Is getting an SSN a requirement for filing for AOS/EAD?

[vocal 41]

Hi,

 

I would like to get married immediately upon entry to the US, and then already have all the AOS/EAD filled out and submit them with the marriage certificate.

I have been given to understand that getting an SSN can take 1-2 weeks? (is this true?

 

So ideally I would like to be able to file for AOS and EAD without providing SSN, is this legitimate? Or is it going to hurt me in any way?

 

Thanks!

 

[LDS01 2]

I'm not so sure about AOS but you don't need SSN for EAD application.

And yes, it might take a week or two for the SSN.

 

You will have to take care of a few things before getting married. Realistically it won't happen in a day or two, upon entry. 

 

Edited April 13, 2017 by Lucy Dornellas

[MyMistaLovaLova 24]

12 minutes ago, vocal said:

Hi,

 

I would like to get married immediately upon entry to the US, and then already have all the AOS/EAD filled out and submit them with the marriage certificate.

I have been given to understand that getting an SSN can take 1-2 weeks? (is this true?

 

So ideally I would like to be able to file for AOS and EAD without providing SSN, is this legitimate? Or is it going to hurt me in any way?

 

Thanks!

 

It is true, it can take 1-2 week.  However,  it takes about 3 weeks to receive your original certified marriage certificate in the mail.  

 

In my experience, my husband came in to the USA on January 30.  We married and applied for his SSN on January 31st.  Received the SSN 6 days letter.  I had already completed all AOS paperwork before he even entered the USA.  The marriage certificate came in the mail on 02/13/2017.  We made copies of the marriage certificate and send out 1 original and 3 copies.  JUST IN CASE.  

 

In which case, if you do your research about the marriage certificate in your county, you might still have to wait for the certificate.  

 

Please do apply for your SSN.  Helps out a lot, my husband already has his drivers license, he bought a car and also got himself a credit card to start earning credit.  

Edited April 13, 2017 by MyMistaLovaLova

[vocal 41]

In Ohio (Cuyahoga county) they claim that I can get a certified copy if I come in person for $2.0 - http://probate.cuyahogacounty.us/marriage.aspx :
 

Where Can I Obtain a Certified Copy of My Marriage License? 
To obtain a certified copy of your Marriage License the court needs to know the first and last names of the Groom, the first and Maiden (or name prior to marriage) names of the Bride, and the date of marriage. (If the exact date is not known, give an approximate year.) The cost of a certified copy is $2.00. You may either come to the marriage department in person with cash, or send a request through the mail accompanied by a money order or cashier's check for the number of copies. Be sure to include a self addressed stamped envelope where you would like the copy to be mailed.

So you believe that won't be possible so quickly? I am asking because if there's a situation where I have my marriage certificate, and I don't have my SSN yet, I want to be able to file for AOS+EAD combined (obviously very much prefered than to file for EAD alone...)

 

[MyMistaLovaLova 24]

1 minute ago, vocal said:

In Ohio (Cuyahoga county) they claim that I can get a certified copy if I come in person for $2.0 - http://probate.cuyahogacounty.us/marriage.aspx :
 

Where Can I Obtain a Certified Copy of My Marriage License? 
To obtain a certified copy of your Marriage License the court needs to know the first and last names of the Groom, the first and Maiden (or name prior to marriage) names of the Bride, and the date of marriage. (If the exact date is not known, give an approximate year.) The cost of a certified copy is $2.00. You may either come to the marriage department in person with cash, or send a request through the mail accompanied by a money order or cashier's check for the number of copies. Be sure to include a self addressed stamped envelope where you would like the copy to be mailed.

So you believe that won't be possible so quickly? I am asking because if there's a situation where I have my marriage certificate, and I don't have my SSN yet, I want to be able to file for AOS+EAD combined (obviously very much prefered than to file for EAD alone...)

 

Having your SSN for your AOS package is not necessary.  You can send off your paper work without it. 

 

 

How about you call the local office and ask how long does it take for them to process the marriage license so you can have a certified copy?  Because I submitted my marriage certificate and was married by the court, however, they had to get it certified by a stamp which was why I had to wait 2 weeks for it.  I would hate for you to come and get any surprises.  

[vocal 41]

35 minutes ago, MyMistaLovaLova said:

Having your SSN for your AOS package is not necessary.  You can send off your paper work without it. 

 

 

How about you call the local office and ask how long does it take for them to process the marriage license so you can have a certified copy?  Because I submitted my marriage certificate and was married by the court, however, they had to get it certified by a stamp which was why I had to wait 2 weeks for it.  I would hate for you to come and get any surprises.  

Sounds good, thanks for the advice!

[SparklePony 238]

You don't need a SSN for the AOS/EAD/AP package. However, be mindful that depending on your state and/or county, a SSN may be needed for marriage and/or other needs such as getting a driver's license, opening a bank account, etc.

 

The reason why the general recommendation is to apply for a SSN after POE but *before* the marriage is because as a K1 visa holder you are entitled to an SSN, but you lose that once you marry. After the wedding, you can only apply for a SSN once you have your EAD. So if, for some reason, you were to need the SSN after getting married for something, that something would need to wait the 3-4 months for the EAD card. Therefore, it's easier to get it before the wedding, even if that means waiting the 1-2 weeks it takes for you to get the SSN card - most people don't get married immediately after POE so it tends to be worth the waiting period. 

[vocal 41]

1 hour ago, SparklePony said:

You don't need a SSN for the AOS/EAD/AP package. However, be mindful that depending on your state and/or county, a SSN may be needed for marriage and/or other needs such as getting a driver's license, opening a bank account, etc.

 

The reason why the general recommendation is to apply for a SSN after POE but *before* the marriage is because as a K1 visa holder you are entitled to an SSN, but you lose that once you marry. After the wedding, you can only apply for a SSN once you have your EAD. So if, for some reason, you were to need the SSN after getting married for something, that something would need to wait the 3-4 months for the EAD card. Therefore, it's easier to get it before the wedding, even if that means waiting the 1-2 weeks it takes for you to get the SSN card - most people don't get married immediately after POE so it tends to be worth the waiting period. 

Is that a fact? I never heard of this... I really don't think they won't produce me an SSN if I apply for one q few days after getting married... Sounds fishy. 

[SparklePony 238]

A K1 can have a SSN because they are technically allowed to apply for work authorization before the I-94 expires (which is basically the 90 days you have to marry, which is why no one does it - 90 days is what takes for the EAD to be approved, more or less). Once you marry all of that changes. I can, obviously, be wrong. This is what I've always understood from the many posts I have read on here, the guides, etc, but I am just a member.  

 

Sometimes you will see people on here go to the SSN administration to get a card, after they're married. Almost always those posters already had a number and just needed to update their card. 

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

6 hours ago, vocal said:

Is that a fact? I never heard of this... I really don't think they won't produce me an SSN if I apply for one q few days after getting married... Sounds fishy. 

No, that is not a fact. Getting married does not make you ineligible for an SSN. However, many SSA workers know nothing about K-1 visas or immigration in general, so they do not understand/know their own policies. One main problem is that many of them want to see US government ID in the new married name and won't accept the marriage certificate alone, as they should. They will then delay the SSN being issued because of the names being mismatched in the system.

 

This is why it is advised to apply for the SSN under maiden name/name on the K-1 visa, whether you have married yet or not. Of course if you are not changing your name through marriage, then this shouldn't be an issue at all. BUT, people in the past have even been told that marrying changed their status from a K-1 to a K-2 or K-3. Which goes back to the SSA workers not knowing anything about immigration or their own SSA policies.

 

The advice to use name on K-1 visa for SSN and then get it changed later to married name after having the EAD or green card is just to try and have people avoid further delays and hassles.