Is SSN part of the AOS process?

[bora bora 1]

I guess I'm just curious to find out if getting the SSN is part of the AOS process? I figured no because you can apply for it before you get married.

Also, the woman who did the work for us yesterday at the SS office told us my fiance can work once he gets the SSN. This is incorrect, right? I read the receipt she gave us and it said you can work only with authorization from Homeland Security.

My fiance can only work once we get married, file for AOS and his EAD is approved....correct?

Thanks!

[cellarlily 0]

My fiance can only work once we get married, file for AOS and his EAD is approved....correct?

Thanks!

Correct.

Getting a SSN isn't technically part of the AOS process, but it's best to get it sooner than later. Though being married or not should not affect him getting a SS card, we had troubles getting my husband one after we were married (though he was still well within his 90-day limit of K1 visa.) They tried to tell him that his K1 visa was null and void the second we got married, which is absolute #######.

Basically, if he's not changing his name, tell him to get it ASAP (well, after two weeks upon entering as they need time to get him into the system). The sooner the better, and it's best to get all these things done before he starts working as he'll need a SSN when he works and it's a couple hours wasted at the SS office. Tell him to take his passport and visa, of course. Possibly print off this document and take it to the office if they have issues: http://www.kamya.com/ssn/em00154.pdf

Good luck!

[bora bora 1]

Thanks.

We applied for the SSN yesterday and was told he'll get it in 2 weeks . I didn't know that we had to wait to apply for it - it's just that I'm on spring break so this is the best time. He had been here for a week and everything went fine. I guess we're lucky.

We decided to wait a month to get married because he wants to do it on his birthday so we'll wait until the beginning of May to apply for AOS. He is anxious to work. Is there anything I can do now so that as soon as we get married we can send out the paperwork?

[cellarlily 0]

Yes, start filling out the paperwork now...just don't date or sign anything. I started to gather all our information and filled out all the forms prior to us marrying just so when we got our certified marriage certificate we were good to go.

The checklist they have here is amazing. Start writing the cover letter and gathering documents...most of which you should have already from I-129F. Then all you'll need is your marriage certificate. After you've married and you go to take your signed license in, make sure you get a bunch of certified copies because you'll need them for a million things. They're pretty cheap and it's best to get a bunch of them than have to go back and wait in line again.

Edited March 27, 2007 by cellarlily

[bora bora 1]

You've been a great help!!

One more question: we take our marriage certificate back to where it was issued and receive certified copies there?

[cellarlily 0]

No problem!

It may be different in your county. Refer to your county's webpage or call the county clerk to find out how you do it. Basically we went in to the vital records office on Friday, showed them documents proving our age and identity (make sure your fiance brings his passport as well as his birth certificate or some other identification), they printed our marriage license, had us review it and they gave us part of it. The next day we went back to the same building to "marriage court" to get it signed by a judge (way romantic, I know). He signed it and gave it to the appropriate people. We then went back the next week and got certified copies from the vital records department.

If you have someone other than a judge at the county office do this, I believe you send or hand deliver the signed document to the vital records office and you should be able to request copies that day. I'm not entirely sure, so just ask someone when you go in to apply for your license.

[raymaga 25]

We got married on a Saturday by a Judge, who gave us the marriage certificate after the ceremony so that we could take it to the court house on Monday morning ourselves. We got our certified copies of the marriage certificate at the court house while we waited (for a few bucks each) and sent off our AOS paperwork that day. We had done all the paperwork and gathered all the required documents in the weeks before we got married, so that all we had to do was add the certified marriage certificate and throw it in the mail.

Edited March 27, 2007 by raymaga

[bora bora 1]

Your advice has been wonderful. I have everything so far organized and set aside so I need to print out the forms and begin filling out what I can now. We brought a translated copy of his BC with us from Brazil so I hope that helps.

Thanks so much you all.