Applying for a social security after arrival in US

[Amythyst88 2]

Hi again everyone! Already here in Florida and been busy since i arrived.

-When is the best time to apply for a social security?

-Do i have to get my social security before i adjust my status?

-do i have to immediately adjust my status right After getting married or not necesarrily urgent?

Thank you in advance! ?

[Chris and ZhiJia 146]

Hi again everyone! Already here in Florida and been busy since i arrived.

-When is the best time to apply for a social security?

-Do i have to get my social security before i adjust my status?

-do i have to immediately adjust my status right After getting married or not necesarrily urgent?

Thank you in advance! ?

I recommend going to the Social Security office early in the morning (the one here opens at 9am so we went at 8:35 to wait for the doors to open). Your information should already be available to them as long as your arrival was within the past 48 hours.

SSN is not required for AOS, but if you get it before you submit your AOS papers, please include it on the documents.

Once you get Married there is no Rush to file the I-485 unless you have a need to travel outside of the US, then you will need to file the I-485, I-131, and I-765 (I-131, and I-765 are optional to filing your I-485, but are recommended to file with the I-485 to avoid additional filing fees).

[naire37 53]

1) Dunno about Florida, but for us in MA the best time to apply for SSN is to be there about 20-25 min before the office opens. Our lines are ridiculously huge and only grow bigger during the day. You can do it any time after coming to US.

2) You don't need SSN to AOS.

3) AOS is not urgent. It's best to apply for it within 90 days of you coming to US, plus if you are applying for AP/EAD, it's about 90 days wait to get work authorization & advanced parole (must have for traveling outside of US).

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hi again everyone! Already here in Florida and been busy since i arrived.

-When is the best time to apply for a social security?

-Do i have to get my social security before i adjust my status?

-do i have to immediately adjust my status right After getting married or not necesarrily urgent?

Thank you in advance! ?

SSN is not required for AOS, but is helpful with the bank and health insurance. If you apply before AOS make sure you have more than 2 weeks remaining on your I-94.

As for adjusting status, there is not a stated time requirement but once your I-94 expires you are out of status until you do file AOS, also if you delay filing too long you will be required to complete a new medical with a civil surgeon.

[Caryh 5,206]

Its best to get your SS number early. It saves many headaches in the USA with not having one. Although people are saying there is no rush on the AOS, it is beneficial to do it as soon as possible. You won't be able to drive or work without doing so. Many road blocks are thrown in your way if you don't have the green card or at least the EAD. If you do not file within the 90 days, you won't be penalized for it with USCIS as there is no time limit currently written into the law. But your status as a legal resident does not begin until you have your green card. This delays when you can become a citizen and that can have a big affect on your options in the future. For example, say you're having a baby and you want mom to spend some time with you, she can't get a visitors visa, a CR-1 can get her here the quickest in this case. You and your husband want to spend half time in the Philippines and half time in the USA. With out citizenship your green card can get yanked if you do this too long. Get citizenship and it doesn't matter where you and your husband want to live for how ever long you want.

[Amythyst88 2]

SSN is not required for AOS, but is helpful with the bank and health insurance. If you apply before AOS make sure you have more than 2 weeks remaining on your I-94.

As for adjusting status, there is not a stated time requirement but once your I-94 expires you are out of status until you do file AOS, also if you delay filing too long you will be required to complete a new medical with a civil surgeon.

How many days is the validity of I-94?

For example, my admission date was may 5,2016, will i be okay if i'll get my SSN 2-3 weeks after my arrival date here in Florida?

Edited May 13, 2016 by Amythyst88

[Caryh 5,206]

How many days is the validity of I-94?

For example, my admission date was may 5,2016, will i be okay if i'll get my SSN 2-3 weeks after my arrival date here in Florida?

I-94 for a K1 is valid for 90 days. Yes 2-3 weeks should be fine.

[Amythyst88 2]

I-94 for a K1 is valid for 90 days. Yes 2-3 weeks should be fine.

y

Thank you. How about the medical exam? Somebody told us to re-do the medical exam again. But in USCIS website, it says K1 visa holders dont need to do another exam provided AOS was filed within one year of overseas medical exam. I got three vaccines in the Philippines: MMR, Varicella and Tdap. In my Immunization record, it doesnt have a COMPLETE nor INCOMPLETE remark.. How abour that? Am i good not to do another medical exam???

[Caryh 5,206]

y

Thank you. How about the medical exam? Somebody told us to re-do the medical exam again. But in USCIS website, it says K1 visa holders dont need to do another exam provided AOS was filed within one year of overseas medical exam. I got three vaccines in the Philippines: MMR, Varicella and Tdap. In my Immunization record, it doesnt have a COMPLETE nor INCOMPLETE remark.. How abour that? Am i good not to do another medical exam???

Generally you can adjust status just fine with a copy of the DS-2035 sent, as long as your medical wasn't more than a year old when you apply.

But at times people have gotten RFE's when only that was used. It used to be recommended to go to a civil surgeon and get the vaccines transcribed. My wife did that about 5 years ago, just to make sure it wasn't an issue. I doubt we really needed to though. For a while people were getting RFE's because when USCIS was actually looking at their DS-2035, it was now over a year old. So no one can say 100% you can get away with just the DS-2035, you should be able to, but USCIS sometimes gets very strange about accepting it. Technically all vaccines should be marked complete, given or not appropriate, and signed, but that seems also not required the majority of the time.

So I'd just apply with the copy of the DS-2035 currently, but there's always the chance USCIS will start doing something weird with the requirements again. Heck I've heard of people adjusting status without even sending the copy.

[Hank_ 9,174]

y

Thank you. How about the medical exam? Somebody told us to re-do the medical exam again. But in USCIS website, it says K1 visa holders dont need to do another exam provided AOS was filed within one year of overseas medical exam. I got three vaccines in the Philippines: MMR, Varicella and Tdap. In my Immunization record, it doesnt have a COMPLETE nor INCOMPLETE remark.. How abour that? Am i good not to do another medical exam???

You medical is good for one year, make sure to complete AOS within that year or you most likely will be asked to complete a new medical. My wife only had 3 vaccinations also, no issues.

All that is required according to the I-485 instructions is a COPY of you DS-3205 .. I also suggest you print out a copy of page 4 section 7c of the I-485 instructions, highlighting section 7c ... some adjudicators don't seem to have a clue how to process the K-1 and automatically look for an I-693 even though it isn't required, Others that have followed this suggestion have had no issues.

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-485instr.pdf

https://www.uscis.gov/i-485

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-485instr.pdf

[Kevincc1990 0]

My question is if you wait untill after your AOS to get social security card what name would be on the Green card maiden or married name? And can you legally sign the AOS packet with the married name since the marriage certificate only will have the maiden name on it.

[Hank_ 9,174]

My question is if you wait untill after your AOS to get social security card what name would be on the Green card maiden or married name? And can you legally sign the AOS packet with the married name since the marriage certificate only will have the maiden name on it.

SSA is a funny critter, IF you get someone with a brain and you apply for your SS card after you are married it will be in your married name. Finding that rare critter is difficult... Just the same it is not a big deal to go back to SSA after you get your green card and have the name changed.

https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf

As for name to use after marriage... use your married name for ALL documents... ALL including AOS (I-485)

[Amythyst88 2]

I am confused in terms of my signature used in our marriage license. I signed our marriage license (which happened to be also our marriage certifcate) under my maiden name.

-Can i now sign documents specifically AOS documents with a different signature under my married name?

[Amythyst88 2]

SSN is not required for AOS, but is helpful with the bank and health insurance. If you apply before AOS make sure you have more than 2 weeks remaining on your I-94.

As for adjusting status, there is not a stated time requirement but once your I-94 expires you are out of status until you do file AOS, also if you delay filing too long you will be required to complete a new medical with a civil surgeon.

Thank you Hank. Because we are both confused if it's a good idea to wait for SSN prior to AOS so we can put my SSN in some of the required documents AOS packet. It's gonna take weeks before i get my social security and before i can send my AOS.

[Kevincc1990 0]

SSA is a funny critter, IF you get someone with a brain and you apply for your SS card after you are married it will be in your married name. Finding that rare critter is difficult... Just the same it is not a big deal to go back to SSA after you get your green card and have the name changed.

https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf

As for name to use after marriage... use your married name for ALL documents... ALL including AOS (I-485)

Thanks Hank!! my other question is, is it better to apply for a ssn before marriage? with the estimated time of arrival and wedding date there would not be enough time to get a SSN and do the AOS since right now our local offices are about 3 weeks out for a SSN. Can the name be changed on the SOcial Security card after the AOS is sent in? my Biggest concern is getting my fiancée on my medical right after marriage my yearly enroll date is sept 1st. and making sure the last name is right on the Green Card is the biggest issue.