She's here.... what now?

[slim 1,525]

So... she's here. What now?

Elena arrived on Tuesday night. She passed through JFK and got the temporary employment stamp in her passport. They kept the rest of her packet though, so all she has is her passport with a visa stamped with employment authorization, and an A#. She brought with her too a Russian driver's license.

Today we were looking at jobs online, and started applying for one. We had to stop where it said Social Security # and the little light in my head went off: "Wait a minute, we were supposed to go get you a social this week."

I guess we should go to the social security office, then maybe go to the Ohio BMV for a (possible) local DL or ID card, and then what? Should we be applying for any AOS or anything like that before getting married? I know AKDiver had all their stuff ready to drop in the mail upon marriage. I would like to do the same.

Another thing... I've never been married before, so where do I get the marriage license, the courthouse? Maybe google can help me out here. We're going to do the "documents only" wedding, so that should make things pretty simple.

Any thoughts, tips, etc., would be appreciated. Thanks guys, (and girls... and even the A/Ws that are here.... here's your chance to "contribute" to this forum!)

[payxibka 10,045]

So... she's here. What now?

Elena arrived on Tuesday night. She passed through JFK and got the temporary employment stamp in her passport. They kept the rest of her packet though, so all she has is her passport with a visa stamped with employment authorization, and an A#. She brought with her too a Russian driver's license.

Today we were looking at jobs online, and started applying for one. We had to stop where it said Social Security # and the little light in my head went off: "Wait a minute, we were supposed to go get you a social this week."

I guess we should go to the social security office, then maybe go to the Ohio BMV for a (possible) local DL or ID card, and then what? Should we be applying for any AOS or anything like that before getting married? I know AKDiver had all their stuff ready to drop in the mail upon marriage. I would like to do the same.

Another thing... I've never been married before, so where do I get the marriage license, the courthouse? Maybe google can help me out here. We're going to do the "documents only" wedding, so that should make things pretty simple.

Any thoughts, tips, etc., would be appreciated. Thanks guys, (and girls... and even the A/Ws that are here.... here's your chance to "contribute" to this forum!)

You cannot adjust her status until she is out of status.. ie... married... You can certainly preapare all the documents but cannot file the until after you marry

Yup, marriage certificate at the courthouse

[russ 1]

So... she's here. What now?

I guess we should go to the social security office, then maybe go to the Ohio BMV for a (possible) local DL or ID card, and then what? Should we be applying for any AOS or anything like that before getting married? I know AKDiver had all their stuff ready to drop in the mail upon marriage. I would like to do the same.

Another thing... I've never been married before, so where do I get the marriage license, the courthouse? Maybe google can help me out here. We're going to do the "documents only" wedding, so that should make things pretty simple.

Any thoughts, tips, etc., would be appreciated. Thanks guys, (and girls... and even the A/Ws that are here.... here's your chance to "contribute" to this forum!)

You are in luck - these are all easy problems!

As for the SSN, the K-1/EAD is enough to get it. Do this as soon as possible, after the 90 days on the I-94 they won't process it.

Try to get a driver's license ASAP too. Driving test will probably be necessary, but it is much easier than waiting.

The AOS is a lot of paperwork, might as well get started now. If you can get it in the mail the day after you are married, excellent. The sooner it goes out, the sooner you get biometrics, EAD, and AOS interview. Don't worry about having extra evidence - you can bring it all to the interview, and there will be plenty of time between AOS filing and the interview to open bank accounts, etc. The only thing they cared about at our AOS interview was the date we married, and that we had lots of joint financial accounts. I only sent one tax return, and that was fine with them.

Getting married should be easy. Call the Clerk's office at your local courthouse and ask. It is slightly different in every state (may be a waiting period, different fees, etc). Mostly, you both go there, pay them some money and show them your passports. Then go back, and pick up a marriage license. Whoever marries you signs it, sends it to the clerk, and you get a marriage certificate. Pretty easy stuff-

GOOD LUCK! I'm very happy for both of you - you have been waiting for far too long! This is the fun part now.

[Welshcookie 17]

Welcome to your new home Elena Hope you both have a great life together

[akdiver 3]

So... she's here. What now?

I covered this pretty well in my one-year report. If you want a checklist of things you should do, check it out:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=30844

Generall, the order goes something like this:

• state ID card
  
• SSN card
  
• driver's license
  
• marriage document
  
• open joint accounts (may want to wait until you have certified/recorded marriage cert in hand
  
• file AOS/EAD
  
• name change issues
  

Room for some variation on joint accounts if you want to wait until she has something with official name change info on it. What we sent for AOS was not good enough for banks and SSN and we had to wait weeks for the recorded marriage certificate.

Elena arrived on Tuesday night. She passed through JFK and got the temporary employment stamp in her passport. They kept the rest of her packet though, so all she has is her passport with a visa stamped with employment authorization, and an A#. She brought with her too a Russian driver's license.

That stamp is only good for 90 days. Odds are good you will use some of that time getting an SSN and finding a job. Your AOS will not be done in 90 days, so she will have to either quit, or get a reguar EAD card, which she can't do until you submit AOS. My advice is to do both ASAP after getting married.

Today we were looking at jobs online, and started applying for one. We had to stop where it said Social Security # and the little light in my head went off: "Wait a minute, we were supposed to go get you a social this week."

Yeah, you need to do that.

I guess we should go to the social security office, then maybe go to the Ohio BMV for a (possible) local DL or ID card, and then what? Should we be applying for any AOS or anything like that before getting married? I know AKDiver had all their stuff ready to drop in the mail upon marriage. I would like to do the same.

Can't AOS until after you get married.

Another thing... I've never been married before, so where do I get the marriage license, the courthouse? Maybe google can help me out here. We're going to do the "documents only" wedding, so that should make things pretty simple.

County clerk's office is your best bet.

If you're not delaying marriage for some particualr reason (i.e. having an event, waiting for relatives, etc.), then go to the county clerk's office and get the marriage license. Rules vary, but that may be enough, or you may need to have a little thing in front of a magistrate to seal the deal. Once you have that, then you can apply for AOS and EAD at the same time, and AP if you want/ need it. You can put that stuff in the mail the same day as you get married, but you need to include a copy of your marriage certificate, not just the license.There may be a significant delay in getting a marriage certificate, as generally it is a recorded document and there are delays. When you talk to the county clerk, tell them you want to get a certified copy (I'd get two if I were you) of your marriage certificate ASAP and you don't care how much extra you have to pay. You need that for filing AOS, which is something you want to do as soon as you can. If/when you have to do a little thing in front of the magistrate, be sure to mention again that you need to get a certified copy of your marrige certificate - and tell why if you want to.

The temp EAD will almost certainly expire before you get your AOS completed, so when you filing for AOS, I advise filing for EAD at the same time. That way, she can get a job and keep it without worrying about the 90 days expiration.

Highly recommend getting a state ID card right away - as soon as you can. Today, tomorrow. Rules vary, but many states want you to have a SSN for a DL, but generally not for a ID card. Also, the unexpired EAD stamp in the passport along with visa info should be enough. Generally people at the DMV are clueless and feel their job is to deny whatever you want. If you don't get satisifcation with the first clerk, do not hestitate to ask for a supervisor. REVIEW THE REQUIREMENTS FOR GETTING AN ID CARD BEFORE YOU GO! Most DMVs have this info on their website now. Having that ID card will be good because she will not have to carry her passport everywhere, risking losing it. That would not be good. Anyway, for us, all they wanted to see to get the ID card was her passport with the K1 visa - that was good enough. They didn't want an SSN (which we didn't have that first day), marriage info, or anything else. For the DL, she had to have a SSN.

Hope this helps - be sure to check out that link to the other thread at the top of this message.

Cheers!

AKDiver

[Jim_Tanja 1]

Highly recommend going to the web site right away and check what docs are required for an ID card. In Michigan we need ID card for the marriage license. To get ID card we need some sort of proof of residency, ie. both names on some utility bill.

I am sure many states are different, but you might wish to check it out asap to avoid any surprises...

Jim

So... she's here. What now?

I covered this pretty well in my one-year report. If you want a checklist of things you should do, check it out:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=30844

Generall, the order goes something like this:

• state ID card
  
• SSN card
  
• driver's license
  
• marriage document
  
• open joint accounts (may want to wait until you have certified/recorded marriage cert in hand
  
• file AOS/EAD
  
• name change issues
  

Room for some variation on joint accounts if you want to wait until she has something with official name change info on it. What we sent for AOS was not good enough for banks and SSN and we had to wait weeks for the recorded marriage certificate.

Elena arrived on Tuesday night. She passed through JFK and got the temporary employment stamp in her passport. They kept the rest of her packet though, so all she has is her passport with a visa stamped with employment authorization, and an A#. She brought with her too a Russian driver's license.

That stamp is only good for 90 days. Odds are good you will use some of that time getting an SSN and finding a job. Your AOS will not be done in 90 days, so she will have to either quit, or get a reguar EAD card, which she can't do until you submit AOS. My advice is to do both ASAP after getting married.

Today we were looking at jobs online, and started applying for one. We had to stop where it said Social Security # and the little light in my head went off: "Wait a minute, we were supposed to go get you a social this week."

Yeah, you need to do that.

I guess we should go to the social security office, then maybe go to the Ohio BMV for a (possible) local DL or ID card, and then what? Should we be applying for any AOS or anything like that before getting married? I know AKDiver had all their stuff ready to drop in the mail upon marriage. I would like to do the same.

Can't AOS until after you get married.

Another thing... I've never been married before, so where do I get the marriage license, the courthouse? Maybe google can help me out here. We're going to do the "documents only" wedding, so that should make things pretty simple.

County clerk's office is your best bet.

If you're not delaying marriage for some particualr reason (i.e. having an event, waiting for relatives, etc.), then go to the county clerk's office and get the marriage license. Rules vary, but that may be enough, or you may need to have a little thing in front of a magistrate to seal the deal. Once you have that, then you can apply for AOS and EAD at the same time, and AP if you want/ need it. You can put that stuff in the mail the same day as you get married, but you need to include a copy of your marriage certificate, not just the license.There may be a significant delay in getting a marriage certificate, as generally it is a recorded document and there are delays. When you talk to the county clerk, tell them you want to get a certified copy (I'd get two if I were you) of your marriage certificate ASAP and you don't care how much extra you have to pay. You need that for filing AOS, which is something you want to do as soon as you can. If/when you have to do a little thing in front of the magistrate, be sure to mention again that you need to get a certified copy of your marrige certificate - and tell why if you want to.

The temp EAD will almost certainly expire before you get your AOS completed, so when you filing for AOS, I advise filing for EAD at the same time. That way, she can get a job and keep it without worrying about the 90 days expiration.

Highly recommend getting a state ID card right away - as soon as you can. Today, tomorrow. Rules vary, but many states want you to have a SSN for a DL, but generally not for a ID card. Also, the unexpired EAD stamp in the passport along with visa info should be enough. Generally people at the DMV are clueless and feel their job is to deny whatever you want. If you don't get satisifcation with the first clerk, do not hestitate to ask for a supervisor. REVIEW THE REQUIREMENTS FOR GETTING AN ID CARD BEFORE YOU GO! Most DMVs have this info on their website now. Having that ID card will be good because she will not have to carry her passport everywhere, risking losing it. That would not be good. Anyway, for us, all they wanted to see to get the ID card was her passport with the K1 visa - that was good enough. They didn't want an SSN (which we didn't have that first day), marriage info, or anything else. For the DL, she had to have a SSN.

Hope this helps - be sure to check out that link to the other thread at the top of this message.

Cheers!

AKDiver

[Larry and Maria 0]

Congratulations to you both!

Welcome to your new life, Elena!

Lot's of good advice given.

One matter of the SSN: others noted to wait at least 2 weeks for her POE info to get propogated throughout all systems.

We found that to be good; I think we went about three weeks later and literally in 7 days she got the card.

On it was stamped "Valid for work only with DHS authorization."

My take on this is EAD. Period. According to my bank, even though they put her on the account, she couldn't really be official until they had the SSN and they claimed it was federal law and quoted something.

I understand that some get the work ok stamped at POE; we came in through JFK, too.

We didn't bother with the stamp request.

The reason? Other have pointed out, and I believe rightly so, that work authorization at POE is only good for the 90 days of the I-94.

OH! BTW, Slim! I don't think you didn't mention the I-94. You've got to have that for some of the apps; I don't remember which; I think I sent it in with all three: AOS, AP, and EAD. I-94 she needs.

So if she's going to get a job, my understanding is she can't continue it if she doesn't get the EAD by the time the I-94 expires, i.e., 90 days after POE. The date's on the I-94. And she can't apply to adjust status until ya'll are married. That cuts down 90 days. And of course a SSN is needed as well as a filled out I-9.

Actually, the documentation for all three of the AOS docs, AOS-EAD-AP, isn't so bad. Just clone the G-325A, update what's required [blessed little except address and possibly unemployed], copy all the info as necessary into all other docs incl new stuff like SSN, A#, new address, being married, and the sponsorship doc's been revised too that if you have above the 125% poverty, the doc has more pages than you have to fill in.

When you get married, get as many official marriage certificates as you can; I'd suggest at least half-dozen. Some places will not take a photocopy and you don't want to hold something up until you get an official copy. In FL they cost about $2.50 each so it won't rob the food bill.

It takes time to get her on all your stuff; you'll have to start now; when the rubber meets the road is when she goes for interview and both you have to prove you're a legit couple married. Bank acocunts, rental agreements, auto title, house title, all insurances, her as beneficiary, brokerage accounts, in short: if you are one it, then she gets put on it. The only exceptions would be IRA type accounts, burial plots [excuse the dark humor] ... you get the gist!

And if you do all three apps, AP she needs if ya'll intend for her to exit and reenter the US before approval ... and since you don't know how long the approval will take ... my take is get AP regardless. And you need then 6 passport pics, two for each of the three apps.

All the best and keep the cards and letters coming!

[slim 1,525]

Thanks for all the info guys!

I'll keep you updated on our progress.

[CarolineM 0]

everyone's pretty much covered everything!!

Glad she's finally here SLim! Enjoy.

[skinsfan 0]

everything mentioned is correct...but, unless your lady is very comfortable in English, get her in an ESL class ASAP.....finding a job w/o English skills can be difficult.

[Satellite 1]

finding a job w/o English skills can be difficult.

Depends what job and where you are at. I am sure there at at least a million undocumented people who speak only spanish who manage to find a job here in California!

[I'm Gone 60]

An individual with K-1 status applying for a work authorized SSN must present evidence to establish his or her age, identity and current lawful employment authorized status.

An individual needs to provide at least two documents as evidence to establish age, identity and current lawful employment authorized status.

SSA will not assign an SSN or issue a card to an individual that is within 14 days of his or her alien status expiring. Until the 76th day after entry an individual with K-1 status only needs to provide an unexpired I-94 showing current K-1 status to establish employment authorized status for SSN purposes.

Once, an individual with K-1 status has been in the United States 76 days he or she will need another document, i.e. I-551, I-688B or I-766 to establish employment authorized status for SSN purposes.

RM 00203.500 Employment Authorization for Nonimmigrants:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203500#C1

RM 00203.410 Evidence of Alien Status for an SSN Card for an Alien Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203410

Suggest that individuals apply for a corrected SSN card to update the SSN record when there has been a name change due to marriage.

Only the marriage document (foreign or domestic) is needed if it meets the following criteria:

-- The new name can be derived from the marriage document, i.e. bride takes the groom's last name, groom takes bride's last name, compound name (with or without hyphen) of each spouse's original name for either or both parties.

Note: State law must also allow the type of name change wishing to be made

-- The marriage occurred within the past two years

-- The marriage document shows sufficient identifying information, e.g., biographical data such as age, date of birth or parent's names, and

-- The identifying information matches the information on his/her current Social Security number record.

The applicant will need to submit an identity document in the old name along with the marriage document if:

-- The marriage occurred within the last two years and has biographical information, e.g., age, date of birth or parent's names which does not match our records, e.g., the SSN record.

-- The marriage occurred within the last two years, but does not show biographical information, or

-- The marriage occurred over two years ago (with or without biographical information.)

The identity document used to establish the old name must match the name on the current SSN record. The identity document is acceptable even if over two years old or expired.

When issuing immigration documents, the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security issue them in the person’s legal name. The legal name is also generally the name in which the foreign passport was issued.

When an alien applies for an SSN card, SSA presumes the name on the immigration document is the legal name unless the applicant presents evidence of a legal name change (e.g., marriage) that occurred after the immigration document was issued.

This is in addition to proof of current lawful employment authorized status.

You can find detailed information regarding changing SSN record (Numident) data on the SSA Website at:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203210

http://tinyurl.com/f7s8l

When requesting an SSN card, the documents presented, as evidence must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. SSA will not accept uncertified or notarized photocopies as evidence.

“If the applicant has no immediate need for the SSN and the translation can be done promptly or the foreign language document is the only evidence available; have the document translated by an authorized translator and use the document as evidence.”

“If the applicant has a pressing need for an SSN, and evidence other than the foreign language document is available; request other evidence and process the application without the foreign language document.”

RM 00203.040 Reviewing SSN Evidence:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203040#B3

GN 00301.340 Authorized Translators Defined:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0200301340

If a foreign-born person has the foreign birth certificate (BC) in his/her possession or can easily obtain a copy, he or she must submit it as proof of age. When a person is foreign-born, a BC may not exist, may not have been recorded shortly after birth, or the probative value of the document may not be high. In these situations, SSA can accept alternative evidence of age in order of probative value. The alternative evidence of age may be less than a year old, e.g., a DHS document or passport.

You can find detailed information regarding evidence that establishes age on the SSA Website at:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203110

The documents acceptable as evidence of identity are now based on three factors: (1) the applicant’s age, (2) the applicant’s citizenship/alien status, and (3) the relative probative value of documents.

Any document used to establish identity must meet the following criteria:

-- The document provides information the reviewer can compare with the data on the form SS-5 (e.g., the person's name, as well as age, date of birth, or parents' names) and/or

-- The document provides information the reviewer can compare with the applicant (e.g., physical description, photograph).

NOTE: A non-picture identity document should have the person's name as well as information that can be compared to the SSN record, the applicant or other documents submitted (e.g., age, date of birth, or parents' names).

However, the acceptability of an identity document must be evaluated on a case by case basis by the office processing the application, taking into consideration the applicant's situation and exploring what evidence is available for the person.

You can find detailed information regarding evidence that establishes identity on the SSA Website at:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203200#E6

SSA will not accept an application filing receipt or notice of action as proof of current lawful employment authorized status.

Take the required documents, to the nearest Social Security office. Individuals age 12 or older applying for an original SSN and card must apply in person at one of our offices.

You can obtain the address and directions to the nearest Social Security office from the Social Security Office Locator, which is available on the Internet at:

http://www.ssa.gov/locator

Normally, an SSN card should be received in the mail within two weeks after the application and document(s) have been received and verified.

When an alien requests an SSN or replacement/corrected SSN card, SSA will verify his or her documents and current status with the appropriate Bureau of the Department of Homeland Security. If verification is not available through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system, SSA will send Form G-845 for manual verification.

RM 00203.720 Verifying Immigration Documents:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203720

Note: If the applicant has changed his/her name after an immigration document, i.e. I-94, was issued, e.g., married and is now using the married name, but has not obtained a corrected immigration document showing the new name; this is not a name discrepancy for enumeration purposes, i.e. SAVE clearance, if the applicant can provide an acceptable legal name change document to establish the new name.

The 14 day status expiration limit for assigning an SSN and/or issuing a card applies even if an individual submitted his or her application before being within the 14 day period and entered the 14 day period while waiting for his or her status to be verified.

If the SSA office does send the G-845, suggest that you go back to the SSA office no more that once week with your documents to (1) ask them to check SAVE again (2) ask if they sent a G-845 (3) if yes, did it come back (4) after 30 days ask if they have followed up on the G-845 by calling or sending another mark “second request.”

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203735

RM 00203.735 Requesting Online (Primary) Verification By SAVE

You can try calling the SSA Regional Office if you have waited at least 30 days and your local SSA office doesn't seem to be concerned about following up on the G-845

http://www.ssa.gov/otherssasites/

Refer them to:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203740

RM 00203.740 Requesting Additional (Manual) Verification By DHS

Step 6

DHS should respond to SSA within 15 federal work days after receiving the Form G-845. If DHS does not respond within 15 federal work days from the receipt of the G-845 from SSA, follow-up with the DHS, USCIS Immigration Status office. (Allow 15 days plus five additional federal work days of mail time for the G-845 to be received at and returned from DHS. Follow local practice to follow-up with DHS.

Some SSA offices have an arrangement with the DHS, USCIS office to telephone for the follow-up contact; other SSA offices send a copy of the original G-845 annotated “second request.”) If the DHS response is still not received within 15 federal work days after the follow-up contact (if the follow-up is by mail allow five additional federal work days of mail time for the G-845 to be received at and returned from DHS), make a second follow-up contact. If the DHS response is not received within 15 federal workdays (again, if the follow-up is by mail, allow five additional federal work days of mail time for the G-845 to be received at and returned from DHS), after two follow-ups, contact the Regional Office (RO). Also report to the RO any trend that shows a serious deviation by DHS from the above time frames. The RO will consult with central office.

All cards are mailed from Social Security Headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland to the postal address provided on the Form SS-5.

You may find additional SSN and employment information on the Internal Revenue Service Website at:

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/intern...=129227,00.html

[travlnmannn 0]

B)

finding a job w/o English skills can be difficult.

Depends what job and where you are at. I am sure there at at least a million undocumented people who speak only spanish who manage to find a job here in California!

I'm really finding this hard to believe that there are undocumented workers in California? Sheesh....I learn a new thing everyday. When I was moving out of CA I thought it was just Mexican Pride day everyday. B) B)

Congrats Slim. Hope everything works out for you !!!! And watch out for those hookers they for sure will screw up your marriage

[Johnta 0]

So... she's here. What now?

I covered this pretty well in my one-year report. If you want a checklist of things you should do, check it out:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=30844

Generall, the order goes something like this:

[*]state ID card

What is a "State ID Card"--?? I never heard of sucha thing,

JB in the state of SC

[akdiver 3]

What is a "State ID Card"--?? I never heard of sucha thing

Really? Wow.

Well, it's an ID card issued by a DMV for people who can't get a driver's license for one reason or another - but most DMVs will also give you one in addition to a driver's license (i.e. you can get both). It's really handy to have a US-issued photo ID, esp. one that doesn't give any indication as to immigration status or otherwise. It's also helpful to have it as an additional ID. These days, people are asking for 2 or 3 IDs to get anything done, so it never hurts to have another. You're from SC? Check it out: http://www.dmv.org/sc-south-carolina/id-cards.php

Although, it says:

South Carolina offers an online checklist to help you determine which types of documentation you will need. Although the list is lengthy, you will basically need to provide proof of your identity, residency, and your Social Security number. You will need to take one or two documents from each section on the list, so round them up before going to the DMV.

They want an SSN for it, Alaska DMV does not require one. It also appears SC limits to US Citizens only, which also sucks.

Anyway, rules vary by state.

Good luck!

AKDiver