what do I do after POE

[VandL 69]

Just so I can start getting prepared, can someone point me in the right direction of a thread of what is next after I arrive in the US

 

Obviously I get married first then what...

 

 

Thanks in advance

[Wuozopo 4,293]

1 hour ago, VandL said:

Just so I can start getting prepared, can someone point me in the right direction of a thread of what is next after I arrive in the US

 

Obviously I get married first then what...

 

 

Thanks in advance

 

1. Print off your (online) I-94 arrival record 
2. Get Social Security number
3. Get married
4. Get your copy of the marriage certificate back from the county marked as "certified" meaning it got registered.
5. Apply for AOS/EAD/AP, which are three separate applications with their own evidence documentation that "ride together" in the same envelope to USCIS. Get your head around the fact that the visa is over and this is a brand new process. You are married, may have a new married surname, are unemployed, and whatever you provided in the petition or for your visa may be be asked for again. Don't assume they already have something and will dig it out of your old visa file.

The guides are here on VJ, top of the right column  http://www.visajourney.com/content/guides/

 

The forums are here http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/7-adjustment-of-status-green-card-from-k1-and-k3-family-based-visas/

Read those topics, especially those that have problems so you learn from their mistakes. 

Edited February 15, 2018 by Wuozopo

[Scandi 4,180]

1 hour ago, VandL said:

Obviously I get married first then what...

No, to avoid potential extra trouble you apply for a SSN first.

[Scandi 4,180]

29 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

 

1. Print off your (online) I-94 arrival record 
2. Get Social Security number
3. Get married
4. Get your copy of the marriage certificate back from the county marked as "certified" meaning it got registered.
5. Apply for AOS/EAD/AP, which are three separate applications with their own evidence documentation that "ride together" in the same envelope to USCIS. Get your head around the fact that the visa is over and this is a brand new process. You are married, may have a new married surname, are unemployed, and whatever you provided in the petition or for your visa may be be asked for again. Don't assume they already have something and will dig it out of your old visa file.

The guides are here on VJ, top of the right column  http://www.visajourney.com/content/guides/

 

The forums are here http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/7-adjustment-of-status-green-card-from-k1-and-k3-family-based-visas/

Read those topics, especially those that have problems so you learn from their mistakes. 

Good list. And after the EAD or greencard is approved (whichever happens first) you can use the card to change your surname on DL/ID/SSC etc if the marriage certificate wasn't enough proof of name change.

 

The SSA also prefers it if you come back to update your info once the greencard has been approved and delivered to you. They will then also send you a new SS card without the restrictions.

[VandL 69]

11 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

 

1. Print off your (online) I-94 arrival record 
2. Get Social Security number
3. Get married
4. Get your copy of the marriage certificate back from the county marked as "certified" meaning it got registered.
5. Apply for AOS/EAD/AP, which are three separate applications with their own evidence documentation that "ride together" in the same envelope to USCIS. Get your head around the fact that the visa is over and this is a brand new process. You are married, may have a new married surname, are unemployed, and whatever you provided in the petition or for your visa may be be asked for again. Don't assume they already have something and will dig it out of your old visa file.

The guides are here on VJ, top of the right column  http://www.visajourney.com/content/guides/

 

The forums are here http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/7-adjustment-of-status-green-card-from-k1-and-k3-family-based-visas/

Read those topics, especially those that have problems so you learn from their mistakes. 

Thanks so much. Is it essential I get my SSN first? 

 

We were wanting to get married on 1st April, The day he proposed and my interview is 12th March so obviously if all goes well I'd be in country maybe a few days before the first leaving me.enough ime to apply for our marrige licence. But may not have enough time to get a SSN first as I'm not actually sure how long it takes to get one.

 

Obviously if I need to get a SSN first we will push our wedding back weve not booked anything and the woman who is going to conduct our elopment is flexible on dates so we don't have to plan anytging. 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

1 minute ago, VandL said:

Thanks so much. Is it essential I get my SSN first? 

 

We were wanting to get married on 1st April, The day he proposed and my interview is 12th March so obviously if all goes well I'd be in country maybe a few days before the first leaving me.enough ime to apply for our marrige licence. But may not have enough time to get a SSN first as I'm not actually sure how long it takes to get one.

 

Obviously if I need to get a SSN first we will push our wedding back weve not booked anything and the woman who is going to conduct our elopment is flexible on dates so we don't have to plan anytging. 

No you do not have to get SSN first. Your county may ask for it or say on a website it's required for marriage license. But as my County explained to me IF you have a SSN, then you must give it,  but if not, the UK passport serves as sufficient ID. You also do not need it to apply for AOS. But get it as soon as you can. 

 

Get the SSN in your maiden name as it appears on your I-94, which comes from scanning your passport at entry. Don't even bring up marriage or name change. Why? Because some SSA (Social Security Administration) workers have no real clue what to do with K1s. More than a few have been told, "oh you got married so you're not a K1 anymore. You are a K3 which is not eligible for a SSN." No your visa does not change,  but save yourself from a possible clueless worker by skipping the marriage discussion and apply as a K1 in your maiden name. They have to find your name in the USCIS database to issue you a SSN. USCIS only knows you by your visa name, passport name, I-94 name.  When you get EAD or greencard, USCIS records will show you by the married name you used when you applied for your greencard. Then you go back to SSA and they issue you a new card in that name. Your number remains unchanged. Meanwhile, (if taking on a new married name) use your new name at the bank or signing leases or getting added to a credit card. It doesn't matter if SSA hasn't changed it yet. It takes awhile to get all the ducks in a row when you're a K1. Nobody quite knows what to do with you.

[VandL 69]

52 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

No you do not have to get SSN first. Your county may ask for it or say on a website it's required for marriage license. But as my County explained to me IF you have a SSN, then you must give it,  but if not, the UK passport serves as sufficient ID. You also do not need it to apply for AOS. But get it as soon as you can. 

 

Get the SSN in your maiden name as it appears on your I-94, which comes from scanning your passport at entry. Don't even bring up marriage or name change. Why? Because some SSA (Social Security Administration) workers have no real clue what to do with K1s. More than a few have been told, "oh you got married so you're not a K1 anymore. You are a K3 which is not eligible for a SSN." No your visa does not change,  but save yourself from a possible clueless worker by skipping the marriage discussion and apply as a K1 in your maiden name. They have to find your name in the USCIS database to issue you a SSN. USCIS only knows you by your visa name, passport name, I-94 name.  When you get EAD or greencard, USCIS records will show you by the married name you used when you applied for your greencard. Then you go back to SSA and they issue you a new card in that name. Your number remains unchanged. Meanwhile, (if taking on a new married name) use your new name at the bank or signing leases or getting added to a credit card. It doesn't matter if SSA hasn't changed it yet. It takes awhile to get all the ducks in a row when you're a K1. Nobody quite knows what to do with you.

Thanks so much for your help that's extremly useful info.