What to do after arrival into US?

[Raxx 0]

Hey,

My wife just arrived here into the US from Cambodia about 2 weeks ago. My laywer seems like he's been a little slack lately with my paper work. So I don't know all the details of all the papers that have been filed.

I just like to know what else I need to do from here.

Do I have to go to the court house and get a marriage license? Some people are telling me that since I got married in Cambodia that I don't need to get a marriage license here in the US. And some people are telling me that I do have to go get one.

I went to the social security office about a week ago to apply for her SSN. They turned me down because I didn't have a I-94 form or a green card. Well my wife says that the airport took her I-94 form. Which I don't know if read and remembered if that was actually the I-94 form.

Well I called my laywer and he told me that he filed the SSN and Green card together so it should come at the same time.

any other details and advice would be helpful.

Thanks

Edited August 2, 2009 by Raxx

[Dakine 26]

Hey,

My wife just arrived here into the US from Cambodia about 2 weeks ago. My laywer seems like he's been a little slack lately with my paper work. So I don't know all the details of all the papers that have been filed.

I just like to know what else I need to do from here.

Do I have to go to the court house and get a marriage license? Some people are telling me that since I got married in Cambodia that I don't need to get a marriage license here in the US. And some people are telling me that I do have to go get one.

I went to the social security office about a week ago to apply for her SSN. They turned me down because I didn't have a I-94 form or a green card. Well my wife says that the airport took her I-94 form. Which I don't know if read and remembered if that was actually the I-94 form.

Well I called my laywer and he told me that he filed the SSN and Green card together so it should come at the same time.

any other details and advice would be helpful.

Thanks

If your wife is a CR-1 or IR-1 she will get the GC and SS card in the mail within a month of arrival.

Lawyer didn't apply for anything. There's a place on the DS 230 visa application to check if you want the SS card.

Did she get a I-551 stamp in her passport?

If she did that is her temporary GC.

Edited August 2, 2009 by Haole

[Raxx 0]

Did she get a I-551 stamp in her passport?

I don't know but I will check when I have a chance to see her passport.

I'm still wondering if I still have to go get a marriage license? We live in South Carolina.

thanks Haole

Edited August 2, 2009 by Raxx

[Kathryn41 3,205]

No. If she arrived on either the K-3 or the CR-1 that means that the US has recognized your foreign marriage as legal. You're already married - no need to get married again in the US. Both those categories are 'spousal' sponsorships - she has to be your legal wife to qualify.

If you arrived on a K-3, you won't get a green card or a SSN - you need to apply for AOS to get the green card and either wait for the green card or apply for Employment Authorization to get a SSN.

If you arrived on a CR-1, there should be a stamp in her passport admitting her to the US and she will receive her green card in the mail. You should be able to use the stamp in her passport to get a SSN, although it too 'may' be mailed to you.

Edited August 2, 2009 by Kathryn41

[Dakine 26]

Alls I can say is we were married in the Philippines and we weren't required to get a MV in the US. I never heard of suc a requirement.