Social Security Number After Arriving In The U.S.

[Hy Vong 9]

Hi Everyone,

Hope you all received or will be receiving good news for your cases.

I am going back to Vietnam at the end of November for 2 weeks and will fly with my fiancee to the U.S. to celebrate Xmas of 2012.

Back in September, I went back there and we had a very exciting engagement ceremony with 200 guests at her hometown in the country side. October 15th, she passed her interview and 1 week later, received her VISA.

I didn't want her to come to the U.S. alone so we've been waiting for me to come back there to have a party with families from both sides. We'll spend a week for an unofficial honeymoon in Vietnam then mid December, we'll fly together to the U.S.. More likely we'll have our marriage around Xmas time and she'll be celebrating Xmas for the first time in the U.S.

To continue to prepare for her journey, I am getting ready to learn to do the next step, that is, getting married, getting social security number for her, getting work permit, ...

I have looked at the Step-by-Step Guide on How to File for Adjustment of Status for K1, but still have some questions and hope I can get help from you.

1. Once married in the U.S. after arrival, how long does it take her to get social security number?

2. How long and how easy is it for her to get working permit?

3. I looked the step by step guide of package I-485, it says to mail with the package 2 passport photos, on the back, right her A#. How does she get Alien #?

Thanks

[huongkhin 9]

1. They will not send her SS card automatically. That's only for people who come with immigrant visa (GC approved).

2. You need to get marry after her arrival and start the AOS process.

Your process is the same as people who file for AOS from other type of visas in the US. Except you don't need to file form I-130.

Take a look at the instruction for I-485.

Here's the sample of the cover letter:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/357840-my-cover-letter-for-i-485/

Once her I-765 is approved. She will be able to use the EAD to apply for SSN.

3. Look on the previous letter from USCIS, they may include her A# on there. Also check the visa.

[jac_chappin 24]

Op - Houngkhin's post is incorrect.

Once she comes to the US, she can apply for her SSN. It's advisable that you wait at least 2 weeks before going to SS office.

What we did was get married first, then went to the SS office to get SSN under my wife's married name ( this was done before filing for AOS). If not, you have to go back once you get married.

The requirement of the K-1 is that you marry within 90 days then you can apply for AOS. During the AOS filing you can apply for Advance parole and work permit at the same time and it's included in the $1090 fee ( I think this is the amount but please double check).

What we did also was get an amendment to her my wife's passport stating her new married name which matches her GC. This makes life easier. I hope this helps.

I hope this helps!

[huongkhin 9]

jac_chappin is correct. I double check again. Looks like for K-1, you just need a valid K1 visa and unexpired I-94 to apply for SSN.

[Hy Vong 9]

thank you to both of you for sharing

[ScottThuy 140]

The fiance's immigration case will have to be in the system for SS Admin to provide a SSN.. it sometimes takes a few weeks. If there will be a name change, it is best to wait until after the name change takes place to apply...