K1 arrival plan - NJ

[Henley1989 10]

Hi There,

I hope this is the right forum for this topic.

I was wondering if anyone had a timeline or plan for when I arrive in NJ on a K1. We like to plan ahead and we wanted to get an idea of what we can do first and the best order of process. Assume we have no problems and are willing to rush to get AOS

I have researched and this is my current time-frame

Arrive

Apply for SSN

Apply to get Married

Drivers license? Or does this have to wait for EAD?

Apply for AOS

Is there anything im missing or a better order for these?

Thanks

[Danielle and Jake 24]

Hello!

Do you have the K-1 visa in hand yet? I ask because the common thing is to "not make any plans until you have it in hand". Danielle and I learned this the hard way because she got approved during that whole "technical glitch" in July that backlogged people. Luckily we only were delayed a week. Aside from that, some people can enter "Administrative Processing" and you never really know what's going on there. So yeah, if you have your K-1 in hand, plan away, if not, wait, because it's heartbreaking (and potentially expensive) to make wedding plans and whatnot only to have to cancel or modify them.

You can apply for a SSN once you get here, but it's best to wait about 2 weeks (I've read that allows you to get "into the system"). We applied to Danielle's after we got married, hoping to just do it in her married name and do it all in one trip, but nope. The SSA office can be scary depending on who you get. The lady at ours had a horrible attitude and maintained that Danielle couldn't get a SSN, she just kep shaking her head and scowling at us saying it wouldn't work without EAD. Lone behold, once she took 30 seconds to try, it worked, and she got quiet, quickly. Don't know if you are in the same boat with the name change, but if you are, you can definitely change the name once you get the EAD.

The drivers license / State ID varies by state but from my understanding you won't be able to get one right away. I believe you'll have ot wait until you get your EAD because that will show "that you are legally allowed in the US for 6 months with at least 3 months remaining", (if you recall, K-1 visa is good for 90 days after entering, so that doesn't work). Your EAD will have an expiration date on it, I believe, and once your AOS is "pending" (pretty much when they receive it), you're allowed to stay in the US, but the EAD kind of shows that weird stipulation I mentioned.

Only thing I see missing is the AP (Form I-131), which is Advanced Parole. Once you enter the United States on your visa, you are kind of "stuck here" until you get permanent residency. If you leave, you can't come back without doing the whole process again, and AP allows you to travel back and forth while your AOS is pending.

Sounds like you got a good start on it, hope this helps. Good luck!

[Henley1989 10]

Thanks so much. Responses below

Hello!

Do you have the K-1 visa in hand yet? I ask because the common thing is to "not make any plans until you have it in hand". Danielle and I learned this the hard way because she got approved during that whole "technical glitch" in July that backlogged people. Luckily we only were delayed a week. Aside from that, some people can enter "Administrative Processing" and you never really know what's going on there. So yeah, if you have your K-1 in hand, plan away, if not, wait, because it's heartbreaking (and potentially expensive) to make wedding plans and whatnot only to have to cancel or modify them.

- This is just civil marriage for now, wedding is at a later date. We would like to do Civil as soon as we can so that I can get process moving.

You can apply for a SSN once you get here, but it's best to wait about 2 weeks (I've read that allows you to get "into the system"). We applied to Danielle's after we got married, hoping to just do it in her married name and do it all in one trip, but nope. The SSA office can be scary depending on who you get. The lady at ours had a horrible attitude and maintained that Danielle couldn't get a SSN, she just kep shaking her head and scowling at us saying it wouldn't work without EAD. Lone behold, once she took 30 seconds to try, it worked, and she got quiet, quickly. Don't know if you are in the same boat with the name change, but if you are, you can definitely change the name once you get the EAD.

- No need for name change. Ive heard you can go earlier? Somebody did it 2 days after arrival. I guess I can try no? Worst comes to worst, wait another week.

The drivers license / State ID varies by state but from my understanding you won't be able to get one right away. I believe you'll have ot wait until you get your EAD because that will show "that you are legally allowed in the US for 6 months with at least 3 months remaining", (if you recall, K-1 visa is good for 90 days after entering, so that doesn't work). Your EAD will have an expiration date on it, I believe, and once your AOS is "pending" (pretty much when they receive it), you're allowed to stay in the US, but the EAD kind of shows that weird stipulation I mentioned.

- Ok thanks. Guess I will have to wait.

Only thing I see missing is the AP (Form I-131), which is Advanced Parole. Once you enter the United States on your visa, you are kind of "stuck here" until you get permanent residency. If you leave, you can't come back without doing the whole process again, and AP allows you to travel back and forth while your AOS is pending.

- Dont you apply for this with the AOS? As far as I understand you apply for AOS and at the same time, EAD and permission to travel... Have I got it wrong?

Sounds like you got a good start on it, hope this helps. Good luck!

[TabeaK 517]

Hi!

I am moving to NJ as well, so have looked into this as well.

Apply for SSN

You can do this 1d after POE if you want. Everything online these days. Make sure your I-94 is correct.

Apply to get Married

You can do this ASAP as well. NJ waiting period is 3d.

Drivers license? Or does this have to wait for EAD?

Have to wait for EAD. With that you'll get a license valid for as long as the EAD is valid. Once you get a GC (2year one), you'll have to renew - license will be valid as long as GC. Once you get your 10 year GC, you renew again.

Apply for AOS

Do it as soon as you have your marriage certificate.

[Mike-eeh and Odie 193]

Arrive

Apply for SSN - Yes, it's better to do this before you get married, otherwise you wont be able to apply for Social Security (in your Married name) until your EAD arrives.

Apply to get Married.

Once married, be sure your spouse places you on his/her work benefits/health plan.

Apply for AOS - be sure to apply for both EAD and AP when filing!

Receive EAD/AP combo card and apply for driver's license.

Once you have EAD go back to Social Security and get a new card with your married name.

Receive 2 year conditional green card.

90 Days before 2-year green card expires, apply to remove conditions and receive a 10 year green card.

90 days before your 3 year US residency, apply for US naturalization (if you would like US citizenship).

Other good tips:

Be sure your spouse places you as a beneficiary on his/her life insurance policy.

Be sure you pay mortage/rent/bills out of your joint bank account.

Be sure to start a joint bank account if you haven't done so already.

Be sure to have joint credit cards.

Having joint assets and financial responsibilities goes a long way should you ever get an interview later on for AOS or green card conditions removed.

Edited September 28, 2015 by Mike-eeh and Odie

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Our schedule

Day 0 - POE late afternoon

Day 1 - Wednesday. Marriage license. (3 day wait required before marriage)

Day 5 - Sunday. Marriage.

Day 6 - Monday. Registered marriage. Got certified marriage certificate.

Day 9 - Thursday. Mailed AOS/EAD/AP. Went to bank to add him to my account.

Day 10- Friday. Social Security office.

Day 72- EAD/AP approved. Went to get driver license once card arrived.

Because your I-94 will be fully automated (unlike 2008) you do not have to wait two weeks for your POE entry to hit the system. You can apply for SSN sooner. Doesn't mean your local SSA office will have a clue but ask for a supervisor if they give you any grief.

Our state would not allow DL until EAD. Drove on UK license until then. If your state will give a license based on the I-94 arrival document, the DL will expire same day as I-94 (90 days). It is because that is the only thing a K1 has with a date showing legal presence. The EAD card will show a date of one year legal presence, so most will get a license good until the EAD expiration date. Here are the NJ document requirements to get a DL. http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Licenses/DocumentSelector/index.htm

[Henley1989 10]

Thanks so much for all of this. Since we have no name change, im going to apply online for SSN the day after I arrive.

Assuming we have all the marriage docs (which we do) - Will get married within 1-1.5 weeks. Then send all off for AOS. I want to get ahead of the game so being prepared is half the work.

Thanks Again

TabeaK - Best of luck with the move, be curious to know how your journey with this goes!

[Henley1989 10]

Hi!

I am moving to NJ as well, so have looked into this as well.

Apply for SSN

You can do this 1d after POE if you want. Everything online these days. Make sure your I-94 is correct.

Apply to get Married

You can do this ASAP as well. NJ waiting period is 3d.

Drivers license? Or does this have to wait for EAD?

Have to wait for EAD. With that you'll get a license valid for as long as the EAD is valid. Once you get a GC (2year one), you'll have to renew - license will be valid as long as GC. Once you get your 10 year GC, you renew again.

Apply for AOS

Do it as soon as you have your marriage certificate.

Sorry where is the link to apply for SSN online? Is it actually filled in and sent online? I can only find ones to print out and mail..

[TabeaK 517]

You can't. Have to show up in person at the SSA office.

Out of curiosity, where in NJ will you be?

[Henley1989 10]

You can't. Have to show up in person at the SSA office.

Out of curiosity, where in NJ will you be?

Thanks. I will be in Jackson which is south (ish) jersey and within a few months moving up towards Union (depending on work)

[Mike-eeh and Odie 193]

Thanks. I will be in Jackson which is south (ish) jersey and within a few months moving up towards Union (depending on work)

Cool. I'm in Jersey too. For now I live in Bergen County, I'll be moving to Warren County by mid-October. I just bought a new home closer to my work.

With regard to a SSN, you need to find a local SS Office near you and apply in person. If you get there early, it takes about an hour or so; longer, if you need to go to Hackensack NJ, then plan on 3-4 hours, haha. But renewing the card in the married name only takes an hour, even in Hackensack.

The closest one to jackson seems to be in Brick, NJ:

https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp

Just type in your zip and get the info for your local SS office.

Edited September 28, 2015 by Mike-eeh and Odie

[Henley1989 10]

Cool. I'm in Jersey too. For now I live in Bergen County, I'll be moving to Warren County by mid-October. I just bought a new home closer to my work.

With regard to a SSN, you need to find a local SS Office near you and apply in person. If you get there early, it takes about an hour or so; longer, if you need to go to Hackensack NJ, then plan on 3-4 hours, haha. But renewing the card in the married name only takes an hour, even in Hackensack.

The closest one to jackson seems to be in Brick, NJ:

https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp

Just type in your zip and get the info for your local SS office.

Cool! thanks very much. I will go there the next day after I arrive, hopefully its not too soon.

We are in Jackson until I get my EAD. Once i get that and (hopefully) get a job, we will move depending on work.

I might aswell apply to get married too on that day seeing as we can have our civil ceremony whenever we want and as soon as possible..

[noxavis 0]

Hey guys, I'm going to chime in here, too since I will also be living in NJ (Somerset) and I want to follow this thread. I already have SSN from my year abroad interning as a teaching assistant. I will change my last name though and am wondering when I should /can change it on the SSC.

[Mike-eeh and Odie 193]

Hey guys, I'm going to chime in here, too since I will also be living in NJ (Somerset) and I want to follow this thread. I already have SSN from my year abroad interning as a teaching assistant. I will change my last name though and am wondering when I should /can change it on the SSC.

Your social security number is your's for life. If you wish to change your name after you are married, you would simply visit your local Social Security office after you receive your EAD/AP combo card.

[blk 87]

Hi There,

I hope this is the right forum for this topic.

I was wondering if anyone had a timeline or plan for when I arrive in NJ on a K1. We like to plan ahead and we wanted to get an idea of what we can do first and the best order of process. Assume we have no problems and are willing to rush to get AOS

I have researched and this is my current time-frame

Arrive

Apply for SSN

Apply to get Married

Drivers license? Or does this have to wait for EAD?

Apply for AOS

Is there anything im missing or a better order for these?

Thanks

Hi as said before you have to wait until you have your EAD or G/C in hand for your driving licence, when you do go to get it as long as you show them your full UK one if you have one then you should only have to do the eye & written test as you should get a waver for the road test as you have a full UK licence.

Brian