SSN for K1 Visa Holder

[Beccaxo 1]

Hi guys, I've been in the US since Jan 28th and tomorrow going to apply for my SSN. I have all the paperwork and am filling out the SS-5 application for SSN. Question 5 Citizenship, options are

US Citizen

Legal Alien Allowed to Work

Legal Alien Not allowed to Work (See instructions)

Other

Of course, at the moment I am unable to work until filing EAD after marriage, but the instructions for not allowed to work say I need to provide a document from a US Federal, State or Local government agency that explains why I need one. Which I don't have.

Also, https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530 this link for who can have a SSN shows that K1 is 'legal alien allowed to work'. So I'm a tad confused which box to tick! Any advice? How did you manage to get one?

Thank you!

[danlrob 6]

My wife applied for her SSN before we were married. She checked the legal alien allowed to Work. She received her SSN card 2 weeks later. The card said she is not allowed to work without authorization. The SSN web site can be confusing but USCIS says you cannot work until you receive you EAD. We recently filed for AOS and are waiting for her EAD & AP.

[Beccaxo 1]

Have just found this forum - apologies have also asked elsewhere!

Hi guys, I've been in the US since Jan 28th on a K1 visa and tomorrow going to apply for my SSN. I have all the paperwork and am filling out the SS-5 application for SSN. Question 5 Citizenship, options are

US Citizen

Legal Alien Allowed to Work

Legal Alien Not allowed to Work (See instructions)

Other

Of course, at the moment I am unable to work until filing EAD after marriage, but the instructions for not allowed to work say I need to provide a document from a US Federal, State or Local government agency that explains why I need one. Which I don't have.

Also, https://secure.ssa.g.../lnx/0110211530 this link for who can have a SSN shows that K1 is 'legal alien allowed to work'. So I'm a tad confused which box to tick! Any advice? How did you manage to get one without issue?

Thank you!

[Beccaxo 1]

My wife applied for her SSN before we were married. She checked the legal alien allowed to Work. She received her SSN card 2 weeks later. The card said she is not allowed to work without authorization. The SSN web site can be confusing but USCIS says you cannot work until you receive you EAD. We recently filed for AOS and are waiting for her EAD & AP.

Thank you! I'm of course not working until EAD is sorted, just was concerned about ticking 'allowed to work' and them asking for proof of this which I of course don't have. Thanks again.

[Dohan 133]

Make sure you I-94 is still valid. Since you entered on Jan 28th I don't think it is. You would select Legal Alien Allowed to Work and show them your passport, and your K-1 visa, along with your I-94. We did this for my husband before we got married. But he went in his second week of being here.

If your I-94 is expired you will have to wait to get your SS# until your EAD comes in. Sorry.

[Beccaxo 1]

Make sure you I-94 is still valid. Since you entered on Jan 28th I don't think it is. You would select Legal Alien Allowed to Work and show them your passport, and your K-1 visa, along with your I-94. We did this for my husband before we got married. But he went in his second week of being here.

If your I-94 is expired you will have to wait to get your SS# until your EAD comes in. Sorry.

Regarding the I-94, when does it expire? It's only been 2.5 weeks and I thought we had to wait 2 weeks to file to let computer systems update?

Thank you for the advice!

[Dohan 133]

Check here for your I-94, it's only valid for 14 days. So if they did not enter it on the day you arrived, it might be valid. My hubby's I-94 (he entered with K1) showed up online 3 days after his entry ( I was checking every day).

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I-94 is valid for 90 days on K1. If not, they made a mistake.

You are legal alien allowed to work, but don't work until you get EAD.

Apply in name exactly as on you I-94 and passport because that is your USCIS legal name they have to find in the database. Fix to married name later when USCIS status upgrades you to EAD or greencard.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I answered in your duplicate thread.

[Ryan H 3,834]

**Duplicate threads merged; please do not start multiple threads on the same subject.**

[ch3john 308]

i-94 is valid for 90 days after entry, not 14 like someone else said.

[Hypnos 6,578]

The confusion may be that you need at least 14 days of validity remaining on your I-94 to be able to apply simply by virtue of being a K-1.

The I-94 itself though is always issued for 90 days.

[Dashinka 24,892]

People who enter on a K1 are legally allowed to work if they apply for an EAD which most people forego and wait to apply with the AOS since an EAD on a K1 will only be valid for the 90 days of authorized stay. Also, I don't think you need to wait two weeks anymore from POE to apply for an SSN. Immigration systems are updated much faster now (my wife applied after one week of arriving with no issues). Your I94 is valid for 90 days, so you are still in the window, just check the box "authorized to work" and submit your application with a copy of your I94.

Good Luck!

P.S. Good thread with a lot of information regarding this topic.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/269555-k-1s-get-your-social-security-number-asap/

Edited February 16, 2016 by Bill & Katya