Fiance's interview in 5 weeks - Planning ahead

[billyboy02 0]

Hi everyone! I've been reading the posts on this site all day today and truly appreciate everybody's stories and advice.

My fiance's finally been scheduled for an interview on August 4 in Manila, and now things are actually becoming more "real," if you know what I mean.

So now, I'm kind of wondering what's next, once we get married. It looks like the most efficient way to proceed is to file the AOS and EAD concurrently, but then I was also thinking of when the right time for him to apply for an SSN and a CA driver license would be.

Also, it's been a while since I've applied for my social or my driver license so I forget how long they take here in Cali, so anybody who could refresh my memory would be a great help.

Thanks in advance!

Billyboy (but I'm a girl, I promise)

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Hi Billyboy,

Once your fiance arrives he will want to apply for his SSN about 2 weeks after his arrival. The local SSN office has all of the forms or you can download them from the internet. They need to verify his legal immigration status in the US which is why the 2 week wait - time for the file to travel from the POE to immigration and be entered on their computers. As soon as he has his SSN - which should take about 2 to 4 weeks to arrive in the mail assuming there are no delays with his application, he should consider getting a driver's license. You should look up what their requirements on on the state DMV website. There will probably be a driver's manual that you can downloand for him to study, and almost guaranteed, he will have to do an eye exam, a written test and a road test so he can be studying those while waiting for the SSN to arrive. Hopefully California will accept his I-94 which Immigration will put in his passport when he enters the country as proof of his legal immigration status in the US. Some states require the actual green card, though, so you will have to check. Also, add him to your bank account as soon as you can since you can use statements mailed to you jointly with his name also listed in the address to prove 'residency' requirements.

Yes, file the AOS and the EAD concurrently, and you may wish to file the AP -Advance Parole - as well if there is any concern that your fiance might have to make a trip out of the US for emergency purposes, family purposes, etc. while waiting for the Green Card to be processed. The AP is permission from Immigration to leave and re-enter the country. If he leaves without it, then immigration assumes he has abandoned the application and you have to start all over again from scratch to get him back into the country.

Good luck at your fiance's interview.

Edited June 22, 2006 by Kathryn41

[billyboy02 0]

Thanks for the reply, Kathryn!

So we don't have to wait for him to get an EAD to apply for his SSN?

[Mew 0]

Thanks for the reply, Kathryn!

So we don't have to wait for him to get an EAD to apply for his SSN?

You don't have to wait. Check the guides on the forum and you'll get the info you're looking for.