K1 arrival plan - NJ

[Mike-eeh and Odie 193]

Those are some solid tips, but I am wondering about the bank account stuff. I have my wife on my insurance, utility bill, and lease agreement. However the bank accounts will have to wait until she gets her EAD, because then she'll be able to get a state ID, which my bank requires in order to add her. Don't know if the (potential) interview would take place between now and getting the EAD (we have the biometrics Wednesday). Obviously when it comes to evidence proving everything is bonafide, the more the merrier.

Your AOS interview would come after your EAD/AP, as EAD/AP is basically giving the beneficiary the "temporary" right to work and travel while waiting for her AOS, aka green card. That said, my bank in NJ (TD Bank) added my wife before we were married. She only needed her birth certificate and 2 forms of picture ID. She used her Philippines Passport and her Student ID from the University of the Philippines.

To change her name on the account after we were married she had to provide:

1. Birth Certificate

2. Marriage Certificate

3. EAD/AP Combo card

[Mike-eeh and Odie 193]

I have my interview in a month and I hope to fly a week or two after that. We should arrange an end of year NJ meet up for all those heading out soon!

I'd be open for meeting up as well.

[Henley1989 10]

I'd be open for meeting up as well.

For sure!

[Danielle and Jake 24]

Your AOS interview would come after your EAD/AP, as EAD/AP is basically giving the beneficiary the "temporary" right to work and travel while waiting for her AOS, aka green card. That said, my bank in NJ (TD Bank) added my wife before we were married. She only needed her birth certificate and 2 forms of picture ID. She used her Philippines Passport and her Student ID from the University of the Philippines.

To change her name on the account after we were married she had to provide:

1. Birth Certificate

2. Marriage Certificate

3. EAD/AP Combo card

Thanks! I guess it really does vary from bank to bank (or credit union in my case). So once we get her EAD, I'll be able to change her SSN, get her a state ID, and then after we get those, add her to my account. Though I do think in terms of "evidence", we have plenty in different forms (like the 100+ photos from our wedding day, which includes people from both of our families), the before-mentioned lease agreement (though in her maiden name), electric bill.

[Henley1989 10]

Just throwing this into the mix.

If someone has been through the marriage process in NJ, please let me know if you can help out...

- My fiance lives in Jackson NJ. Im getting conflicting opinions on whether we have to file for our marriage certificate in Jackson court only or whether we can do it in a neighbouring town.

- What exactly is the process to get civilly married once I arrive. Again conflicting opinions. Do I arrange a court date with a judge, get married, then go to registrars office to sort out paperwork? Is it the other way around?

If anyone has got just civilly married in NJ, any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Mike-eeh and Odie 193]

Just throwing this into the mix.

If someone has been through the marriage process in NJ, please let me know if you can help out...

- My fiance lives in Jackson NJ. Im getting conflicting opinions on whether we have to file for our marriage certificate in Jackson court only or whether we can do it in a neighbouring town.

- What exactly is the process to get civilly married once I arrive. Again conflicting opinions. Do I arrange a court date with a judge, get married, then go to registrars office to sort out paperwork? Is it the other way around?

If anyone has got just civilly married in NJ, any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Odie and I got civilly married in NJ. What we did was:

1. Went down together to the local Borough Hall/Town Center and registered for a marriage license. You need to be together, and each of you bring:

A. Your Birth Certificate

B. Social Security Number (Not important for your fiance, but if she has one, bonus!)

C. Passports

The marriage license is around $25.00 and is good for 30 days. Once you have the marriage license there is a 3 or 5 day waiting period before you can use the license to marry.

Anyone with political office (mayor, governor, senator, etc), lawful stature (Judge, Justice of the Peace), even a ship Captain (out at sea), can perform your civil wedding ceremony. For us, our mayor married us in the same town hall and even cleared his busy schedule to marry us on Valentine's Day! Be sure to schedule an appointment with whomever you wish to marry you.

[Henley1989 10]

Odie and I got civilly married in NJ. What we did was:

1. Went down together to the local Borough Hall/Town Center and registered for a marriage license. You need to be together, and each of you bring:

A. Your Birth Certificate

B. Social Security Number (Not important for your fiance, but if she has one, bonus!)

C. Passports

The marriage license is around $25.00 and is good for 30 days. Once you have the marriage license there is a 3 or 5 day waiting period before you can use the license to marry.

Anyone with political office (mayor, governor, senator, etc), lawful stature (Judge, Justice of the Peace), even a ship Captain (out at sea), can perform your civil wedding ceremony. For us, our mayor married us in the same town hall and even cleared his busy schedule to marry us on Valentine's Day! Be sure to schedule an appointment with whomever you wish to marry you.

Thanks so much.

Im going to try and get my SSN the day after I arrive, so I may have it myself anyway. OK so we can do the town centre within a couple of days. We have already contacted the judge that can perform on a thursday, so we will book that in for a couple of days after having gone to the town center.

Do you think its ok to book in with the judge on the assumption I will get my license a few days before?

[Mike-eeh and Odie 193]

Thanks so much.

Im going to try and get my SSN the day after I arrive, so I may have it myself anyway. OK so we can do the town centre within a couple of days. We have already contacted the judge that can perform on a thursday, so we will book that in for a couple of days after having gone to the town center.

Do you think its ok to book in with the judge on the assumption I will get my license a few days before?

Sure can. We booked it so we were married soon after the "waiting period" when issued the license. Like I said it's a 3 or 5 day waiting period. Just ask the town clerk who issued the license. The town clerk can even book the judge/mayor etc. who will perform your ceremony, at least ours did.

- That said, you can book your wedding any time after the waiting period. Just remember your license is good for only 30 days, at which time you will need to reapply for a new one and pay the fee again.

Edited October 7, 2015 by Mike-eeh and Odie

[J&J 2015 0]

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

As the US Citizen, is it less of a hassle/less time consuming to change your last name after the AOS process?

I plan to do the same type of schedule next month.

1. POE

2. Marriage License

3. Marriage

4. submit the AOS/EAD/AP package.

If we apply for a SSN right after we submit the AOS/EAD/AP package, obviously we would leave the SSN # blank on the applications. Would we need to go back to the Social Security office AFTER we receive the EAD/AP at all?

[Henley1989 10]

Sure can. We booked it so we were married soon after the "waiting period" when issued the license. Like I said it's a 3 or 5 day waiting period. Just ask the town clerk who issued the license. The town clerk can even book the judge/mayor etc. who will perform your ceremony, at least ours did.

- That said, you can book your wedding any time after the waiting period. Just remember your license is good for only 30 days, at which time you will need to reapply for a new one and pay the fee again.

Thanks. I spoke to one judge who said they only perform on thursdays. I might ask the office if they know anyone that would perform it on a sunday. Would make life a lot easier.

Also for SSN, as soon as I arrive how do I start the process? Ive seen a lot of links but nothing with an actual form to fill out. Is it a case of just going to the office or is there something I have to print out or fill out on-line first?

Thanks

[noxavis 0]

Thanks. I spoke to one judge who said they only perform on thursdays. I might ask the office if they know anyone that would perform it on a sunday. Would make life a lot easier.

Also for SSN, as soon as I arrive how do I start the process? Ive seen a lot of links but nothing with an actual form to fill out. Is it a case of just going to the office or is there something I have to print out or fill out on-line first?

Thanks

For me, I only brought my most recent I-94 and my passport. (plus marriage certificate if you want to get the SSN after and have a name change) They were really nice at the office I went to, I just told them I don't really know what I'm doing and they explained everything right then and there. They filled out the form for me at the computer and just asked me the questions directly. However, I did not file on a K1, I filed last time I was in the states on a J1..so it might be slightly different, so this might help:

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

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

As the US Citizen, is it less of a hassle/less time consuming to change your last name after the AOS process?

I plan to do the same type of schedule next month.

1. POE

2. Marriage License

3. Marriage

4. submit the AOS/EAD/AP package.

If we apply for a SSN right after we submit the AOS/EAD/AP package, obviously we would leave the SSN # blank on the applications. Would we need to go back to the Social Security office AFTER we receive the EAD/AP at all?

Do you mean a name change at Social Security for the USC? I guess less hassle because it is not further complicated by having to find your proper immigration status and name entry in a database which could have a hiccup. And workers are very used to changing USC names. They are not all experienced with K1s. Name changing on everything is a general hassle when you start thinking of all the places. So I decided not to do it.

For an immigrant, Social Security actually wants you to keep your status current with them. I don't think everybody knows that. You are first a visa holder. Then a permanent resident. Then (if you want) a U.S. citizen. My husband updated for those changes. You don't have to go after EAD, but it will get the 'Not valid for work' wording removed from the card. Or you can wait and get that removed after the greencard is issued.

[Mike-eeh and Odie 193]

...If we apply for a SSN right after we submit the AOS/EAD/AP package, obviously we would leave the SSN # blank on the applications. Would we need to go back to the Social Security office AFTER we receive the EAD/AP at all?

If she has a SSN, by all means include it on the files. Once you receive your EAD, go back down to your local SSN office and have the card updated in the married name. Just be sure to bring your passport, I-94, and marriage certificate.

Also for SSN, as soon as I arrive how do I start the process? Ive seen a lot of links but nothing with an actual form to fill out. Is it a case of just going to the office or is there something I have to print out or fill out on-line first?

You can get a SSN as soon as you arrive in the USA. At the local SS Office, they will give you a form to fill out. Be sure you bring your passport. Your I-94 is electronic these days so they should be able to look it up in their data base. My wife somehow figured out how to print hers from the USCIS website. I could ask her what she did.

[Henley1989 10]

If she has a SSN, by all means include it on the files. Once you receive your EAD, go back down to your local SSN office and have the card updated in the married name. Just be sure to bring your passport, I-94, and marriage certificate.

You can get a SSN as soon as you arrive in the USA. At the local SS Office, they will give you a form to fill out. Be sure you bring your passport. Your I-94 is electronic these days so they should be able to look it up in their data base. My wife somehow figured out how to print hers from the USCIS website. I could ask her what she did.

I think its from here...

https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/consent.html

So if I dont need anything online, I will just bring all the docs and head to the office. It does say on the forums to print out the page with the table on who can get a SSN so I will bring that along too.

[baron555 934]

Arrive

Apply for SSN or Get Married (they are exclusive of each other)

Apply to get Married or Get SSN (they are exclusive of each other)

Drivers license? Or does this have to wait for EAD? Some states require the GC.....and more importantly, some insurers won't issue car insurance without the GC. Do some homework on both.

Apply for AOS