Should obtain SSN before filing I-485?

[Zia Ur Rehman 0]

Hi,

I'm the fiancé of a US national. My fiancée filed a K-1 for me, which was approved and I entered the country a couple of days ago. Other than getting the marriage license and getting the ceremony performed, what is the immediate next thing that we should do?

My fiancée asked me to get a SSN as soon as possible so I could open a bank account, go about applying for jobs etc. I read the process here, downloaded the forms and filled/printed them. I'm going to file them in the morning.

However, reading the instructions, I found that when I get my social security card, it will be marked with the words "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH INS AUTHORIZATION", which means I must also have a valid EAD to start working. Somewhere else on the internet, I read the process for status adjustment, which involves following I-485 along with I-765 after the ceremony has taken place and we have a marriage certificate. That will eventually get a 2-year conditional green card. But that doesn't mention anything about an SSN etc. Even if I get an SSN in 2 weeks, I can't start working immediately after because I won't have an EAD. However, after the status adjustment process has completed, I'll have an EAD, and a conditional permanent residence status, and will be able to live and work freely. But then, I'd need a SSN sometime!

Do I apply for a SSN now, or sometime later? And how does that affect my ability to work in the United States?

[yuna628 9,750]

4 minutes ago, Zia Ur Rehman said:

Hi,

I'm the fiancé of a US national. My fiancée filed a K-1 for me, which was approved and I entered the country a couple of days ago. Other than getting the marriage license and getting the ceremony performed, what is the immediate next thing that we should do?

My fiancée asked me to get a SSN as soon as possible so I could open a bank account, go about applying for jobs etc. I read the process here, downloaded the forms and filled/printed them. I'm going to file them in the morning.

However, reading the instructions, I found that when I get my social security card, it will be marked with the words "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH INS AUTHORIZATION", which means I must also have a valid EAD to start working. Somewhere else on the internet, I read the process for status adjustment, which involves following I-485 along with I-765 after the ceremony has taken place and we have a marriage certificate. That will eventually get a 2-year conditional green card. But that doesn't mention anything about an SSN etc. Even if I get an SSN in 2 weeks, I can't start working immediately after because I won't have an EAD. However, after the status adjustment process has completed, I'll have an EAD, and a conditional permanent residence status, and will be able to live and work freely. But then, I'd need a SSN sometime!

Do I apply for a SSN now, or sometime later? And how does that affect my ability to work in the United States?

I would encourage any K1 to get their SSN as soon as possible. It will be of benefit for a variety of things. Check your I94 before you go, and follow the guides on VJ to obtain it.

 

Yes it will be marked with those words, and you will need authorization to be able to work. That means once you marry, you must file to adjust status. You may also file for an EAD+AP with your adjustment forms - and the fees for these two additional forms will be waived. Once you have filed, the EAD will arrive within 90-120 days. Until that time you are not authorized to work. When it arrives, you have your authorization. When you receive your green card, which can take up to a year to finish processing - you may go back to the SSA, and receive an updated SSN, which will remove the authorization words.

 

Having those words on the card does not mean your SSN is any less valid for banking, credit, insurance etc, it simply means you need to provide an authorization to use it to work. This is one of the downsides to a K1, as the new spouse will be unable to work until they file, and the authorization comes.

[Zia Ur Rehman 0]

Thank you so much @yuna628. That clears it up perfectly. How do I mark the question "resolved"?

[TNJ17 1,329]

How did you get a marriage license without a social security card?

[yuna628 9,750]

2 minutes ago, TNJ17 said:

How did you get a marriage license without a social security card?

An SSN is not required for immigrants to obtain a marriage license. A passport may be used.

 

How else would visitors to this country get married, afterall?

Edited December 14, 2017 by yuna628

[payxibka 10,047]

Las Vegas and Hawaii to name a couple are very popular destinations for marriage for international couples.  SSN simply not required

[Zia Ur Rehman 0]

31 minutes ago, TNJ17 said:

How did you get a marriage license without a social security card?

I haven't yet. As others have said I was under the impression that a SSN isn't required to apply for a marriage license. I just need a valid ID, which my passport should suffice for. But now I'm starting to think that may not be the case with VA. In any case, I'm getting an SSN right away, as advised. Before I get my social security card, I'll try to obtain a marriage license. If the courthouse say that SSN is required, I'll wait until I have the SSN, otherwise get the marriage license without one, as I had originally planned.

[TNJ17 1,329]

44 minutes ago, yuna628 said:

An SSN is not required for immigrants to obtain a marriage license. A passport may be used.

 

How else would visitors to this country get married, afterall?

By getting a SSN as soon as they arrive? Our lawyer said the first thing is get ssn. 

[yuna628 9,750]

6 minutes ago, TNJ17 said:

By getting a SSN as soon as they arrive? Our lawyer said the first thing is get ssn. 

Visitors and tourists to the US cannot obtain an SSN, yet they marry all the time without a problem.

 

It would be helpful in the long term for anyone obtaining a K1 to get an SSN soon after they arrive -- but not having one isn't a prohibitive in obtaining a marriage license. You don't need one to obtain the other.

 

20 minutes ago, Zia Ur Rehman said:

I haven't yet. As others have said I was under the impression that a SSN isn't required to apply for a marriage license. I just need a valid ID, which my passport should suffice for. But now I'm starting to think that may not be the case with VA. In any case, I'm getting an SSN right away, as advised. Before I get my social security card, I'll try to obtain a marriage license. If the courthouse say that SSN is required, I'll wait until I have the SSN, otherwise get the marriage license without one, as I had originally planned.

It should not be an issue. You can even call up your local clerk and explain the situation. Provide your passport with the visa attached. The USC fiancé may provide their SSN and ID, the immigrant provides the passport which is sufficient. Any clerk that refuses - does not understand the law and isn't worth your business.

Edited December 14, 2017 by yuna628

[payxibka 10,047]

27 minutes ago, Zia Ur Rehman said:

I haven't yet. As others have said I was under the impression that a SSN isn't required to apply for a marriage license. I just need a valid ID, which my passport should suffice for. But now I'm starting to think that may not be the case with VA. In any case, I'm getting an SSN right away, as advised. Before I get my social security card, I'll try to obtain a marriage license. If the courthouse say that SSN is required, I'll wait until I have the SSN, otherwise get the marriage license without one, as I had originally planned.

From Arlington VA, 

 

• Show valid photo identification, such as a driver’s license, passport, or Military I.D.

No where is SSN mentioned as a requirement for either applicant

Edited December 14, 2017 by payxibka

[AshMarty 360]

15 hours ago, TNJ17 said:

How did you get a marriage license without a social security card?

In Massachusetts it says on all the websites a SSN is required for a marriage license (my husband has one from living in the US previously) but all they asked for was his passport and birth certificate when he arrived.

 

https://www.mass.gov/guides/getting-married-in-massachusetts-before-the-wedding

 

But I would say get a SSN as soon as possible to help to start build a credit history I added my husband to my car loan and to an older credit card to help a little then I co-signed for his car loan when he got a job

 

 

Edited December 14, 2017 by AshMarty

[AshMarty 360]

33 minutes ago, AshMarty said:

In Massachusetts it says on all the websites a SSN is required for a marriage license (my husband has one from living in the US previously) but all they asked for was his passport and birth certificate when he arrived.

 

https://www.mass.gov/guides/getting-married-in-massachusetts-before-the-wedding

 

But I would say get a SSN as soon as possible to help to start build a credit history I added my husband to my car loan and to an older credit card to help a little then I co-signed for his car loan when he got a job

 

 

Just to clarify a little further on this SSN point.

 

When you fill out the certificate (depending on the state) there was a space for my husband and I to put our SSN on Massachusetts Marriage certificates. I asked the clerk what if my husband didn't have one and she said we would just leave it blank (but it will always remain blank, if you don't have one before the marriage).

 

We were nervous about his SSN being registered in time and in Maryland where we now live has completely different rules for marriage certificates. Our back up plan was to come back after the wedding and just file for a license in Maryland, if Massachusetts gave us a difficult time.

 

There was a big topic for us because we actually messed up the Massuschetts license accidently. We had to be in person together over three days before the wedding, I didn't realize I couldn't pick up the license over the weekend because the office was closed. I didn't arrive to Mass in time for this and we had to spend a day at a court house and a clerks office expediting our license (we paid a lot of money and basically everything was fixed). Knowing we messed up our license going into it we had looked up all the backup plans (since we actually had a formal wedding plans and relatives and friends from around the world attending).

Edited December 14, 2017 by AshMarty

[geowrian 22,338]

I can't speak for every state, but in general, an SSN is only required if you have one at the time you file for the marriage license. If you don't have one, then you don't need to provide it.

 

As stated, visitors are not eligible for an SSN but are absolutely allowed to marry (and do so regularly). Same for those who EWI and therefore never had any status.

Edited December 14, 2017 by geowrian