What is your official home during AOS waiting time?

[Ken&Lin 1]

Hi everyone,

While waiting for the AOS to be completed, do you still keep your connection to your home country when it comes to your official home address, insurances, bank account etc. until AOS has been approved? I do not see any other option really since the K1 is non-immigrant and you are not a registered resident of the US before the green card has been provided.

Any ideas / thoughts on how people have managed this in the past?

Thanks!

[Ontarkie 14,225]

~~Moved to Moving to the US and Your New Life In America, from K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures - As this is no longer a K1 question but a question about after the move.~~

[kehills 217]

Once you're married, you need to begin mingling things like insurances, bank accounts, home, etc. Once you file AOS paperwork, you're signifying your intent to stay/immigrate (and the EAD/AP gives you the permission to work, etc, while waiting for the formal paperwork).

[Ken&Lin 1]

Thanks for the response. Although I understand what it signifies, but I would like to know how to deal with the "limbo"-state before green card is received. We're talking some months without e.g. insurance? I was considering just keeping my insurance, address etc. in my current country and then officially emigrate once green card is received. Then avoiding no days without being insured or not officially living in a country permanently. Does that makes sense?

[landr 126]

Nearly everything is either registered or forwarded to my current address in the US. It's just easier that way. Otherwise, I'm not able to head to my home country to pick up my mail until I get AP or my green card - that's usually around 6 months from POE depending on how long it takes to get married, get the certificate and submit AOS as well as get the AP in hand. Possibly longer if I wait for my green card. Not practical to have 6 months' worth of mail piling up at my old address.

The other side of the coin is that if you use a US address for some of your things you can have proof of a US residence and start building a life here with your partner. I really don't see the benefit of keeping everything addressed to you in your home country if your ultimate intent is to move to the US and not maintain two homes.

It's also worth noting that some institutions can't cope with a US address or don't allow it. These institutions might ask you to complete additional paperwork and/or you will be asked to close your account/membership with them.

Edited September 20, 2014 by landr

[Ken&Lin 1]

Hi again.

Once I get my K1 visa I am a non-immigrant. That means I do not have an official address in US nor can I sign up for e.g. a bank, insurance - even gym membership etc. etc, correct? I will not have a social security number or anything stating that I am a resident of the US before I become an actual immigrant (when I get the green card), right? I do not intend to have the address in my home country after I get my green card.

Maybe I am not fully aware on how to be covered in that period after marriage up until green card has been received.

I am not that worried about the mail. But do you then live in the US without health insurance, and with your current bank in your home country?

Apologies for the confusion, but I want to make the waiting period for the green card as safe and easier as possible. Thanks.

[derrickmichille 55]

Everyone situation is different, but my fiance is flying from the Philippines and will be here tomorrow. She already has medical insurance and dental. They even mailed her ID cards in the mail using her maiden name, to our home. We will have to change her maiden name once we get married. A simple phone call. We did all of this over the phone using Skype. They just asked her a few questions and in a few days she was approved for medical and dental insurance all with out a social security number.

We were told once she has a social security number just call and give it to them.

Since I was the one paying for the insurance my payment information was used and all insurance are under her name.

I did a lot of research and believe it or not Google can be your best friend.

I added her to the least of our apartment and her name is also on the cable and power bill.

The only thing i could not add her to was my bank account because she needs a social security number for that.

When she gets here we will apply for her social security number first then get married. Then all we need to do is do a name change at the social security office.

There is soooo much you can do now and even before the beneficiary gets here.

Good luck to you and like I said Google Google Google!!!!!

Edited September 20, 2014 by derrickmichille

[landr 126]

Hi again.

Once I get my K1 visa I am a non-immigrant. That means I do not have an official address in US nor can I sign up for e.g. a bank, insurance - even gym membership etc. etc, correct? I will not have a social security number or anything stating that I am a resident of the US before I become an actual immigrant (when I get the green card), right? I do not intend to have the address in my home country after I get my green card.

Maybe I am not fully aware on how to be covered in that period after marriage up until green card has been received.

I am not that worried about the mail. But do you then live in the US without health insurance, and with your current bank in your home country?

Apologies for the confusion, but I want to make the waiting period for the green card as safe and easier as possible. Thanks.

You can apply for an SSN pretty much within a week of POE as the system is electronic now - though some wait for 10 days, some have been able to get an SSN the very next day. Some SS offices are not that knowledgeable though and you might have problems and told that you are not eligible - they're wrong. Read the VJ stickied threads and guides on how to get an SSN when you are a K-1.

I was able to open a US bank account from the UK. Some have been added as a joint account holder on their petitioner's bank account. Others have been able to open their own bank account with minimal ID. Again, read around on the forums about what others have done.

I don't have health insurance. But as soon as I get the marriage certificate, my husband is going to put me on his military insurance. I wasn't terribly worried about that though as I've not seen a doctor for years and the only time I visited my local GP surgery was to get vaccinations from the travel nurse. If you have a pre-existing health condition, you might be more concerned about this aspect.

Gym membership, I'm not sure. I suspect they will only need ID - you can use your passport and K-1 visa - and proof of address - you can use a bank statement if you get the address for your account changed or they might accept any letter as long as it is addressed to you at the US address. Google is your friend here.

If you drive, some have been able to use their home driving license up to a year after POE. Though it depends on your state and you'll need to do some research about what's acceptable and what's not. Bear in mind that your residency status may be different depending on which institution you are dealing with.

The best thing to do is to use the search function and do some research to educate yourself about what's possible for K-1 visa holders in general as well as what's possible for the state where you will be based.

Also, please fill in your timeline and profile information so that people can give you the most relevant and specific advice.

Edited to add: you can have a US mailing address even if you are not a legal permanent resident. As I wrote earlier, you might be questioned on this, e.g., by banks. Otherwise, it's not a major problem. As much as I understand your trepidation because you're not quite here yet, please be assured that many people have followed this path and there is a lot that can be done while you wait for your green card.

Edited September 20, 2014 by landr

[Ken&Lin 1]

Great! Thank you so much for your help. Very much appreciated!

[Lainie B 465]

Hi again.

Once I get my K1 visa I am a non-immigrant. That means I do not have an official address in US nor can I sign up for e.g. a bank, insurance - even gym membership etc. etc, correct? I will not have a social security number or anything stating that I am a resident of the US before I become an actual immigrant (when I get the green card), right? I do not intend to have the address in my home country after I get my green card.

Maybe I am not fully aware on how to be covered in that period after marriage up until green card has been received.

I am not that worried about the mail. But do you then live in the US without health insurance, and with your current bank in your home country?

Apologies for the confusion, but I want to make the waiting period for the green card as safe and easier as possible. Thanks.

Yes, you can get a SSN, bank account, insurance, gym membership, library card etc etc before the green card. For some of those things you just need to show you are living here, by showing a bill or something with your address on it. If you are getting health insurance through your spouse's work, you should enrol as soon as you get married, as most companies have a one-month period after a "life changing event" (such as marriage) in which you can enrol. Otherwise you will have to wait until the next open enrolment period, or get your own insurance. Once you get the EAD you can work and get a drivers license, even before you receive the green card. In some states you can get the drivers license before you get the EAD, though it is usually a temporary license that expires when the I-94 expires. You are living in the US the minute you step on US soil with the K-1. There are some things that will need to wait until you get the green card, but very few. You should start building your life in the US as soon as you arrive.

Edited September 20, 2014 by Lainie B

[TBoneTX 45,293]

As was explained to me by an immigration attorney, the K-1 is a hybrid visa -- a nonimmigrant visa with immigrant intent. (Note that K-1 interviews are conducted by consular Immigrant Visa Units.) This is why it behooves you to move and shift everything to the U.S.; in addition, it can't hurt you when it comes time to file for Adjustment of Status.

If you have remaining or ongoing financial commitments or bills to pay in your country of origination, keep some money in an open bank account there, if it will make things easier on that end.

Edited September 21, 2014 by TBoneTX

[Sirdaniel42 86]

When I came over on a K-1 we were married within 8 days, 2 weeks after that I had my SSN and the next day I opened a bank account at the same bank where my wife has her account. I kept my ABN-AMRO rekening open for my last paychecks and for the Belastingdienst. My mail was forwarded to friends in the Netherlands and they would open it and let me know if it was anything of importance, I also transfered most of my money to my new US account so I could start pulling my weight in the household bills.

It is also good that you show the intermingling of the household, for my medical insurance during these first months I use a Dutch insurance company, http://www.oomverzekeringen.nl/

Edited September 24, 2014 by Sirdaniel42

[Sirdaniel42 86]

When I came over on a K-1 we were married within 8 days, 2 weeks after that I had my SSN and the next day I opened a bank account at the same bank where my wife has her account. I kept my ABN-AMRO rekening open for my last paychecks and for the Belastingdienst. My mail was forwarded to friends in the Netherlands and they would open it and let me know if it was anything of importance, I also transfered most of my money to my new US account so I could start pulling my weight in the household bills.