SSN and AOS

[NeytiB 10]

Hi, Its been 69 days now since I arrived here in US. We get married on May 20. I read that I need to file a SSN within 90 days of arrival. Cause the admissions needs an unexpired I-94 for that. Then I read online that only noncitizens who have permission to work to DHS can apply for SSN. Whic is EAD, I am assuming. Which usually takes 90 days to be approved, in my knowledge. If I need a permission to work before getting a SSN, and getting a SSN requires unexpired I-94, how does this work? I am worried, we only have few weeks now before the I94 expires.

We are just in the process of filing aos now. 

 

Thanks in advance!!!

[HunNee 15]

Hi, when my husband arrived from the Philippines, we went to SS office after 2 weeks and applied for his SSN.. we just showed his I-94 and passport and we had no problems applying.. we got his SS card in the mail in 2-3 weeks, with a writing "not valid for work without dhs authorization"; the important thing is he already got his SSN which is usually needed in applying for bank accts, etc.. After receiving his SS, and got married, we applied for the AOS, EAD and AP, approved without any problems..

 

you should apply for SSN first, then apply AOS, EAD so you can work, and AP if u need to travel

Edited May 30, 2017 by HunNee

[Scandi 4,166]

As a K-1er you apply for SSN within the first two weeks in the US, before the wedding as many SS offices won't issue an SSN after you have gotten married, especially if you have changed your name. You will then have to wait for your EAD to get a SSN.

Edited May 30, 2017 by Scandi

[Hank_ 9,174]

2 hours ago, NeytiB said:

Hi, Its been 69 days now since I arrived here in US. We get married on May 20. I read that I need to file a SSN within 90 days of arrival. Cause the admissions needs an unexpired I-94 for that. Then I read online that only noncitizens who have permission to work to DHS can apply for SSN. Whic is EAD, I am assuming. Which usually takes 90 days to be approved, in my knowledge. If I need a permission to work before getting a SSN, and getting a SSN requires unexpired I-94, how does this work? I am worried, we only have few weeks now before the I94 expires.

We are just in the process of filing aos now. 

 

Thanks in advance!!!

No you do not need to apply for you SSN within 90 days.  But if you do want to apply for your SS card now, get it done before reaching the 2 week mark for expiration of the I-94.

 

If you don't get the SS card before the cut off you can simply wait a couple months, then apply once you have the EAD card (I-766) or later the green card.

 

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

 

Easy to accomplish once you have the EAD, besides you can work without the EAD or green card anyway.

 

 

 

 

[Hank_ 9,174]

2 hours ago, Scandi said:

As a K-1er you apply for SSN within the first two weeks in the US, before the wedding as many SS offices won't issue an SSN after you have gotten married, especially if you have changed your name. You will then have to wait for your EAD to get a SSN.

Not true, you can apply for the SSN any time after arrival, exception - apply before the last two weeks of I-94 validity.

 

Whether the SS office issues the card in the married name is hit and miss.  With my wife, she applied two days after we were married and got her card in her married name.

[millefleur 5,046]

**Moved from the Philippines regional forum to Adjustment of Status from Family Based Visas; the OP's question concerns the AOS process from a K-1 and is not specific to one region**

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

23 minutes ago, Hank_ said:

Easy to accomplish once you have the EAD, besides you can work without the EAD or green card anyway.

Absolutely not. The EAD is needed to work.

[Scandi 4,166]

22 minutes ago, Hank_ said:

Not true, you can apply for the SSN any time after arrival, exception - apply before the last two weeks of I-94 validity.

 

Whether the SS office issues the card in the married name is hit and miss.  With my wife, she applied two days after we were married and got her card in her married name.

Like I said, many offices don't even let you apply for a SSN at all after the wedding, many VJers have to wait for their EAD to get one. They're not even allowed to get one in their maiden name. While at other offices it's not a problem. That's why we recommend people to go before the wedding, you never know for sure if they will allow you an SSN or not. Seems to depend a lot on what office you go to and who you get to talk to. 

 

Right or not, that's what quite a few VJers have had happen to them.

[Dashinka 24,514]

Just now, Scandi said:

Like I said, many offices don't even let you apply for a SSN at all after the wedding, many VJers have to wait for their EAD to get one. They're not even allowed to get one in their maiden name. While at other offices it's not a problem. That's why we recommend people to go before the wedding, you never know for sure if they will allow you an SSN or not. Seems to depend a lot on what office you go to and who you get to talk to. 

 

Right or not, that's what quite a few VJers have had happen to them.

That is interesting.  Since the SSA has no idea if you are married or not (unless you tell them), I don't see how that would make a difference.  If you are talking about a name change due to marriage, then I agree, the SSA is wishy washy on that one.

 

3 hours ago, NeytiB said:

Hi, Its been 69 days now since I arrived here in US. We get married on May 20. I read that I need to file a SSN within 90 days of arrival. Cause the admissions needs an unexpired I-94 for that. Then I read online that only noncitizens who have permission to work to DHS can apply for SSN. Whic is EAD, I am assuming. Which usually takes 90 days to be approved, in my knowledge. If I need a permission to work before getting a SSN, and getting a SSN requires unexpired I-94, how does this work? I am worried, we only have few weeks now before the I94 expires.

We are just in the process of filing aos now. 

 

Thanks in advance!!!

To the OP, not sure where you read that, but it is not true.  When coming on a K1, you can apply for an SSN up to 76 days after arrival.  Most will tell you to wait at least two weeks after arrival to make sure the USCIS database is updated so the SSA can see your legal immigration status, but that is debateable as well.  As others have said, go to the SSA ASAP, apply for the SSN using the foreign passport name and unexpired I94.  If you are changing your name due to marriage, I would not mention that or show them the marriage certificate, you can change the name on the SSC after you get the EAD or GC.  it is not necessary when filing for the AOS, but it can be needed for things like state IDs or bank accounts.

 

Good Luck!

[Hank_ 9,174]

15 minutes ago, Suss&Camm said:

Absolutely not. The EAD is needed to work.

that was a typo....  should have read CAN'T .. but this forum doesn't allow editing after a couple minutes.

 

 

[Hank_ 9,174]

2 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

That is interesting.  Since the SSA has no idea if you are married or not (unless you tell them), I don't see how that would make a difference.  If you are talking about a name change due to marriage, then I agree, the SSA is wishy washy on that one.

 

To the OP, not sure where you read that, but it is not true.  When coming on a K1, you can apply for an SSN up to 76 days after arrival.  Most will tell you to wait at least two weeks after arrival to make sure the USCIS database is updated so the SSA can see your legal immigration status, but that is debateable as well.  As others have said, go to the SSA ASAP, apply for the SSN using the foreign passport name and unexpired I94.  If you are changing your name due to marriage, I would not mention that or show them the marriage certificate, you can change the name on the SSC after you get the EAD or GC.  it is not necessary when filing for the AOS, but it can be needed for things like state IDs or bank accounts.

 

Good Luck!

TOTALLY agree with you.

Nothing to stop a person from applying, up until the 76 day mark.    SSA does issue the SS card, even if married, some offices refuse to issue it in the married name is all... but they will issue the card.

[OBGYNKENOBI 32]

Hi! based on my experience here in Reno, NV, yes, correct you can apply SS before your i94 expires which is 90 days, and they do give you a time frame though, again correct, at 76 days before it expires. And if you passed that mark before you apply, you can still apply, they will acknowledge it, but, they will verify first the documents that you gave them(ex: expired i94, expired k1 visa if you came through that) to show your alien status with the federal, state, or your local field office.  And unlike other states which they need GC if you apply after getting married, here, they will still issue you your SS as long as you present marriage certificate.  I presume it depends on each state(please correct me if this is incorrect). I applied 2 weeks from arrival and all i needed for the name change was the marriage certificate.

 

Edited May 30, 2017 by OBGYNKENOBI

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

4 hours ago, OBGYNKENOBI said:

Hi! based on my experience here in Reno, NV, yes, correct you can apply SS before your i94 expires which is 90 days, and they do give you a time frame though, again correct, at 76 days before it expires. And if you passed that mark before you apply, you can still apply, they will acknowledge it, but, they will verify first the documents that you gave them(ex: expired i94, expired k1 visa if you came through that) to show your alien status with the federal, state, or your local field office.  And unlike other states which they need GC if you apply after getting married, here, they will still issue you your SS as long as you present marriage certificate.  I presume it depends on each state(please correct me if this is incorrect). I applied 2 weeks from arrival and all i needed for the name change was the marriage certificate.

 

No SSO will issue a card between day 76-90. The system they use, locks them out - and it's a federal system, i.e. same for all offices. They might take your application, but they will in that case hold it until you can provide an immigration document with longer validity.

 

Also, the last name change varies with offices within a state, as evidenced by VJer's experiences- and even more unfortunate, with employees within the offices, within the state. 

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Once you arrive in the states here is an easy step by step what you should do the first 90 days and when it should be done for best results and an easier time. 

 

http://dennyeyberg.wixsite.com/filipino-am-visa/overview-of-whats-next