Fiancee finally set foot in the US

[cchhat01 14]

Well I am finally with my fiancee after months of being separated by the K1 Visa process.

She finally got here on Monday Dec 12, 2011 and we are both very excited about the current and the coming phase of our lives. Married life

POE was very very smooth. The only issue was the long delay in the immigration lines (2 plus hours wait at JFK immigration/fingerprinting, etc). Once she stepped up at the immigration counter, it barely took 5-10 minutes.

While we plan the wedding, I have also started to prepare a list of administrative things which need to be taken care of and I have a few questions about them:

1. Social Security: Is her foreign passport and the I-94 enough of an evidence to obtain a social security card in her name? And is going to the local Social Security Office on this Friday (Dec 16, 2011) too early? I've seen example where someone (Gary's then fiancee and now wife, Alla) applied for Social security the day after arrival and the information was available? So is this friday appropriate to take care of this matter in the sense that SSA will have enough information about my fiancee about her arrival into the country?

2. Joint Bank accounts: Adding her as a co-account holder of my bank accounts/credit cards etc. Does this require SSN or can we just do this at our convenience?

3. NY State issued learner's permit: This will probably have to wait until we get her Social Security Card.

Any other suggestions that can help us along the terms of the AOS?

Even though the K1 process is behind us, I feel we are still in the beginner phase of this journey as we have the AOS and ROC process ahead of us... and then ultimately Naturalization... Long road ahead but I think we're on the right track...

Please help address my concerns above as we move forward in our journey together...

Thanks,

Chigs

[milimelo 4,477]

Moving to Traveling and working during immigration process.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

1. Social Security: Is her foreign passport and the I-94 enough of an evidence to obtain a social security card in her name? And is going to the local Social Security Office on this Friday (Dec 16, 2011) too early? I've seen example where someone (Gary's then fiancee and now wife, Alla) applied for Social security the day after arrival and the information was available? So is this friday appropriate to take care of this matter in the sense that SSA will have enough information about my fiancee about her arrival into the country?

Yes and yes. Wait about 12 to 16 days before going to the SSA office and take a printout of the eligibility with you as the SSA employees are rather dim and ignorant.

2. Joint Bank accounts: Adding her as a co-account holder of my bank accounts/credit cards etc. Does this require SSN or can we just do this at our convenience?

No. It doesn't, but some bank employees are trying to be stupid about it. If that's the case, find another bank. Also keep in mind that you'll have to do this in person, not online.

3. NY State issued learner's permit: This will probably have to wait until we get her Social Security Card.

Yes.

[ryna 132]

Although state dependent (NY may allow a learner's to be issued on an unexpired K-1 w/SSN), the permit will expire on the same day as the K-1 does. More than likely, the Learner's/DL/State ID will have to wait until the EAD arrives (at a minimum). This is a good reason to apply for the EAD (AP as well) with the AOS even if the immigrant has no intention of working (traveling) right away. In many cases, the EAD is the first form of ID that allows the newly arrived to have anything resembling a normal life.

Congrats and good luck!

[Rock81 0]

Although state dependent (NY may allow a learner's to be issued on an unexpired K-1 w/SSN), the permit will expire on the same day as the K-1 does. More than likely, the Learner's/DL/State ID will have to wait until the EAD arrives (at a minimum). This is a good reason to apply for the EAD (AP as well) with the AOS even if the immigrant has no intention of working (traveling) right away. In many cases, the EAD is the first form of ID that allows the newly arrived to have anything resembling a normal life.

Congrats and good luck!

Term validity of DL is not dependent on K1 Visa duration. I got a PA DL with 1 yr validity basis my AOS application. At the time of issuing the DL, DMV took a copy of my AOS application and said that they are issuing a DL with 1 yr validity as it is still under process.

I waited for 2 weeks before going to SSN office, got it in 2 weeks. One more thing that I think you need to do is add her to your insurance which I dont think you will be able to do without SSN. Wait a couple of weeks then apply for SSN - you will receive the card with a couple of weeks, however you can visit the SSN office after 48 hrs of application and get the number which you use for insurance etc. Also, I think the bank does require an SSN for opening an account. I opened a couple of accounts with different banks and they needed SSN.

Another thing, I hope she brought the proof of vacainations with her. You need to find out a doctor tp sign the medical form for her which will be required for filing of AOS application. File for all three together AOS, EAD and AP it makes things easier.

All the Best.

Cheers

[cchhat01 14]

Term validity of DL is not dependent on K1 Visa duration. I got a PA DL with 1 yr validity basis my AOS application. At the time of issuing the DL, DMV took a copy of my AOS application and said that they are issuing a DL with 1 yr validity as it is still under process.

I waited for 2 weeks before going to SSN office, got it in 2 weeks. One more thing that I think you need to do is add her to your insurance which I dont think you will be able to do without SSN. Wait a couple of weeks then apply for SSN - you will receive the card with a couple of weeks, however you can visit the SSN office after 48 hrs of application and get the number which you use for insurance etc. Also, I think the bank does require an SSN for opening an account. I opened a couple of accounts with different banks and they needed SSN.

Another thing, I hope she brought the proof of vacainations with her. You need to find out a doctor tp sign the medical form for her which will be required for filing of AOS application. File for all three together AOS, EAD and AP it makes things easier.

All the Best.

Cheers

We will visit the SSA office next Friday.

But is it completely out of the question to seek a learner permit without filing for AOS/EAD/AP? I thought there is enough documentation to get the Permit with the K1 Visa Arrival record (I-94, passport, credit card, Social Security Card, etc).

With respect to the vaccination records, she left the docs in India, and that's the first thing I asked her when she was done with Immigration and Customs&Border... My reaction was ... But its not big deal as the documents can easily be couriered to us here for the AOS purpose....

Chigs

[ryna 132]

You're going to have to check with the NY Dept of Motor Vehicles regarding the requirements in your state.

FL requires an EAD before issuing a license or ID. PA appears to be one of the more generous states if it allows a DL/ID to be issued upon application for AOS. Some states require the Green Card or I-551 stamp before issuing a license or ID for a K-1 arrival. In any event, before filing for AOS, the expiration of the I-94 for the K-1 entry would be the maximum time allowed on any license/ID, if the state is RealID-compliant. So, if NY will issue one, you'll have to weigh whether it is worth it to you to get something that is valid for a maximum of 90 days (realistically, 60 days or less due to waiting for the SSN to arrive which can be an entirely different adventure).

[cchhat01 14]

I just checked the requirements and we will have the necessary documents for a Learner Permit/State ID.

See this: http://www.nydmv.sta.../forms/id44.pdf

"Foreign Passport with a Visa and a valid I-94 issued by INS/DHS. Passport must be in English or translated by an embassy." 3 points with proof of birth

"US Social Security Card" 2 points

"Credit Card" 1 point

6 points required

Now if what people here are stating about the expiration date of the State ID being the same as the expiration of the I-94 record (K1 Visa), then I think there is not point in getting this done right now... But I will most certainly check with the NYS DMV by calling them first.

Chigs

Edited December 15, 2011 by Ami&Chigs

[ryna 132]

I just checked the requirements and we will have the necessary documents for a Learner Permit/State ID.

See this: http://www.nydmv.sta.../forms/id44.pdf

"Foreign Passport with a Visa and a valid I-94 issued by INS/DHS. Passport must be in English or translated by an embassy." 3 points with proof of birth

"US Social Security Card" 2 points

"Credit Card" 1 point

6 points required

Now if what people here are stating about the expiration date of the State ID being the same as the expiration of the I-94 record (K1 Visa), then I think there is not point in getting this done right now... But I will most certainly check with the NYS DMV by calling them first.

Chigs

It's always good to check directly with the state on driver license issues because each state is different and what is acceptable in one state might not be in another. Also, many states changed their laws within the last 12-24 months to comply with new Federal regulations, so even advice from a person in your own state may be out of date.

[cchhat01 14]

I just called NYS DMV, told them of which documents I plan to use (see above) and they said they are all acceptable and a permit will be issued if my fiancee passes the written test. I double-checked on the expiration of the I-94 and they told me the permit will be issued for a period of 5 years. Go figure.

They will be sending me a ready-pack for my fiancee to prepare for the written test etc... Good stuff.

Chigs

[ryna 132]

I just called NYS DMV, told them of which documents I plan to use (see above) and they said they are all acceptable and a permit will be issued if my fiancee passes the written test. I double-checked on the expiration of the I-94 and they told me the permit will be issued for a period of 5 years. Go figure.

They will be sending me a ready-pack for my fiancee to prepare for the written test etc... Good stuff.

Chigs

Excellent news!

I wish Florida would be so accommodating. My wife's Learner's expires with her EAD and she'd been putting off taking her driving test until the Green Card arrived so it would be good for at least 2 years, instead of the remaining 5 months of the EAD. Not that it's a big deal as it's such a little part of the overall expense of immigrating, but it irritates me to have to pay the same amount for her license of 1 yr (or even 2 years) that I pay for mine which lasts for 8 years. It would be different if they pro-rated them, but they don't (in FL).

[cchhat01 14]

Aaargh... Well before I can inform my fiancee on how to fill out the Social Security Application, she went ahead and got it done according to what the clerk at the office told her to fill out.

In Citizenship where most people here have indicated "Legal Alien Allowed to work," she checked off "Other" as she was told by the clerk at the Social Security office.

Will this have any bearing on what information is placed on her Social Security Card?

She went with my dad to the office and didn't have any cellphone on her otherwise I would have told her to tick off the right box. By the time my dad (he had a cellphone on him) was done parking the car, she was done with the application.

Will this have any impact on the SS Card that she will be issued?

Chigs

[ceadsearc 516]

That is fine. She is not an alien allowed to work as she doesn't have an EAD or green card yet. Her SS will reflect that she can't work without DHS authorization.

[cchhat01 14]

Thank you all for all the advice and suggestions...