K1 getting SSN

[marislet 8]

So excited, we just got our NOA2!!!   I'm trying to figure out how quickly we an get the Social Security Number?  We'd like to get married rather quickly after my fiance gets here and the SSN is required for the marriage license application.  How does this work?  Thanks!

[Detron 15]

22 minutes ago, marislet said:

So excited, we just got our NOA2!!!   I'm trying to figure out how quickly we an get the Social Security Number?  We'd like to get married rather quickly after my fiance gets here and the SSN is required for the marriage license application.  How does this work?  Thanks!

Congratulations!
Now, to get the SSN card you just need top drop by the social security office. Waiting time can vary depending on where you live. It can go as fast as 5 minutes waiting time, up to a hour. To get the card through mail can be up to no more than two weeks. And that also depends on how busy the social security office is, it can go faster too, but count on 2 weeks regardless.

Make sure you bring all papers with you. I-94, passport. Here's a link that explains it in detail. On his first SSN card it will state a sentence saying "valid for work only with DHS authorization". That specific sentence is removed once he gets his green card in his hands. You go back later on to the social security office and apply for a new card again.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn
 

Edited June 13, 2017 by Detron
provided link

[Roel 7,192]

SSN required for marriage application? First time I've heard that. I got married just fine without it. Tourists coming to get married in the USA certainly don't have ssn either. 

[Ryan_Chialien 15]

Typically you don't need SSN for a marriage license.  There may be a space for it in on the application but it's not required.  You should call whatever your local place is that issues marriage licenses and find this out for sure.

 

You can apply for SSN number as soon as you arrive here.  It took us close to 6 weeks to get the card in the mail after applying.   We applied for it a week after we arrived.  We got married 2 days after she arrived in the us so a few days before applying for the SSN.

[geowrian 22,337]

Congrats!

 

Normally you should be in the system within a couple days after entry. The recommendation on the VJ guide is to wait at least 10 days. Some have done it same day, but that may result in not being i the system yet and having to either come back or undergo manual verification (takes several weeks). You must request it with at least 14 days left on your I-94. They will not process it if you have less than 14 days of legal status in the US. If you go after getting married, it may be difficult to get the card in the new name until after getting the EAD or green card...people have had mixed success.

 

I've also never heard of an SSN being required. Tourists (and EWIs) cannot obtain an SSN but can marry fine. I think you should check on this as it does not sound accurate.

[Detron 15]

That's very true. You don't need to wait for a SSN to get married. I can't see on our wedding certificate anything about an SSN number stated anywhere. The county office just asks for IDs (passports, driver's license, etc).

SSN will help however, acquire a bank account, driver's license through DMV, etc. and he should work towards those things as soon as possible, after he retrieves his work authorization card. Below is a timeline that shows in which order things should go.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1flow

Edited June 13, 2017 by Detron
link was broken

[sarahandyunus 133]

You don't need a SSN to get married, HOWEVER (at least where we live, in North Carolina) if you are elligible for one (aka you are here on a K-1 visa) you MUST HAVE ONE to get a marriage license. The only cases in which you don't need one for a marriage license are if you are inelligible (tourist, student, etc).

 

Make sure you wait 10 days after POE to apply for one, so that you are in the system as having entered the US.

[marislet 8]

17 minutes ago, sarahandyunus said:

You don't need a SSN to get married, HOWEVER (at least where we live, in North Carolina) if you are elligible for one (aka you are here on a K-1 visa) you MUST HAVE ONE to get a marriage license. The only cases in which you don't need one for a marriage license are if you are inelligible (tourist, student, etc).

 

Make sure you wait 10 days after POE to apply for one, so that you are in the system as having entered the US.

That's what I'm seeing for New Jersey... it's required for the license application.

[sarahandyunus 133]

57 minutes ago, marislet said:

That's what I'm seeing for New Jersey... it's required for the license application.

Yeah, it might be worth calling or going to your register of deeds and asking - we found that some of the people at ours were more strict about requirements than others, honestly.  

[Scandi 4,166]

Go apply for the SSN within the first week after you enter the US. It's impossible to say for sure how long it will take for you to get it in the mail thougj. Some need extra verification with the immigrations and they sometimes have to wait for 2 months. I myself waited for almost 4 weeks. 

 

Sounds strange to me too that you would need an SSN to get the marriage license..

[sarahandyunus 133]

4 hours ago, Scandi said:

 

 

Sounds strange to me too that you would need an SSN to get the marriage license..

I agree that its really weird. Perhaps it varies county by county? 

 

Our county's website read :

 

"• All applicants must present a Social Security Card or a legal document with their full Social Security number on it (ex. Recent W2 within two (2) years, Insurance Policy, or a letter from their bank on the bank letterhead).
o If an applicant(s) has never been assigned a Social Security Card, an affidavit form will be provided for completion at the Register of Deeds Office."

 

We went to the office assuming the SSN was not needed and that we could just fill out the affadavit, but they said that the affidavit could only be provided in the case that the person was not elligible for a SSN. 

 

In any case, I think calling and asking your county register of deeds ahead of going there is probably the best option!! 

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

1. No - you don't need a SSN for the marriage license, that is only for USC and LPR - you will need it but not your fiance.

2. You do not have to wait 10 days to be in the system, that use to be the case - the databases are updated over night so the next day should be fine - if you want to make sure wait one more day.

3. If they can't verify you after that it doesn't mean you are not in the system yet, but that there might be another issue, such as error or inconsistency with how the employee has entered your name compared to the i-94 record. 
    a) If the SSO employee has made a mistake, have them correct it and try again, ask to double check their entry - it must match exactly
    b) If the problem is that the i-94 doesn't match your identification, withdraw your application and get in touch with deferred inspection site to correct your i-94 before applying again.
4. It is true that the normal waiting time is around 2 weeks sometimes shorter, BUT as mentioned it can take longer. For example as in my case, my name was too long to fit in the boxes in SAVE (verification database). Meaning there was no way out of the manual verification (paper verification through USCIS), which ended up taking around 10 weeks.

Edited June 14, 2017 by Suss&Camm

[marislet 8]

5 minutes ago, Suss&Camm said:

1. No - you don't need a SSN for the marriage license, that is only for USC and LPR - you will need it but not your fiance.

2. You do not have to wait 10 days to be in the system, that use to be the case - the databases are updated over night so the next day should be fine - if you want to make sure wait one more day.

3. If they can't verify you after that it doesn't mean you are not in the system yet, but that there might be another issue, such as error or inconsistency with how the employee has entered your name compared to the i-94 record. 
    a) If the SSO employee has made a mistake, have them correct it and try again, ask to double check their entry - it must match exactly
    b) If the problem is that the i-94 doesn't match your identification, withdraw your application and get in touch with deferred inspection site to correct your i-94 before applying again.
4. It is true that the normal waiting time is around 2 weeks sometimes shorter, BUT as mentioned it can take longer. For example as in my case, my name was too long to fit in the boxes in SAVE (verification database). Meaning there was no way out of the manual verification (paper verification through USCIS), which ended up taking around 10 weeks.

 

I called, they said he needs to have a SSN in order to get the license.   We will have to apply for his SSN as soon as he gets here and keep our fingers crossed it comes quickly.

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

7 minutes ago, marislet said:

 

I called, they said he needs to have a SSN in order to get the license.   We will have to apply for his SSN as soon as he gets here and keep our fingers crossed it comes quickly.

This is terribly strange and I have never heard of it, but nothing surprises me anymore with people's experiences in different parts of the country . However, that is the information you got, if I were you I would ask them if they would accept a letter from the SSO that a SSN has been applied for. Or a letter that a number has been issued along with the number (you can ask the SSO to give it to you and explain the reason), so that you don't have to wait for the physical card in order to get your license. I hope you will have it sorted quickly.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

14 hours ago, marislet said:

 

I called, they said he needs to have a SSN in order to get the license.   We will have to apply for his SSN as soon as he gets here and keep our fingers crossed it comes quickly.

Did you explain he was foreign and would not have a SSN? And you need to marry to to fulfill the terms of his entry?  Our office initially said required, then they changed it to- if you have a SSN, then you are required to give it. But if you don't have a SSN, then the foreign passport would be all that is needed.