Do we have to wait for a SSN?

[bctoboston11 0]

We had our civil ceremony last week, have a certified copy of our license... but it's just been two weeks since my fiance got here. So we're JUST eligible for getting our SSN, although I'm sure once we go and apply it will take another couple of weeks to get the number.

So do we have to have the SSN in order to file the I-485, or can you do it without it...

Thanks!

[Not Available 0]

You can do without it if you want. I got mine as soon as I could, only because of needing to be put on my husband's bank account and health insurance.

[raymaga 25]

You don't need a SSN in order to file your I-485 (or EAD or AP, if desired).

You can go into your local SSA office and apply for your SSN card any time after you have been in the US for more than 2 weeks and the card arrives a week or so after applying.

Good luck.

[john_and_marlene 162]

We had our civil ceremony last week, have a certified copy of our license... but it's just been two weeks since my fiance got here. So we're JUST eligible for getting our SSN, although I'm sure once we go and apply it will take another couple of weeks to get the number.

So do we have to have the SSN in order to file the I-485, or can you do it without it...

Thanks!

You don't need an SSN to file AOS

If you have it, give the number in the block

If you don't have it, put "none" in the block

[arwensun1965 0]

Yes as a K1 you are entitled to you SSN, No you do not need it for AOS but it is handy to have for banks and your driving license.

Janice

Edited June 26, 2006 by arwensun1965

[Peter Miami 0]

Hi bctoboston,

Ditto to what everyone is saying. In Florida it took one week for my wife to get her SSN, she was my fiancée at the time.

Good luck,

Peter Miami

[I'm Gone 60]

So we're JUST eligible for getting our SSN, although I'm sure once we go and apply it will take another couple of weeks to get the number.

I'm assuming you are male and not changing your name after getting married.

You need to remember that SSA will not assign an SSN or issue a card in your status has expired or is within 14 days of expiring.

K-1 status is good for 90 days, so that only gives you 76 days to be

assigned an SSN and issued a card. After that time you will need an EAD

or I-551 card to establish authorization to work. Before that time your

I-94 showing K-1 status is the document that establishes authorization

to work for SSN purposes.

The status/documents of all aliens must be verified before SSA will

assign an SSN and/or issue a card and the 14 day limit applies even if

you pass the 76th day while waiting for your status to be verified.

The SSA office will try to verify your status through the SAVE system

while you are in the office. If they can't, they will send a form G-845

to immigration for manual verification. This could delay the assigning

of an SSN and/or issuing a card for weeks and some times months.

If the SSA office does send the G-845, I suggest that you go back to the SSA office no more that once week with your documents to (1) ask them to check SAVE again (2) ask if they sent a G-845 (3) if yes, did it come back (4) after 30 days ask if they have followed up on the G-845 by calling or sending another mark “second request.”

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203720

RM 00203.720 Verifying Immigration Documents

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203735

RM 00203.735 Requesting Online (Primary) Verification By SAVE

You can try calling the SSA Regional Office if you have waited at least 30 days and your local SSA office doesn't seem to be concerned about following up on the G-845

http://www.ssa.gov/otherssasites/

Refer them to:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203740

RM 00203.740 Requesting Additional (Manual) Verification By DHS

Step 6

DHS should respond to SSA within 15 federal work days after receiving the Form G-845. If DHS does not respond within 15 federal work days from the receipt of the G-845 from SSA, follow-up with the DHS, USCIS Immigration Status office. (Allow 15 days plus five additional federal work days of mail time for the G-845 to be received at and returned from DHS. Follow local practice to follow-up with DHS.

Some SSA offices have an arrangement with the DHS, USCIS office to telephone for the follow-up contact; other SSA offices send a copy of the original G-845 annotated “second request.”) If the DHS response is still not received within 15 federal work days after the follow-up contact (if the follow-up is by mail allow five additional federal work days of mail time for the G-845 to be received at and returned from DHS), make a second follow-up contact. If the DHS response is not received within 15 federal workdays (again, if the follow-up is by mail, allow five additional federal work days of mail time for the G-845 to be received at and returned from DHS), after two follow-ups, contact the Regional Office (RO). Also report to the RO any trend that shows a serious deviation by DHS from the above time frames. The RO will consult with central office.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Suggest that you take your birth certificate, passport and I-94 when

going to apply. That should cover age, identity and work authorized

alien status for the original SSN and card.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203500

RM 00203.500 Employment Authorization for Nonimmigrants

C. POLICY - EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION BY CLASS OF ADMISSION

The following policy applies to employment authorization by class of

admission.

1. Aliens Work Authorized Without Specific DHS Authorization

The following lists nonimmigrants, by alien classification, who are

authorized to work in the U.S. without specific authorization from DHS.

The alien's I-94 will not have the DHS employment authorization stamp

and the alien will not have an EAD.

K-1 Fiance(e) of U.S. citizen

[Lorenzo 0]

Why does it seem as if everyone here is in Baltimore?

I was told once the AOS has been approved you can obtain a new SS card without the stamp saying the SS card is only valid for employment with the approval of USCIS-DHS. This is very important to know for the future because with the temp green card you will no longer need an EAD.

[Lorenzo 0]

Sorry, double post.

Edited June 26, 2006 by Lorenzo

[I'm Gone 60]

Why does it seem as if everyone here is in Baltimore?

I was told once the AOS has been approved you can obtain a new SS card without the stamp saying the SS card is only valid for employment with the approval of USCIS-DHS. This is very important to know for the future because with the temp green card you will no longer need an EAD.

When an individual was previously issued an SSN card with “NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT” or “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH INS (or DHS) AUTHORIZATION” printed on it and has been granted permanent residency, he or she can apply for a replacement SSN card that reflects the new immigration status.

An alien granted permanent residency status is eligible to be issued an unrestricted SSN card and will retain the originally assigned SSN.

Documents that establish lawfully admitted for permanent residence (LAPR)

-- I-551 card

NOTE: Some LAPR aliens have conditional 2-year I-551s (Alien Registration Receipt Card), subject to the limitation that they must apply for removal of the conditional basis 90 days before the second anniversary of the admittance date to the United States. A conditional I-551 is identified by an expiration date 2 years later than the admittance/adjudication date is acceptable proof of permanent residency.

-- Temporary I-551

Temporary evidence of immigrant status is issued for an alien to use

until the permanent I-551 card is received. This may be a stamp in the individual's passport or on the I-94.

RM 00203.410 Evidence of Alien Status for an SSN Card for an Alien Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203410

[fskrc1 0]

Just to add...you aren't required to have a ssn for either health insurance, bank account or state ID. Though in most cases for state ID if you don't have an ssn you'll need a ssn denial letter. We were caught in that wonderful gov't catch 22. You need a ssn to get your state ID...go to the SSA and they tell us we need a state ID to get an SSN (name change complicated this)...after getting someone that knew at the DMV found we could get one with a denial letter from the SSA...4 visits later to the DMV and 3 visits to the SSA and we have our ID and SSN(pending anyways)