URGENT!!! We need your help please!

[Jonny&Caitlin 0]

Hello everyone!!

My fiance and I found ourselves in quite a pickle today!

My fiance just arrived one week ago on a K-1 visa, and we were heading to NY state today (we live in New Hampshire), to get our marriage license to be married in two weeks in NYC. Whilst in the process for applying for the marriage license, we were informed that NY state requires both parties to have a social security number in order to recieve the license. As we are getting married in two weeks, we ran to the local social security office to find out that they will not issue my fiance a ssn unless he has proof of employment authorization. But, we cannot obtain this until after we are married and filed for the AOS. This seems like a lose, lose situation but there must be something that covers K-1 visas!

Any suggestions? Comments? Knowledge?!? Please! We are to be married in two weeks from today!

Thank you everyone for all your time and help!! Anything would be helpful right now...

Cheers!!

[johncali9 6]

Hello everyone!!

My fiance and I found ourselves in quite a pickle today!

My fiance just arrived one week ago on a K-1 visa, and we were heading to NY state today (we live in New Hampshire), to get our marriage license to be married in two weeks in NYC. Whilst in the process for applying for the marriage license, we were informed that NY state requires both parties to have a social security number in order to recieve the license. As we are getting married in two weeks, we ran to the local social security office to find out that they will not issue my fiance a ssn unless he has proof of employment authorization. But, we cannot obtain this until after we are married and filed for the AOS. This seems like a lose, lose situation but there must be something that covers K-1 visas!

Any suggestions? Comments? Knowledge?!? Please! We are to be married in two weeks from today!

Thank you everyone for all your time and help!! Anything would be helpful right now...

Cheers!!

Hello friend,

the first I would like to say Congratulation to you and your wife got Married

And second things ,the officer SS tell you wrong ,you may apply the SS with 3 weeks ,because they are add your wife name in the system

John

[zenki_james 0]

is it necessary for u to get married @ new york becoz looks like they have a very strict policy. were from texas and we got married @ washington but they didnt find my social security number i only showed them passport becoz i just arrived under k1 visa and i applied for my ssn a day after my wedding and got the card 3 days after....in my opinion so many places wherein u can get married without needing the ssn. the important is u get married the soonest the possible b4 her stay here will expire....hopefully more people will read ur post and give u more better advice becoz hats all i know...gudluck

Hello everyone!!

My fiance and I found ourselves in quite a pickle today!

My fiance just arrived one week ago on a K-1 visa, and we were heading to NY state today (we live in New Hampshire), to get our marriage license to be married in two weeks in NYC. Whilst in the process for applying for the marriage license, we were informed that NY state requires both parties to have a social security number in order to recieve the license. As we are getting married in two weeks, we ran to the local social security office to find out that they will not issue my fiance a ssn unless he has proof of employment authorization. But, we cannot obtain this until after we are married and filed for the AOS. This seems like a lose, lose situation but there must be something that covers K-1 visas!

Any suggestions? Comments? Knowledge?!? Please! We are to be married in two weeks from today!

Thank you everyone for all your time and help!! Anything would be helpful right now...

Cheers!!

[Christi and Ian 24]

Hello everyone!!

My fiance and I found ourselves in quite a pickle today!

My fiance just arrived one week ago on a K-1 visa, and we were heading to NY state today (we live in New Hampshire), to get our marriage license to be married in two weeks in NYC. Whilst in the process for applying for the marriage license, we were informed that NY state requires both parties to have a social security number in order to recieve the license. As we are getting married in two weeks, we ran to the local social security office to find out that they will not issue my fiance a ssn unless he has proof of employment authorization. But, we cannot obtain this until after we are married and filed for the AOS. This seems like a lose, lose situation but there must be something that covers K-1 visas!

Any suggestions? Comments? Knowledge?!? Please! We are to be married in two weeks from today!

Thank you everyone for all your time and help!! Anything would be helpful right now...

Cheers!!

Fly to Vegas...or perhaps...Atlantic City...?

[Darnell 8,479]

Alrighty - SSN Silly Stuff

He's just come in, yes? There's a db system called SAVE that is used by CBP, and it's not updated in real time.

Bring the passport with the I-94 and Visa Stamp in it.

SSA checks the SAVE database, to see if one is eligible to apply.

The 'answer' you got from a SSA staffer 'tells me' he's not in the SAVE database, yet.

I suggest you go back, each day, tell the staffer is FOR K-1 VISA, and to look in the SAVE database .

IMO, the SSA 'staffer' you talked to , is stupid, moronish, perhaps a recent hire with no training.

Now, go back each day, talk with supervisor if you have to - until the application is ACCEPTED.

If they say 'will be 1 month whilst we verify with USCIS' - thats bullcrap - it usually means they can't find you in the SAVE system.

Come back each day until the application is accepted.

THEN - come back again, 2 days later, to GET THE NUMBER. The card will be mailed within 30 days.

Good Luck !

Edited January 29, 2010 by Darnell

[When2RNLove 6]

Hello everyone!!

My fiance and I found ourselves in quite a pickle today!

My fiance just arrived one week ago on a K-1 visa, and we were heading to NY state today (we live in New Hampshire), to get our marriage license to be married in two weeks in NYC. Whilst in the process for applying for the marriage license, we were informed that NY state requires both parties to have a social security number in order to recieve the license. As we are getting married in two weeks, we ran to the local social security office to find out that they will not issue my fiance a ssn unless he has proof of employment authorization. But, we cannot obtain this until after we are married and filed for the AOS. This seems like a lose, lose situation but there must be something that covers K-1 visas!

Any suggestions? Comments? Knowledge?!? Please! We are to be married in two weeks from today!

Thank you everyone for all your time and help!! Anything would be helpful right now...

Cheers!!

Yes, you were misled. I had my wife apply three days after her arrival and she too was not in the SAVE system either, but she was still allowed to apply and we walked out with a letter stating that her SS Card would be on its way as the Rep would be checking the system later that day after we left the office. We got a second letter in the mail two days later that her legal entry had been verified and the SS Card is on the way. All we used was her I-94 and valid Passport, which is all you should have to provide.

Edited January 29, 2010 by Mike N Julie

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Hard to believe that NYC won't allow people without a SSN to get married, but if you say so . . .

My daughter and her husband, both tourists, got married in Hawaii. Nevada works, Arizona works, California works . . . perhaps you'll have to use plan B and get married somewhere else than New York.

One more reason to hate New York. And I have so many already . . .

[I'm Gone 60]

Hello everyone!!

My fiance and I found ourselves in quite a pickle today!

we ran to the local social security office to find out that they will not issue my fiance a ssn unless he has proof of employment authorization. But, we cannot obtain this until after we are married and filed for the AOS. This seems like a lose, lose situation but there must be something that covers K-1 visas!

Any suggestions? Comments? Knowledge?!?

Which SSA office was this? You have a couple of options. 1 try another SSA office or 2 going back to the same office and ask to speak with a manager if you are again given the same story about need employment authorization, since for SSN purposes, SSA considers the unexpired I-94 showing K-1 status to be employment authorization.

Now no matter where you apply the SSN is not going to be assigned until the K-1 status can be verified. If you are lucky they can do it while you are in the office. Other wise it can another week or even month in sime cases to get the status verified.

[Christi and Ian 24]

Hard to believe that NYC won't allow people without a SSN to get married, but if you say so . . .

It does seem odd. So, only American Citizens and people authorized to work in the U.S. can get married in New York?

[SunDrop 59]

It does seem odd. So, only American Citizens and people authorized to work in the U.S. can get married in New York?

No, because you don't have to be a USC or authorised to work in order to get a SSN. I have one that was issued when I had an L2 visa. Foreign students get them too. You basically have to have a legal residential presence in the US (i.e not a tourist visa entrant). K1 entrants, although are not technically resident until they marry and adjust, qualify because some states do demand a SSN before issuing a marriage license. This is why there is an SSA document that seems to indicate that a K1 is 'work qualified' when in actuality, they need an EAD to comply with the USCIS regulations.

I wish I had it bookmarked, because it's what you need to take with you to the SSA to educate the employee that told you you needed an EAD. It states that you are catagorised as a K1 as eligible for a SSN. I've no doubt that someone will have it for you.

[Christi and Ian 24]

No, because you don't have to be a USC or authorised to work in order to get a SSN. I have one that was issued when I had an L2 visa. Foreign students get them too. You basically have to have a legal residential presence in the US (i.e not a tourist visa entrant). K1 entrants, although are not technically resident until they marry and adjust, qualify because some states do demand a SSN before issuing a marriage license. This is why there is an SSA document that seems to indicate that a K1 is 'work qualified' when in actuality, they need an EAD to comply with the USCIS regulations.

I wish I had it bookmarked, because it's what you need to take with you to the SSA to educate the employee that told you you needed an EAD. It states that you are catagorised as a K1 as eligible for a SSN. I've no doubt that someone will have it for you.

Ah - that makes sense then...

[I'm Gone 60]

No, because you don't have to be a USC or authorised to work in order to get a SSN. I have one that was issued when I had an L2 visa. Foreign students get them too.

Currently you either have to establish work authorization or have a valid non work reason to be assigned an SSN, an exception are E-1, E-2 and L-2 spouses. For them, if they can prove they are married to the principal alien they can be assigned a work authorized SSN. If they can't they need an EAD card to be assigned an SSN.

RM 00203.600 List of Documents Establishing Lawful Alien Status for an SSN Card

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203600

NOTE: When an alien listed below has an (*) next to the description, he/she may work only when DHS grants employment authorization and issues an EAD. When the alien presents an EAD, check the CITIZENSHIP FIELD “Legal alien allowed to work” and code the PRA with an N. When an alien listed below has an (**) next to the description he/she may work only when either DHS grants employment authorization and issues an EAD OR the person presents, in addition to an I-94 showing an E-1, E-2, or L-2 classification of admission code, evidence he/she is the spouse of the principal E-1, E-2 or L-1 alien.

The evidence of marital relationship between the applicant and the principal E-1, E-2, or L-1 alien is a marriage document (issued prior to admission to the U.S. as an E-1, E-2, or L-2 non-immigrant).

RM 00203.470 Evidence for SSN Card — Foreign Student (F-1 and M-1)

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203470

An EAD from DHS is not required for work that is “incident to status” (see RM 00203.470C.2.a. (in this section) but SSA requires documentation of the work. If the student presents the documentation described in RM 00203.470F. and RM 00203.470G. (in this section), the work authorization requirement for assigning an SSN is met.

An EAD from DHS is not required but SSA requires documentation of CPT on page 3 of the student’s I-20 by the school’s DSO. If the student presents the documentation described in RM 00203.470F.2. (in this section), the work authorization requirement for assigning an SSN is met.

A student must apply to DHS for authorization for temporary employment for OPT. If approved by DHS, the student will receive an EAD. If the student presents an EAD per RM 00203.470I. (in this section), the work authorization requirement for assigning an SSN is met.

[mrs. wife! 3]

Fly to Vegas...or perhaps...Atlantic City...?

[SunDrop 59]

In reply to 'I Quit' (I don't want to quote it because it's so long), I was not an L2 spouse, but rather an L1 dependent. I never had an EAD, nor sought one and my SSN card is stamped 'not valid for employment'. But this is going back to 1996, so maybe rules have changed.

This is going to confuse the OP somewhat, because that is the document they need - https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203500#c1 - to take to the SSA office to prove they are entitled to an SSN. The K1 is listed falls under the description:

The following sections list nonimmigrants, by alien class of admission codes, who are authorized to work in the U.S. without specific authorization from DHS. The person’s I-94 will not have the DHS employment authorization stamp and the alien will generally not have an EAD.

Please note : It is the general concensus, through lengthy debate and discussion, that even if this SSA document says that a K1 is authorized to work in the U.S. without specific authorization from DHS, the USCIS regulations that trump this say you MUST have an EAD to work.

[I'm Gone 60]

In reply to 'I Quit' (I don't want to quote it because it's so long), I was not an L2 spouse, but rather an L1 dependent. I never had an EAD, nor sought one and my SSN card is stamped 'not valid for employment'. But this is going back to 1996, so maybe rules have changed.

This is going to confuse the OP somewhat, because that is the document they need - https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203500#c1 - to take to the SSA office to prove they are entitled to an SSN. The K1 is listed falls under the description:

Yes, since 9/11 things have changed a lot. Now a child of a L-1 would be an L-2 and pretty much out of luck on being assigned an SSN until they would file for permanent resident status and then they could be issued an EAD card.

This is what they need to show the office

RM 00203.500 Employment Authorization for Nonimmigrants

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203500

C. Policy - Employment Authorization by Class of Admission

The following sections list nonimmigrants, by alien class of admission codes, who are authorized to work in the U.S. without specific authorization from DHS. The person’s I-94 will not have the DHS employment authorization stamp and the alien will generally not have an EAD.

K-1 Fiancé(e) of U.S. citizen