Just received my K-1 and have a few questions

[buster2209 2]

I just received my K-1 (fiancée) Visa today and I have a few questions;

1 - Do I have to go through the process of applying online for the Visa Waiver Form (ESTA)? My logic says no but I just want to make sure

2 - How do I go about being legal to work? Can I only legally work once I have successfully applied for and received my green card?

Thanks in advance

[rmncm 0]

You use your K1 Visa to enter the US, no other visa is needed. After you marry, within the 90 days you can apply for your AOS and EAD. From what I have been reading this takes a few months.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

No ESTA, that's for visa waiver people. YOu have a visa.

You can work with the green card and also with EAD approval which normally will come a little faster than the GC.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I just received my K-1 (fiancée) Visa today and I have a few questions;

1 - Do I have to go through the process of applying online for the Visa Waiver Form (ESTA)? My logic says no but I just want to make sure

2 - How do I go about being legal to work? Can I only legally work once I have successfully applied for and received my green card?

Thanks in advance

1. No. You have a visa so you do not need a visa waiver.

2. Arrive, get married and apply for AOS and EAD. You CAN get a SS card immediately and I suggest you do, but apply in your maiden name. If you want to change your name with SS, do it after your green card is in hand.

[buster2209 2]

Thank You for the quick replies

I actually bothered to open my passport last night and SAW the actual VISA in there. I was confused as the envelope containing the files my fiancée and I have filled in over the past 9 months suggested that IT was the VISA.

You live and learn..... lol

Thanks for the answering the second question, I figured it was like that but it's reassuring to get it from the horses mouth so to speak

Edited May 29, 2009 by buster2209

[sunshine2 0]

1. No. You have a visa so you do not need a visa waiver.

2. Arrive, get married and apply for AOS and EAD. You CAN get a SS card immediately and I suggest you do, but apply in your maiden name. If you want to change your name with SS, do it after your green card is in hand.

Agreed - no ESTA needed. I applied for SS in married name - saves having to mess around with name changes later.

From my experience, and what i've read of others struggling to change their name on everything months down the line, it is much easier to change your last name as soon as you marry: Apply for everything (AOS, EAD, AP etc) in married name (just put maiden name where it asks for it, like when asks for name on I-94..) then you can also go get SS, driving license etc etc in married name. I have never had to use my maiden name for anything since getting married, so no need for me to go back to all those offices to get names changed at a later date