Fiancee finally here in US, what's next?

[Pelmeni 39]

17 hours ago, tanzkie said:

My fiancee got here in the US last friday. What should we do next? We're a bit confused,  should we get her SSN first before getting married? We live in CA. Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks!

I think the SSN comes after her status is adjusted. Besides, will her name change? Now she's here on a non-immigrant visa. She doesn't even have residence status until you are married and file for adjustment of status. The first step is to get legally married in 90 days or she's here illegally. They won't give a SSN to a visitor.

[RLA 324]

7 minutes ago, Pelmeni said:

I think the SSN comes after her status is adjusted. [...] They won't give a SSN to a visitor.

Maybe that's what you think, but it's not true.  They do give out SSNs to K1 visa holders.  It's in their policy manual.  See also http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn. 

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

18 minutes ago, Pelmeni said:

I think the SSN comes after her status is adjusted. They won't give a SSN to a visitor.

Yeah that's not true at all and a majority of us here on VJ know this for a fact. When you come on a K1 visa you are not a visitor but someone who is legally immigrating over to stay with their loved one. This allows them the right to get a SSN no matter what.

[Boiler 46,108]

14 hours ago, Boiler said:

Nowhere in the US requires a SSN to marry, as a K1 it is the first thing you get, apply say a week after arrival.

This?

[George & Roth 1,485]

14 hours ago, Brittani said:

Apply for the ssn two weeks after she arrives do not do it after your married. This could vary state to state but I know a couple who waited until after they were married and the beneficiary (the husband) was told since he was married and the current visa was a fiance visa they said he couldn't get it until after his AOS....

There's a lot of stuff you can't do without a ssn so play it safe and apply before getting married.

WRONG!!!!!

 

You can apply immediately, just go online and confirm I-94 is there! https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home

 

Hate to see incorrect information spread! And many states require SS# for driving license, which you may want right away. 

 

My fiancé arrived March 10, we went for SS# on March 12. Married before SS# arrived.

 

Also, you do not need your SS# to marry but your county clerk may not know the law so call ahead and make sure you go to an office that’s educated. 

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

A lot of the disagreeing and bantering is likely resulting from multiple people from varying states (and possibly varying "rules") sharing experiences of their own or those they know, which are not always identical to others. Different states and counties - and sometimes simply the different people working in some local offices - are not always the same across the board. While others' experiences are helpful, the best thing you can do is contact the local clerk of court in your county/where you will be marrying and verifying with them DIRECTLY what is required in YOUR specific situation.

 

For example - I called our local office and explained my fiancé will be here under the K1 visa, therefore not being a citizen or having an SSN yet, and was told all he would need is his valid passport and the visa. It's not worth risking or wasting your time doing something backwards, or having to do something over again. If the SSN isn't required, I would go ahead and get legally married and get your marriage certificate. Then worry about the SSN. That's what we plan to do in our experience.

 

Good luck!

[Boiler 46,108]

6 minutes ago, Paul & Mallory said:

A lot of the disagreeing and bantering is likely resulting from multiple people from varying states (and possibly varying "rules") sharing experiences of their own or those they know, which are not always identical to others. Different states and counties - and sometimes simply the different people working in some local offices - are not always the same across the board. While others' experiences are helpful, the best thing you can do is contact the local clerk of court in your county/where you will be marrying and verifying with them DIRECTLY what is required in YOUR specific situation.

 

For example - I called our local office and explained my fiancé will be here under the K1 visa, therefore not being a citizen or having an SSN yet, and was told all he would need is his valid passport and the visa. It's not worth risking or wasting your time doing something backwards, or having to do something over again. If the SSN isn't required, I would go ahead and get legally married and get your marriage certificate. Then worry about the SSN. That's what we plan to do in our experience.

 

Good luck!

Ohh dear

 

SSN is a FEDERAL document, not  a State one.

 

As every one who has a clue on this subject has said it is the FIRST document you get.

 

Do you have to do the logical thing, well of course not.

 

PS SSN is not needed to get a Drivers License, plenty of people here do not qualify for a SSN but can still get a Drivers License.

Edited April 19, 2018 by Boiler

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

1 minute ago, Boiler said:

Ohh dear

 

SSN is a FEDERAL document, not  a State one.

 

As every one who has a clue on this subject has said it is the FIRST document you get.

 

Do you have to do the logical thing, well of course not.

 

PS SSN is not needed to get a Drivers License, plenty of people here do not qualify for a SSN but can still get a Drivers License.

I guess you missed the part where I clarified that was what we were told in our personal experience. And that I also suggested they contact their local office with any questions. People are told different things all the time - just take a look at some of the threads floating around here. Instead of getting mixed up in different answers, it makes sense - to me, again, not necessarily you or the whole rest of the world - to just call and ask the people who I'll be dealing with personally.

 

 

[George & Roth 1,485]

SSN not required for Marriage, the issue is the local clerks may not know it’s not required. That’s why I called ahead, and as P&M says so should you.

[noraliz73 243]

19 hours ago, tanzkie said:

Some people say that she needs to get her SSN first because sometimes they require it to get marriage license.

No.  You don’t need that unless you are a US citizen or LPR.  A foreign passport is ok.  I’m marrying my fiancé tomorrow and he will have his passport and a translated copy of his birth certificate.  His K1 visa even has my name printed on it.  You should call the place you plan to go to get the marriage license.  Don’t forget to bring copies of divorce paperwork if either of you were ever previously married or a death certificate if widowed.  Also, bring the US citizen’s birth certificate to be safe.

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

3 minutes ago, George & Roth said:

SSN not required for Marriage, the issue is the local clerks may not know it’s not required. That’s why I called ahead, and as P&M says so should you.

^^^

 

This was the point I was trying to make, but guess it got convoluted lol

[Boiler 46,108]

14 minutes ago, Paul & Mallory said:

I guess you missed the part where I clarified that was what we were told in our personal experience. And that I also suggested they contact their local office with any questions. People are told different things all the time - just take a look at some of the threads floating around here. Instead of getting mixed up in different answers, it makes sense - to me, again, not necessarily you or the whole rest of the world - to just call and ask the people who I'll be dealing with personally.

 

 

 

This is fact, not something that is an experience.

[skaratso 84]

6 hours ago, RLA said:

So in those counties, Americans are not allowed to marry non-resident foreigners?  I wonder if that's even legal.  This Ohio Court of Appeal didn't.  

 

It's probably still a good idea to call ahead, though.  

It would probably be ok in that situation, but that's not what I asked about. I told them my fiancee was immigrating to the US and they said she needed a social security number.

 

In any case, regardless of whether it's required to get married here or not, if you don't get the SSN on arrival then you'll have to wait either until you get your EAD or Green Card, whichever comes first, and, like others have said, the wait has been growing longer recently.

[TBoneTX 46,120]

Seventeen posts of an off-topic or bickering nature have been removed.

Please stick to the OP's question (SSN & marriage).

[britishandusa 446]

20 hours ago, Sunnyland said:

 

We married in Fort Lauderdale (FL) and they never required me to have a ssn to get the marriage license. They only requested for my passport.  I applied for the SSN after our wedding at courthouse.

That’s weird. Huh. We married in Orlando and they wanted us both to have SSN before we could do it.