SSN / Employment / AOS - Help!

[KR&EH 0]

I hope someone can set me straight because I am very confused about what to do!

I entered the U.S. on my K-1 Visa Aug 29. Married Sept. 19.

So now, here I am not knowing what to do next.

I know that I have to adjust my status and apply to work, but which one first?

And I don't have a SSN, how do I get one? For a SSN they want proof I am eligible to work, and the I-765 wants a SSN! I can't do one without the other.

HELP!

[Ontarkie 14,499]

~~Moved to AOS from K1 P&P - as the OP is at this stage.~~

[Hypnos 6,578]

1) You can go and get a social security number now, as in today. Theoretically you can apply in either your married name or maiden name, but experiences here say that applying in your maiden name is likely going to cause you less issues with regards to SAVE mismatches.

Take (i) a completed SS-5, (ii) your foreign passport containing valid visa, (iii) a printout of your I-94, and (iv) a certified copy of your birth certificate to your nearest Social Security Administration office. You should receive your card and number in the mail around a week or so after applying.

2) After doing that (technically you don't have to do it first, but it's going to make your life infinitely easier by having a social security number) file to adjust your status. Follow the guide: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?autocom=custom&page=k1k3aos

[acgmph 42]

Have you been to the SS office? You can get an SSN showing them the I-94 and the passport with the K1. Also have your birth certificate and marriage certificate (if you changed your name). Here's a guide: http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

[speakerbox 23]

I just went to SS office today.

I brought SS-5, passport, i- 94 and marriage certificate with me.

I applied with new last name.

A guy at office said he will send all info to main office and it'll get to my place by mail about a week or 2.

[KayDeeCee 4,896]

You are eligible now. A K-1 visa entrant is a legal alien allowed to work. Use your passport with K-1 in it and I-94.

Print out your I-94 info > https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/request.html

Follow this guide for getting the SSN > http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

Follow this guide for AOS > http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1k3aos

The fees are listed here > http://www.uscis.gov/i-485

The fees for the I-765(EAD-work authorization) and I-131(AP-advance parole for travel) are waived when filed with a pending I-485, so include both of those too. It takes about 60-90 days to receive the EAD/AP combo card, which will allow you to work(along with an SSN) and re-enter the US when traveling abroad while waiting for the green card approval.

You need all the supporting documents for each form as well, so read the instructions for each one. You can also search here on VJ for what to include with each form if you get stumped. There are also example forms here on VJ you can look at when filling out the forms. They can be helpful.

And here are the details you need about whether or not you need to see a civil surgeon > http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/551080-immunizations-ds-3025-or-i-693/

[KR&EH 0]

Thanks so much guys!

[KR&EH 0]

Well, I went down to the SSA today to apply for a card. They won't accept my application without a marriage certificate, which I don't have. The wedding officiant said it will arrive in the mail about 2 weeks after the wedding. Bummer. Guess I have to wait a little longer...

[Hypnos 6,578]

Apply in your maiden name and you won't have to wait. You can then take your marriage certificate there when you get it and have your name changed.

[KR&EH 0]

So, finally received the marriage cert. in the mail. Went down to the SSA, and while they accepted my documents, I was told I should have applied for SSN before I got married, as now I am "no longer a fiance" and the K1 is for a fiance, and I'm a married person. Well gees. Apparently me receiving a card is tentative now on Homeland Security (?) accepting my documents. "If you don't hear from us within a month, inquire about your card, otherwise you should get it in 2 weeks". It sorta feels like they're looking for any excuse not to give you a SSN.

[KR&EH 0]

I'm starting to get really fed up with the incompetence I'm encountering in this town.

About 2 weeks have passed since I applied for SSN. Today I called the local office to check the status because I haven't received it yet. At first they couldn't find me, not even with my receipt's reference number. Finally they found me by my birthdate (!) and I was then told there's a conflict with my married name versus my maiden name. The agent even suggested I change my Canadian passport into my married name to complete the process! Argh! Though overall her advice was to "wait another week" to see if something arrives. She couldn't even tell me whether it's been approved or not.

At any rate it appears my application is stalled somehow. The icing on the cake was when she hung up while I was in the middle of politely asking an additional question. Now I know why the office has its own security guard.

Now I don't know what to do. Go back down there and apply in my maiden name? Wait another week uselessly and then re-apply? It's amazing that something so simple could get so complicated.

So frustrated, I can't do anything without a SSN!

[TravandLhen 23]

You should apply the AOS too..yeah you should apply SSN 10 days after you arrived here in the USA just pray that they will inform you regarding your status..God bless

[d3adc0d3 186]

Hello and welcome to the US!

1. Get your SSN (after the couple has married).
2. Apply for your AOS, EAD and AP.
3. Wait until you have your EAD/AP card in hand
4. Find employment
5. Wait for your greencard
6. Live.

You are eligible now. A K-1 visa entrant is a legal alien allowed to work. Use your passport with K-1 in it and I-94.

Print out your I-94 info > https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/request.html

Follow this guide for getting the SSN > http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

Follow this guide for AOS > http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1k3aos

The fees are listed here > http://www.uscis.gov/i-485

The fees for the I-765(EAD-work authorization) and I-131(AP-advance parole for travel) are waived when filed with a pending I-485, so include both of those too. It takes about 60-90 days to receive the EAD/AP combo card, which will allow you to work(along with an SSN) and re-enter the US when traveling abroad while waiting for the green card approval.

You need all the supporting documents for each form as well, so read the instructions for each one. You can also search here on VJ for what to include with each form if you get stumped. There are also example forms here on VJ you can look at when filling out the forms. They can be helpful.

And here are the details you need about whether or not you need to see a civil surgeon > http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/551080-immunizations-ds-3025-or-i-693/

^ Excellent info on getting your SSN, AOS, EAD and AP.

Edited October 10, 2015 by d3adc0d3

[Pitaya 2,577]

You are eligible now. A K-1 visa entrant is a legal alien allowed to work. Use your passport with K-1 in it and I-94.

Print out your I-94 info > https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/request.html

Follow this guide for getting the SSN > http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

Follow this guide for AOS > http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1k3aos

The fees are listed here > http://www.uscis.gov/i-485

The fees for the I-765(EAD-work authorization) and I-131(AP-advance parole for travel) are waived when filed with a pending I-485, so include both of those too. It takes about 60-90 days to receive the EAD/AP combo card, which will allow you to work(along with an SSN) and re-enter the US when traveling abroad while waiting for the green card approval.

You need all the supporting documents for each form as well, so read the instructions for each one. You can also search here on VJ for what to include with each form if you get stumped. There are also example forms here on VJ you can look at when filling out the forms. They can be helpful.

And here are the details you need about whether or not you need to see a civil surgeon > http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/551080-immunizations-ds-3025-or-i-693/

KayDeeCee's scheme of things to do is great. As a preface, the K1 Flowchart is a simple thing to start following and then segue into KayDeeCee's info.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1flow

Good luck on your immigration journey.