Now that my fiance's visa has been approved, what now!?

[KayDeeCee 4,895]

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

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

Go to your courthouse and get a marriage license. Get married within 90 days of entry. Once your marriage is registered with the court, you can get your marriage certificate. Send a copy of it with your I-485.

Follow this guide for AOS > http://www.visajourn...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.visajourn...-3025-or-i-693/

[Sisterofthemoon 0]

THANK YOU!

Anxiety doesn't help, it will only make it worse for you and might make you miss some important details on forms and such. Make sure you check, double check and triple check everything, one at a time. Take a deep breath...

Here's what needs to happen for him to work:

- apply for marriage license in your location - courthouse/city hall/county office... whichever applies to your location

- get married - aka have a recognized officiant sign your papers

- ask the officiant if you yourself can take the marriage license back to where it was issued so you can have your marriage certificate in hand asap - this can save a lot of time (3-6 weeks)

- prepare your I-485, I-131 and I-765 with all supporting documents and needed things (like check for $1,070 for all 3 forms, 6 photos, translations if needed, etc.) - see the guide here Adjustment of Status Guide (K1 & K3 Visa Holders and tips here K1 Visa Adjustment of Status Tips

- submit your documents

- he can get a SSN while he waits. No need to go asap, he won't need it until he gets the EAD, unless you want health insurance and such

- he will get 3 NOA1s

- he will get a biometrics appointment letter from USCIS

- wait for 60-90 days until he will have the EAD

- he can apply for jobs towards the 60-day mark and have an offer lined up for when he will receive his EAD if the employer is OK with this arrangement

Good luck!

[Mike-eeh and Odie 193]

I have been reading the FAQ's about what to do once my fiancé arrives on US soil and it is all so confusing!

Basically, we need my fiancé to start working ASAP to help with all this cost.

So this is my understanding:

1. 5 days after he arrives, he needs to apply for the social security card.

2. we get married asap and send in the marriage license to the court.

3. as soon as we get the marriage license back, we apply for Adjustment of Status and EAD (at the same time?) This is confusing to me. Are there two separate fees? $1070 for Adjustment of Status and $300+ for EAD, or is the $1070 INCLUDE the EAD?

4. what can we do now? how long does it take for him to be able to work?

Please help, the stress is killing me :-(

1. Apply for a Social Security Number. Print out a copy of the I-94 from online.

2. Apply for your marriage license. Some states have a "waiting period" of a few days to use the license to marry.

3. Get married.

4. Once you have your marriage certificate (usually a few days after the wedding), apply for AoS.

5. The fee for AOS is $1070.00 When you apply for AOS the EAD & AP forms are free, so long as you send them in with your AOS form.

6. After you send in your AOS form and fee, it takes about 30-90 days to receive the EAD/AP combo card. Once your fiance has the card, he can legally work in the USA while waiting for his green card.

[diane79 14]

I have been reading the FAQ's about what to do once my fiancé arrives on US soil and it is all so confusing!

Basically, we need my fiancé to start working ASAP to help with all this cost.

So this is my understanding:

1. 5 days after he arrives, he needs to apply for the social security card.

2. we get married asap and send in the marriage license to the court.

3. as soon as we get the marriage license back, we apply for Adjustment of Status and EAD (at the same time?) This is confusing to me. Are there two separate fees? $1070 for Adjustment of Status and $300+ for EAD, or is the $1070 INCLUDE the EAD?

4. what can we do now? how long does it take for him to be able to work?

Please help, the stress is killing me :-(

1.- I would recommend you to apply for the SSC after 2 weeks of having arrived, bc maybe, in 5 days, they dont have the information in their system, and your fiance will have go go back again few days later.

2.- when your fiance arrive, go to clerck office in order to get the marriage license, we needed, from me (the Foreign spouse) my birth certificate (it wasnt translated, but just in case have the translation of it with you) and my visa, and for my husband (US citizen), his divorce decree and birth certificate. Once you have it, you can get married. In my case, the officiant sent the marriage license to the vital records office, and after about a week, you can order it. anyway, i think it depends of the state, you can check how things work in your state here http://www.usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/

3, yes, as soon as you have your marriage certificate, your fiance has to fill for AOS, I would recommend you to fill AOS, AP & EAD at the same time, when you fill AP (even if your fiance doesnt have travel plans) and EAD with AOS, they wont charge you anything else. in few word, you only have to pay $1070 for the 3 documents.

4 the green card can take up to 1 year. some people get it in 6 months, and for others it takes more time, but the AP and EAD will be ready in about 3 months. Once your fiance get the EAD, he can work, without it, he cant. This is printed on the SSC, so he need to show both when he applies to a job.

I hope everything is clearer now.

[KayDeeCee 4,895]

1.- I would recommend you to apply for the SSC after 2 weeks of having arrived, bc maybe, in 5 days, they dont have the information in their system, and your fiance will have go go back again few days later.

Since the I-94 became automated, there is no longer the need to wait 2 weeks. The data is already in the system, and people have successfully applied for their SSN within a few days of entry. Of course if you enter by land at a border crossing and receive a paper I-94, then you may still want to wait the 2 weeks.

[diane79 14]

Since the I-94 became automated, there is no longer the need to wait 2 weeks. The data is already in the system, and people have successfully applied for their SSN within a few days of entry. Of course if you enter by land at a border crossing and receive a paper I-94, then you may still want to wait the 2 weeks.

Oh. I didn't know that. I was told that when I asked here when I arrived 2 months ago. Well, that's even better for them then.

[KayDeeCee 4,895]

Oh. I didn't know that. I was told that when I asked here when I arrived 2 months ago. Well, that's even better for them then.

Yes, people tend to just repeat things they have read 'somewhere' without even knowing and understanding exactly why that may have been the answer, or without knowing that things may have changed since whatever they read was posted.

[Alaska2012 462]

Your fiancé won't be able to start working ASAP no matter what. There will be a period of time you guys gotta wait no matter how prepared you are. I'm not saying that to be a Debbie Downer just giving you a heads-up. If you guys will be that tight on money maybe you should try and get a second job until he is cleared to work?

[*Snowdrop* 604]

I always think the best advice for everyone while they are suffering the long wait for the visa to be issued is for both partners in the relationship whether K1 or CR1 to earn as much extra money as possible for a safety net / nest egg to use when the beneficiary arrives in the US.

That can be put towards fees or in lieu of a wage for K1 beneficiaries who can't work for a while. Or for new things for your home together, or a special vacation once you are together again.

So both of you do overtime, or get a second job or the one who is moving should see if they can sell stuff they are not bringing with them. Try to bring and save as much extra money as possible.

And for K1 couples have a really good plan on ways to spend those first few months - getting to know the area, preparing resumes and job applications, learning the driver's manual, taking any free courses available, working on the home environment etc. Make the plan for this before the non-USC arrives. USCs you can create a special box for your fiance with information, maps, the DMV booklet, language stuff if that's appropriate, ways to contact home etc etc.