need to fill out a special application or go to Social Security office to get an SSN. We will assign you an SSN and issue you a Social Security card after you arrive in the United States.
If you did not request a Social Security Number when you applied for your visa or you are under age 18, you must come to a Social Security office to apply for an SSN if you did not request an SSN card as part of your visa application or you are under age 18 when you arrive in the United States.
When you visit a Social Security office to apply for a Social Security card, take the following papers with you: Your passport with your Machine-Readable Immigrant Visa (MRIV) or Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) if you have it and birth certificate for each member of your family applying for a Social Security Number. Please visit the SSA website for forms and instructions at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/.
Taxes
Once you gain immigrant status you will be subject to U.S. taxes on your earned and unearned income from all sources, within and outside the U.S., the same as U.S. citizens. You must have a taxpayer identification number for federal tax filing or when you start earning income subject to federal taxes. For immigrants this taxpayer identification number is your SSAN. As tax laws are complex, please contact the U.S. Treasury Department’s Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or a tax advisor for assistance. Please see the IRS website at http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/.
Customs And Import Restrictions
For information on importing your goods and funds to start your new life as an immigrant please see DHS’ Customs website at http://www.dhs.gov/. For information on animal and plant imports please see DHS’ Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) website at http://www.dhs.gov/.