What to do when after K-1 Visa arrival?

[GLD 2]

Hi, 

After months of paperwork and waiting, my fiancee is just a few days away from her consulate interview at the US embassy. As result we've been trying to figure out the timing of everything that comes after her arrival. Namely, three things: 

* Get Married (in Pennsylvania). 

* Get a Social Security card

* File for adjustment, along with employment authorization

 

There are a few things that are especially important to us.

1. Getting married asap so that I can add her to my health insurance (we got pregnant earlier this summer after filing the K1; she's due in February);

2. Getting her work authorization as soon as possible, as her current employer in Manila wants to keep her employed through their US office. 

 

Ideally, we're hoping that we can get married (via civil service) shortly after her arrives (there's a 3-day waiting period in PA, but we plan to apply the day after her arrival, and then get married immediately after the 3-day wait). After that, we plan to file the Adjustment of Status, along with work authorization request. After that (once she's been in the country for 2 weeks), we'd apply for her social security card, under her married name. 

 

Does anyone know whether we can do that, and in that order? I've seen consistency that we should wait 2 weeks after arrival before filing for a social security card, but there is conflicting information on whether we should/have to wait any length of time before filing the paper work to get married. 

 

[RJandHamid 1,133]

My husband applied for a social security card 2 weeks after he arrived in the US and had no issues. 

Our steps were: 

1. Apply for SSN

2. Get married

3. File AOS paperwork.

 

The Employment Authorization is taking close to 4 months to be approved at this point, so keep that in mind. You could try applying for an expedite however. 

 

She may need a social security number in order to be added to your insurance plan (I know my husband needed one to be added to mine), so check with your health insurance provider if a SSN is a requirement and if so, I would get the SSN soon after the marriage. 

[geowrian 22,338]

Allentown? I'm from the Wilkes-Barre area. Hello!

 

Just a note on the Social Security card...getting one in your married name can be difficult with the SSA offices here. They typically need to see an EAD (or green card) before they will issue the card in a married name. We tried twice a few weeks ago (my now-wife is still in K-1 status). We will try again with the NOA1, but aren't too optimistic.

 

We waited only a few days before applying for the SSN and had no issues there.

 

The EAD is taking ~4 months right now. If you have a firm job offer, then you can request an expedite at that time after filing for AOS.

 

3 minutes ago, RJandHamid said:

She may need a social security number in order to be added to your insurance plan (I know my husband needed one to be added to mine), so check with your health insurance provider if a SSN is a requirement and if so, I would get the SSN soon after the marriage. 

An SSN is not required. Many places (and HR workers) will request one but they cannot require it. But it's so much easier if you have one instead of dealing with the back and forth with HR.

[C-ma'am 684]

**Post moved from K1 Process to Progress Reports

[DrEllaNJ 288]

I don't think you have to wait 2 weeks to apply for SSN, just check whether her info is in the i-94 system. Maybe a few days. It's easier to get your SSN in maiden name first, then worry about changing it to married name after getting the green card. She'd have to go back to the SSN office at that point anyway to change the card (remove the restriction), so it could be easier to just do it at that point.

I've also read some ppl who had difficulty obtaining their SSN on K1 after they got married, but I don't know whether that was just because they got married, or because they had only a few weeks left before their 90 days expired. If that happens, she'd have to wait for the EAD which could be a pain because SSN is needed (or at least asked for) for so many things.

[John & Rose 7,239]

1 minute ago, DrEllaNJ said:

I don't think you have to wait 2 weeks to apply for SSN, just check whether her info is in the i-94 system. Maybe a few days. It's easier to get your SSN in maiden name first, then worry about changing it to married name after getting the green card. She'd have to go back to the SSN office at that point anyway to change the card (remove the restriction), so it could be easier to just do it at that point.

I've also read some ppl who had difficulty obtaining their SSN on K1 after they got married, but I don't know whether that was just because they got married, or because they had only a few weeks left before their 90 days expired. If that happens, she'd have to wait for the EAD which could be a pain because SSN is needed (or at least asked for) for so many things.

The new EAD form includes a SSN in it.  That just started so, on paper, there is no need to physically visit the SSA office.  What is left to be seen is whether that means the SSN and EAD are delivered together.  If the SSN get sent ASAP this is a good thing and will streamline the process.

[GLD 2]

Thanks to you all! Super helpful. Will definitely have to reach out to her employer to see if they can help out with expediting with an offer letter.... 

Great points on the the health insurance and SSN — maybe the two-week guidelines were based on a time prior to automation. 

 

geowrian — would be interested to know how your next attempt with the NOA1 goes! 

(And small world! I went to school in Wilkes-Barre. Hello back from the other side of Blue Mountain!)

[Irisandjoel 52]

5 hours ago, geowrian said:

Allentown? I'm from the Wilkes-Barre area. Hello!

 

Just a note on the Social Security card...getting one in your married name can be difficult with the SSA offices here. They typically need to see an EAD (or green card) before they will issue the card in a married name. We tried twice a few weeks ago (my now-wife is still in K-1 status). We will try again with the NOA1, but aren't too optimistic.

 

We waited only a few days before applying for the SSN and had no issues there.

 

The EAD is taking ~4 months right now. If you have a firm job offer, then you can request an expedite at that time after filing for AOS.

 

An SSN is not required. Many places (and HR workers) will request one but they cannot require it. But it's so much easier if you have one instead of dealing with the back and forth with HR.

Me and my husband got married a week ago and went to apply for my SSN today in my married name, didn't apply for one before we got married, and it was no problem thankfully. I had read many other stories on the internet about people having problems about getting SSN in married name etc.

But then we went to the DMV to get a state ID for me and they said they couldn't do it because they need a time frame of 120 days but my visa is only 90 days and I guess until I get a receipt of the AOS and EAD being sent in I can't get a state ID(Live in Maine)... 

[geowrian 22,338]

1 minute ago, Irisandjoel said:

Me and my husband got married a week ago and went to apply for my SSN today in my married name, didn't apply for one before we got married, and it was no problem thankfully. I had read many other stories on the internet about people having problems about getting SSN in married name etc.

But then we went to the DMV to get a state ID for me and they said they couldn't do it because they need a time frame of 120 days but my visa is only 90 days and I guess until I get a receipt of the AOS and EAD being sent in I can't get a state ID(Live in Maine)... 

Yup...SSA is federal and should be consistent, but it's not. I've seen so many different experiences just from different offices even within the same state. DMVs follow state laws, but even different centers don't follow the same rules there.

 

At my local DMV, they had no issue with the K-1 aspect, but need the Social Security card in the married name and said they won't issue one in her maiden name, and to go update it with the SSA first. Fun times.

[LabOz 915]

7 hours ago, John & Rose said:

The new EAD form includes a SSN in it.  That just started so, on paper, there is no need to physically visit the SSA office.  What is left to be seen is whether that means the SSN and EAD are delivered together.  If the SSN get sent ASAP this is a good thing and will streamline the process.

First I've heard of this.Will be interesting to see how it works out.

Thanks

[John & Rose 7,239]

1 hour ago, LabOz said:

First I've heard of this.Will be interesting to see how it works out.

Thanks

New USCIS Form Streamlines Process to Obtain a Work Authorization Document and Social Security Number Simultaneously

 

https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/new-uscis-form-streamlines-process-obtain-work-authorization-document-and-social-security-number-simultaneously

 

[Diane and Chris 651]

10 hours ago, John & Rose said:

The new EAD form includes a SSN in it.  That just started so, on paper, there is no need to physically visit the SSA office.  What is left to be seen is whether that means the SSN and EAD are delivered together.  If the SSN get sent ASAP this is a good thing and will streamline the process.

So are you saying that by applying for an EAD, they will send you a SS number with it?  I’m fairly sure that’s not the way it works. 

[javadown2 308]

Make sure you do the SSN, and it would be good to do it with legal married name, so hopefully you can get a marriage certificate/license that fast. If I remember correctly you want to wait a week or so because of the I-94 and whatever they border officers do in K-1 visa holders paperwork. Sorry if i'm not giving you 100% of the info but I know it worked for us, except we didn't get married that fast but she had her SSN and card within 5 days after going to SS office. Yes the biggest thing for you is to get married fast and get her on your insurance, all the doctors visits, hehe. And yep, my wife is due in December, we got married in May, she arrived in Feb 23rd this year. 

 

OK....I did look at what John and Rose added about doing SSN and EAD together..that is awesome....since you really can't work without it. But honestly you can't open a bank account or be added to one without a SSN either, we had to wait until after she was married and had the SSN to add her to my bank account, not that that matters though in your case. 

 

Good luck and that is great news...you will soon be with your fiance' soon, keep us posted, wishing you the best with your child in Feb!

Edited October 6, 2017 by javadown2

[geowrian 22,338]

47 minutes ago, Diane and Chris said:

So are you saying that by applying for an EAD, they will send you a SS number with it?  I’m fairly sure that’s not the way it works. 

It's new as of Oct. 1st, 2017 with the latest I-765. It's not mandatory, but allows you to apply for an SSN automatically without visiting the office.

[Scandi 4,176]

1. SSN (I applied on day 4 after arrival). You can go as soon as the i-94 is available online, which should be the same day she arrives in the US.

2. Get married

3. File for AOS