Can K-3 get social security number

[miker32us 6]

I just spoke with someone at the social security administration who told me she could not give my wife a social security number, that there was no basis for giving one to a K-3 visa holder. Has anyone else found this to be the case? We already have an ITNS number for taxes.

[leroy1999 0]

The person at the SS Office is talking rubbish.

[jtobster 0]

Hi miker32us,

One would assume that a K-3 would hold the same advantages as a K-1 visa. I mean the only difference is that one is for a fiancee and the other is for a spouse. Well I was very upset to find out that this is not the case. A K-1 visa gives the holder the right to a SSN and work authorization. A K-3 visa only allows your spouse into the US and that's it. It's completely ridiculous in my point of view, but unfortunately that's the way it is. You can apply for an EAD (which takes approximately 90 days) and that will give your spouse work authorization and an SSN. However that is up to you because if your immigrant visa comes around sooner than the EAD approval so it would just be a waste of money. I could go on and on forever about the unfairness of it all, but that's the fact of the matter. Hope this helps!

[miker32us 6]

Yes this is exactly what I have read on the SSA website, apparently this was changed recently and now K-3 visa holders must pay an additional amount for the EAD. No longer can a K-3 get a SSN for a drivers license.

Hi miker32us,

One would assume that a K-3 would hold the same advantages as a K-1 visa. I mean the only difference is that one is for a fiancee and the other is for a spouse. Well I was very upset to find out that this is not the case. A K-1 visa gives the holder the right to a SSN and work authorization. A K-3 visa only allows your spouse into the US and that's it. It's completely ridiculous in my point of view, but unfortunately that's the way it is. You can apply for an EAD (which takes approximately 90 days) and that will give your spouse work authorization and an SSN. However that is up to you because if your immigrant visa comes around sooner than the EAD approval so it would just be a waste of money. I could go on and on forever about the unfairness of it all, but that's the fact of the matter. Hope this helps!

[I'm Gone 60]

Yes this is exactly what I have read on the SSA website, apparently this was changed recently and now K-3 visa holders must pay an additional amount for the EAD. No longer can a K-3 get a SSN for a drivers license.

K-3s have never been able to be assigned a work authorized SSN without an EAD card.

SSA did drop needing an SSN for getting a driver's license as a non work reason to be assigned an SSN, but that applied to every non immigrant visa classification, not just K-3s.

[flipicaneze 20]

I just spoke with someone at the social security administration who told me she could not give my wife a social security number, that there was no basis for giving one to a K-3 visa holder. Has anyone else found this to be the case? We already have an ITNS number for taxes.

I had the same problem with my wife's SSN. She can get an SSN as a K-3 if she has a EAD card. Well, our EAD was approved AFTER the CR-6 was approved. So that was useless. Nonetheless, an EAD is not required after the AOS and thus can get her SSN as a CR-6. So that extra fee was bull$#@. IF I could go back I wouldve just saved the money and got her another nice purse or something.

Edited September 19, 2006 by flipicaneze

[kingofbanff 1]

I spent the extra $180 to apply for the EAD. I figure that way my green card will come before the EAD. If I didnt spend the money then my green card would take 2 years.

If you need a drivers liscense, this is what i did in Alabama.

I went to the SSN office and they gave me a letter saying I wasn't eligible for a SSN. I took that to the police and got my permit. Of course they had to see my valid K3 too.

You see, in many places they want to see you SSn so they can check if you are a dead beat dad or owe taxes or a criminal.

Good luck