Health Insurance questions

[TBoneTX 46,262]

*** Thread moved from K-1 Process forum to the Moving to the US & Your New Life forum. ***

[Hank_ 9,174]

My fiancee and I met in Singapore while we were both working abroad. Because she worked in Singapore, she is required to obtain a police clearance from them. Due to the painful process obtaining a Singapore police clearance (sending snail mail back and forth), we are estimating that the process will take about 8 weeks alone. I do not want her to go out to the interview until the clearance is in hand or else we will receive a notice for additional documentation, which in itself could take some time to clear.

If it weren't for this stupid Singapore clearance, we could have had the K1 visa issued in 2-3 months time from the moment I submitted the I-129F.

Yes acquiring the police clearances can be a #######, and for sure slows things down. Hopefully you will be done very soon.

[Hank_ 9,174]

hmmm bugg...er

[JL818 18]

Thanks you all for all your helpful responses. I have an update on my original inquiry:

I checked with the benefits person at my company and my plan does not consider pregnancy a pre-existing condition and coverage begins the day that I elect the benefit upon getting married.

As many have mentioned, we are also not required to have a SSN at the time we sign up for her coverage. The SSN is something that can be supplied after we have it.

[Amhara 460]

Thanks you all for all your helpful responses. I have an update on my original inquiry:

I checked with the benefits person at my company and my plan does not consider pregnancy a pre-existing condition and coverage begins the day that I elect the benefit upon getting married.

As many have mentioned, we are also not required to have a SSN at the time we sign up for her coverage. The SSN is something that can be supplied after we have it.

Yay!!!!!

[ch3john 308]

A bit of advice on the Singapore COC. Is there anyway your fiancee can travel to SG? My fiancee recently had to get one, she lives in Indonesia but workes in SG for 10 years. Her and I went to SG and applied for the COC. She went on a Thursday and they shipped the following Tuesday. It took about 2 weeks to arrive Indonesia. With that being said, she received it exactly three weeks after she applied in person.

I'm sure you know this, but make sure you get the "Singapore letter" from the embassy that states you need a COC and a "statutory declaration of no criminal conviction" is not sufficient. She will need to attached this letter along with an appeal form.

Good luck to you, your fiancee and the little one on the way

[JL818 18]

A bit of advice on the Singapore COC. Is there anyway your fiancee can travel to SG? My fiancee recently had to get one, she lives in Indonesia but workes in SG for 10 years. Her and I went to SG and applied for the COC. She went on a Thursday and they shipped the following Tuesday. It took about 2 weeks to arrive Indonesia. With that being said, she received it exactly three weeks after she applied in person.

I'm sure you know this, but make sure you get the "Singapore letter" from the embassy that states you need a COC and a "statutory declaration of no criminal conviction" is not sufficient. She will need to attached this letter along with an appeal form.

Good luck to you, your fiancee and the little one on the way

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately she would not be able to travel to Singapore for the COC, so we will have to wait on it a bit.

For the evidence that a COC is required, I emailed someone at the Singapore Police Force and they mentioned that all that is required is the NOA2. There is no need to get the embassy letter or something stating that "statutory declaration of no criminal conviction is not sufficient". Others on the forum have also stated that you have to provide both the embassy letter and that statement or the SG Police Force will not do the COC. Not sure if that is information that has just been passed down from one individual who had a bad experience, or if it was something that the Police Force used to require a long time ago, but apparently they no longer ask for that.

It's similar to how many on here believe that wet signatures are required on much of the documentation (e.g., letter of intent, affidavit of support) when a scanned copy will suffice

[dpd 21]

Hi, SSN is not required for health insurance enrollment. My hubby enrolled me as his dependent without SSN.

Btw, it is very important to get an SSN first before getting married. I got screwed on this, my mistake was I got married first before going to Social Security and I was told I can't get it until I received my AED. I can't do anything at the mo but to wait.

[JL818 18]

Hi, SSN is not required for health insurance enrollment. My hubby enrolled me as his dependent without SSN.

Btw, it is very important to get an SSN first before getting married. I got screwed on this, my mistake was I got married first before going to Social Security and I was told I can't get it until I received my AED. I can't do anything at the mo but to wait.

I don't really understand your post. I need to get married ASAP with my fiancee upon her arrival so that she is immediately covered under my health insurance. Therefore, I think I would probably have to get married before she could get her SSN?

You say that you got screwed because you can't get your SSN until you get your EAD. What is the disadvantage of this?

[dpd 21]

Yes you can get married ASAP so you can enroll her into your medical insurance, that should be the right thing to do in your case since as you said she is due for delivery soon.

Well i got screwed because I cant get my drivers license without SSN and I can't get my SSN until I get my AED which wont be available until 3 months. Had i get SSN first before getting married, I would have my drivers license already by now.

Edited November 25, 2015 by dpd

[JL818 18]

Yes you can get married ASAP so you can enroll her into your medical insurance, that should be the right thing to do in your case since as you said she is due for delivery soon.

Well i got screwed because I cant get my drivers license without SSN and I can't get my SSN until I get my AED which wont be available until 3 months. Had i get SSN first before getting married, I would have my drivers license already by now.

Ah so for you it is mainly that you need to get the driver's license. My fiancee has never driven and it'll probably take her a few months to take the course, get the car, etc. anyway. Thanks!

[Amhara 460]

Yes you can get married ASAP so you can enroll her into your medical insurance, that should be the right thing to do in your case since as you said she is due for delivery soon.

Well i got screwed because I cant get my drivers license without SSN and I can't get my SSN until I get my AED which wont be available until 3 months. Had i get SSN first before getting married, I would have my drivers license already by now.

Texas has a waiver option - which we are going to need to use. SSA told us we can't get the SSN since we married because our status changed; however, not all people had this problem as some had gotten their SSN after marriage on K-1 visa (from SSA, not AOS).

dpd, CA also has an exemption to the SSN:

"Exception to the SSN requirement:

If you are legally present in the US, but ineligible for an SSN, you are exempt from SSN requirements. However, you must still provide an acceptable birth date/legal presence document for any DL/ID card application OR provide a valid SSN."

(https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?1dmy&urile=wcm:path:/dmv_content_en/dmv/dl/dl_info#SSN

Show them your NOA from the AOS. You are good!

Edited November 25, 2015 by Amhara

[dpd 21]

Hi Amhara, thanks for the info. I am illegible for SSN. California is strict. I tried two SSA offices and they both said the same thing: to wait until my AED arrives. I phoned an Attorney too if they can help me with my case unfortunately they can't do anything about it and again I was advised to wait for my AED.

Edited November 26, 2015 by dpd

[Amhara 460]

Hi Amhara, thanks for the info. I am illegible for SSN. California is strict. I tried two SSA offices and they both said the same thing: to wait until my EAD arrives. I phoned an Attorney too if they can help me with my case unfortunately they can't do anything about it and again I was advised to wait for my EAD.

Yeah, my husband and I went two days ago and SSA told us that too. But I wasn't referring to the SSN, I meant the drivers license. We get to fill out a waiver in Texas since the SSA is saying he is "ineligible" at this time. I would say that you can too, but your EAD is almost here, based on your timeline! I hope it comes soon!

OP, I hope your process goes smooth and fast. There are so many fathers that abandon their kids and you are trying to do the right thing. It might be easier to apply for her SSN a day or two after your I-94 comes in, but if you two marry before that, no problem then either. You both can go through your processes without her SSN! I would encourage you to find out if your insurance allows for her to be added before the actual marriage date.

May things go well with you and your new family!!