Social Security Card and Working

[jingo 38]

Hi all,

I went and applied for my Social Security number yesterday and it all went smoothly.

The woman at the counter told me that I was allowed to work on a K1 visa and that the SS card would say this.

I told her I haven't applied for my greencard yet, and that I thought I had to get a work authorization first.

She then assured me that I can work, its just up to the employer.

Is this accurate?

Anyway, I am going crazy having nothing to do while my fiance and all my friends have work/class everyday. Am I allowed to volunteer or do unpaid internships in the meantime?

[* Kristin * 49]

Unfortunately, no, you cannot work on a K1 visa. Once you are married and file for AOS, you will receive your EAD card, which will then entitle you to work until you AOS is processed and you receive your green card.

When you receive your SS card, it will say something like "Employment valid with DSS authorization only"

I don't have my husband's in front of me right now, but it's something along those lines.

Hi all,

I went and applied for my Social Security number yesterday and it all went smoothly.

The woman at the counter told me that I was allowed to work on a K1 visa and that the SS card would say this.

I told her I haven't applied for my greencard yet, and that I thought I had to get a work authorization first.

She then assured me that I can work, its just up to the employer.

Is this accurate?

Anyway, I am going crazy having nothing to do while my fiance and all my friends have work/class everyday. Am I allowed to volunteer or do unpaid internships in the meantime?

[tom&tanya 48]

Previous post is correct, you CANNOT work without authorization from USCIS. (EAD or GC)

[jingo 38]

And volunteering?

[EmmillJ 1]

You can volunteer. You're just not allowed to legally take paid work in the meantime, unfortunately. You can also sign up for non-credit courses as a non-matriculated student if you just want to learn something new and keep yourself busy.

Edited September 14, 2011 by EmmillJ

[jingo 38]

What does non-matriculated student mean?

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Most people who work at the SSA are not very knowledgeable.

The K-1 is a non-immigrant visa. A K-1 is entitled to a SSN and the card will read "Valid with DHS authorization only." The DHS authorization is either a work visa, the EAD card, or the Green Card.

Strictly speaking a K-1 cannot work and cannot do any volunteer work that would qualify as work. If you walk your neighbor's dog then a professional dog walker or U.S. citizen or LPR won't get paid. Uncle Sam doesn't like that. If that was different, people would work jobs without getting paid (officially) even with visitor's visas, thus avoiding a lot of paperwork. Not so.

You are lawfully present, thus you can go to school. You won't be eligible for in-state tuition for a year though, and that means going to school is quite expensive.

A non-matriculated student is one that has not been formally accepted as a student by the school. One can take classes at any college or university, at a price, and especially during a summer break many people take advantage of that. Under many circumstances those credits can be transferred later on.

[jingo 38]

This period of non-work is an utterly ridiculous rule that they should work on fixing. It makes no sense.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

And volunteering?

You can volunteer as long as you will NEVER get paid by that job. For example. Some people ask whether they can volunteer for their future employer until their EAD/GC arrives.. and no they can't because they will in the future get paid so they're working for gain.

[JoannaV 174]

Unpaid work no. Charitable volunteering yes. If it's the kind of thing that no-one would be getting paid for then it would seem a safe bet.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Hi all,

I went and applied for my Social Security number yesterday and it all went smoothly.

The woman at the counter told me that I was allowed to work on a K1 visa and that the SS card would say this.

I told her I haven't applied for my greencard yet, and that I thought I had to get a work authorization first.

She then assured me that I can work, its just up to the employer.

Is this accurate?

Anyway, I am going crazy having nothing to do while my fiance and all my friends have work/class everyday. Am I allowed to volunteer or do unpaid internships in the meantime?

The Social Security card will say. "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION". You need to wait for your EAD to get that authorization.

[I'm Gone 60]

And volunteering?

You can't volunteer if the position is one that is normally a paid position. Making coffee at Starbucks, No. Giving out coffee at the Red Cross, Yes.

[I'm Gone 60]

Most people who work at the SSA are not very knowledgeable.

You cann't blame this one on SSA employees. He or she shouldn't be asking work authorization related questions to SSA employees. He might as well had asked them how to put up wallpaper too, and I guess the SSA employees would have been dumb if they gave the wrong info.

[jingo 38]

You cann't blame this one on SSA employees. He or she shouldn't be asking work authorization related questions to SSA employees. He might as well had asked them how to put up wallpaper too, and I guess the SSA employees would have been dumb if they gave the wrong info.

SHE only asked them about it because the woman gave me a letter saying I was eligible to work, which I knew to be false.

Social Security is work-related. They should know exactly who is and isn't allowed to work in their country.

Edited September 15, 2011 by jingo

[I'm Gone 60]

Social Security is work-related. They should know exactly who is and isn't allowed to work in their country.

What paper said she was work authorized? Does it have aform number.

The Social Security Administration has zero, zip, nada to do about work authorization. When any alien applies for an SSN, SSA verifies his or her immigration status by accessing immigration data, or contacted them.