WA State ID Card while waiting for AOS

[azn_101 1]

Hi Guys,

After talking with my lawyer she said it was best that my wife will need a WA State Id card to prove her residence. The problem I have at the DMV was they needed 4 things to prove her identity in which I did, then they told me she will have to go through a long process to obtain her Id card because she does not have her SSN yet. But our lawyer has applied for her to obtain a temporary work visa so that she can get her SSN. They explained that they took a picture of her so they have her on record and will send us a form by mail, and then head quarter would contact us and schedule a interview. Their requirements are ridiculous to prove identity we must provide as much info that backs up her residence in WA. Right now we're unable to apply for a bank account , bill statement, and etc.... only thing we currently have as proof of residence is our marriage license, her foreign passport, birth certificate, and her valid K-1 Visa. If anyone has already gone through this can we get some guidance on how to obtain her WA state id.

Thanks in advance,

azn_101

[drlarryclements 4]

Why are you waiting to apply for a SS number? My fiancée came over, we arrived 10 days later. 15 days after tat we took our marriage license and her fiancé visa documents to the SS office. 10 days after that we got her SSN in the mail.

All of that was way back in 2009. She has now been an American Citizen for almost 2 years.

[Pitaya 2,577]

Why doesn't she have her SSN? We followed the K1 Flowchart, http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1flow , and as a result my wife was able to get her SSN in pretty short order. It doesn't sound like you followed the Flowchart, so now you have to wait until you file and receive your I-765 Employment Authorization Document. It is not insurmountable, just time-consuming. I wonder if your attorney is talking about the short-term EAD that is available prior to filing for AOS? It is somewhat expensive and is only valid for a short period of time. Others will likely mention that option, few people apply for it, because of its limitations.

The stumbling block for us was the I-94. At that time, the I-94 was a paper form, and the information had to be inputted into the SAVE computer system. It is now electronic. (BTW, your wife's K1 visa was voided by the CPB officer the second she entered the US at her Port of Entry. Her legal status is now dependent on her valid I-94.)

Look at the WA State DOL ID card requirements, http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/idproof.html , and see which documents in each category that you have available.

For my wife (K-1, over 25 years old) I believe that we took in

her valid foreign passport (as described on the WA DOL website) {A-list}, and certified birth certificate (in our case, her Chinese Notarial Certificate) {B-list} and a copy of our Marriage Certificate (filed with King County) {B-list}, and we threw in her new SSN card (as a bonus) {B-list}. I think that was close to Option 3.

For the 19 yo K2 son, we had to wait for him to get his State ID, and had to file for AOS, and concurrently filed for EAD and AP. When he received it, he was then able to use the EAD/AP combo card {Stand-alone document}, we also provided his valid foreign passport {A-list}, a certified birth certificate (Chinese Notarial Certificate) {B-list}, certified school transcript [contained his photo and date of birth] (Chinese Notarial Certificate) {B-list}.

Don't let it overwhelm or frustrate you, just see what documents you have and which option applies. The SSN certainly makes life easier. The DOL rejected our initial applications, we had to have a hearing with an examiner. Don't know which consulate/embassy your wife went through to get her K1 visa. We went through the GUZ consulate in China, not known as a walk-in-the-park. As a consequence, we knew how to get prepared to a WA state licensing examiner, piece of cake compared to a DOS Consular Officer..... The key is to be prepared with your proper documents.

When you get a chance. It helps everyone that uses or is helped by the forum.

Good luck on your immigration journey.

[azn_101 1]

I'm just following what my lawyers are telling me to do. She told me from her experience is to get her temporary work permit then it will make it a lot easier to apply for SSN. But then again every where I read you can apply after you have the marriage documents seems like its a piece of cake. I will call her and talk cause it seems like I can skip a lot of steps to getting her id card when she have a SSN.

Thanks for the advice Y'all

Edited May 28, 2016 by azn_101

[p-ana 933]

I'm just following what my lawyers are telling me to do. She told me from her experience is to get her temporary work permit then it will make it a lot easier to apply for SSN. But then again every where I read you can apply after you have the marriage documents seems like its a piece of cake. I will call her and talk cause it seems like I can skip a lot of steps to getting her id card when she have a SSN.

Thanks for the advice Y'all

Your wife still has time on her i94 and should not waste any more of it waiting. She can go to the nearest Ssn office with a ss5 form filled, a copy of her i94 and passport and apply for her card. She will need to apply for it in her passport name, after getting the ead or gc, she can go back there and change it to her married name.

[Pitaya 2,577]

Your wife still has time on her i94 and should not waste any more of it waiting. She can go to the nearest Ssn office with a ss5 form filled, a copy of her i94 and passport and apply for her card. She will need to apply for it in her passport name, after getting the ead or gc, she can go back there and change it to her married name.

^^^^ This !!!

[yuna628 9,726]

I'm just following what my lawyers are telling me to do. She told me from her experience is to get her temporary work permit then it will make it a lot easier to apply for SSN. But then again every where I read you can apply after you have the marriage documents seems like its a piece of cake. I will call her and talk cause it seems like I can skip a lot of steps to getting her id card when she have a SSN.

Thanks for the advice Y'all

Go to the nearest SSN office and apply for an SSN. Follow the guide here, and there should be no issues obtaining one. If there is an issue, ask for a supervisor. Haven't an honest clue why a lawyer would state for you to wait. An SSN is a needed document, and should have been obtained some time ago. If you keep waiting, then yes you won't be able to get one until you have an EAD.

As for a state ID, unfortunately it is very much in the domain of the DMV. So the process will be like trying to obtain a driving license. You will not be able to obtain a state ID until you have an EAD. And that ID will only be valid for as long as the EAD is. You will also need an SSN, possibly her name on some mail etc.

You do not need an SSN to add your wife to a bank account. A passport and marriage certificate can be used. If they don't want to, then they don't need your business.

[yvy23 11]

Go to the nearest SSN office and apply for an SSN. Follow the guide here, and there should be no issues obtaining one. If there is an issue, ask for a supervisor. Haven't an honest clue why a lawyer would state for you to wait. An SSN is a needed document, and should have been obtained some time ago. If you keep waiting, then yes you won't be able to get one until you have an EAD.

As for a state ID, unfortunately it is very much in the domain of the DMV. So the process will be like trying to obtain a driving license. You will not be able to obtain a state ID until you have an EAD. And that ID will only be valid for as long as the EAD is. You will also need an SSN, possibly her name on some mail etc.

You do not need an SSN to add your wife to a bank account. A passport and marriage certificate can be used. If they don't want to, then they don't need your business.

Once you have your SSN, applying for a WA State ID is straightforward. I applied for my SSN as soon as we were married. Then took the SSN, my foreign driver's license and foreign passport to the DMV. ID card was issued the same day (temporary) with the full one following by mail a few days later. Same with the drivers' license.

The instructions for WA are here http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/gettingidcard.html and the list of proof of identity documents is here http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/idproof.html

The rules may have changed in the last 2 years, but I was issued a full 6-year drivers' license before my AOS/EAD/AP was even processed. I believe that was something that was specific to WA and a lot of other states don't do it, but it was definitely no problem for me.

[azn_101 1]

I was looking over the SSN guide on VJ. It said she would need another form of Id would a marriage license work along with her I-94, passport / visa , Origin birth certificate / Certified translated ver. of the Birth certificate ?

Thanks again,

Azn_101

[yvy23 11]

I was looking over the SSN guide on VJ. It said she would need another form of Id would a marriage license work along with her I-94, passport / visa , Origin birth certificate / Certified translated ver. of the Birth certificate ?

Thanks again,

Azn_101

I would have thought that would work. She doesn't have a foreign drivers license? I used that for a secondary ID for a lot of things.

[azn_101 1]

Just a update we applied for my wife social, while at the office they took her Passport, birth certificate, and the I-94. The lady at the window said her names was entered incorrectly on her I-94 it appears to have her middle name then First name. As for most Asian country it goes by Last, middle, first. On her SS-5 she put down her name along with my last name, then her full name at birth. The lady at the counter said they will contact homeland security to make sure she entered the U.S. legally. I'm trying not to worry so much. Just wondering if many have run into this same problem ?

Thanks,

Azn_101

[p-ana 933]

If the i94 is incorrect you need to contact a cbp deffered inspection office near you so they change it to the right name. This should be done as soon as possible cause if not it will affect all her documents.

You shouldn't have applied for the Ssn if the i94 is incorrect and with married name first, it will cause a lot of delay.

[yvy23 11]

Just a update we applied for my wife social, while at the office they took her Passport, birth certificate, and the I-94. The lady at the window said her names was entered incorrectly on her I-94 it appears to have her middle name then First name. As for most Asian country it goes by Last, middle, first. On her SS-5 she put down her name along with my last name, then her full name at birth. The lady at the counter said they will contact homeland security to make sure she entered the U.S. legally. I'm trying not to worry so much. Just wondering if many have run into this same problem ?

Thanks,

Azn_101

I haven't, but I'd imagine it will be fine - they just need to double check. If everything matches apart from the 2 names being the wrong way around, I'm sure they'll be able to figure it out fairly easily. I had to wait a few days too - I think they check for everyone to make sure that everything matches up and that the visa was issued correctly and used for single entry to the US etc.

[Phil0383 5]

Since u got the Ssn done u can actually go to Bank of America to open an account with only her international passport I did that for my wife. Just go back there later to give them the Ssn. That is the only bank allows us to open with out any other documents. Chase requires a photo ID with address and Ssn card. So at least u can get a joint account going for now till aos