AOS,EAD and AP filed.....recieved SSN...what to do in the meantime??

[ianf77 9]

Hi All,

As the title suggests.

Can anyone give any suggestions as to things I could be getting on with whilst waiting on EAD, AP.

I received my SSN on Saturday........driving license??

I have a bank account currently. Looking to open a second or third bank account......Also....I want to get my credit score started...any ideas?

Advice appreciated

[Livelyjo 15]

Hi, congrats!!

Apply for a secure credit card. As far as I know only Citi Bank has them. Is a credit card using your own money. You open one with lets say $300 or $500 and you spend your money and pay the bill monthly and it creates a credit history for you. I do not recommend store credit cards, they are crazy with interests. I use a company called Better Qualified, they are helping me restore my credit.

Good Luck!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hmmmm....things to do while you wait.

Clean out the garage

Paint a room or two

Pressure wash the driveway

Clean out the gutters

Oh, not what you had in mind?

You can't get a driver license in TX until you get EAD. Meanwhile pick up the yellow handbook to study for the written test. Don't skip the first section all about teen drivers and penalties. The test has a lot of questions concerning teens. Drive on you UK license for now. The DL mega-center is in Spring (Kuykendahl at Spring Cypress). A look-up might tell you to go to Conroe. The lady there told me they have a 3 hour wait every day.

Get joint things with your wife. Get added as a user to her credit cards. That will build your credit score too. Get added to utilities so you get something showing both names. Removing conditions will want a two-year history of joint things. Start planning ahead. Save a few things with 2014 dates. Last minute 2016 jointness doesn't hold much weight.

Edited March 3, 2014 by Nich-Nick

[ianf77 9]

Hmmmm....things to do while you wait.

Clean out the garage

Paint a room or two

Pressure wash the driveway

Clean out the gutters

Oh, not what you had in mind?

Hello again,

My wife will love you!!! Especially cleaning out the garage!!!

We are looking at property, we need to see about a mortgage and what our options are right now.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hello again,

My wife will love you!!! Especially cleaning out the garage!!!

We are looking at property, we need to see about a mortgage and what our options are right now.

When we moved, I got the mortgage in my name only because adding a foreigner with no job or credit rating complicated things. But you have a job to throw in the mix.

So by "looking at property", I think you are looking at a couple of acres of land. My husband says, no you are talking British and you mean houses.

[Darnell 8,478]

it's great that you have a SSN.

Can't work without an EAD - however - that doesn't stop you from setting up an online trading account and trading currencies on FX on futures on the chicago exchange and commodities elsewhere. not to mention equity stocks and whatnots.

sure, you'll need monies to launch the accounts, but yer uscitizen petitioner should give you some already as a wedding present.

[ianf77 9]

So by "looking at property", I think you are looking at a couple of acres of land. My husband says, no you are talking British and you mean houses.

Haha.....the subtle differences........both correct....but, I have to side with your Husband here....i did mean houses....however, we are looking for a "property" with a house and land!

My wife would also interpret property as a plot...or a lot!!!

It is likely that we will do the same regarding a mortgage........still need to get my credit score going.....Will speak with my bank today directly and see what they say. My SSN needs to be linked with my account.

Also looking at moving some funds around with other banks.

[Darnell 8,478]

be prepared for a 1 year slog, to get the 'credit history' sufficient enough to qualify for a mortgage.

[voltaire-er 0]

i am currently in the same position. regarding a secured credit card:

i've been banking with bank of america (savings and checkings). and i qualified for a partially secured credit card. $99 security deposit and $500 spending limit. the card is connected to the three credit rating agencies in the states and they get notified monthly on my bill payment behavior so that is another bank that's worth looking into. also, you get 3% cash back on gas, 2% on groceries and 1% on everything else. that's a nice plus.

[Danielle19 1]

Same position as me. I applied for a Capital One secured card, (even out a St. Georges cross on the card...) have paid about three months worth of payments on it now, I heard that if I look like a good customer, they might decide to give me an unsecured card one day..... had such a good rating in the UK too!

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

~ Moved from AOS from Family Based to Moving Here and Your New Life in America - topic not about actual AOS process but things to do since arriving in the US and waiting for green card ~