SSN for K1 Visa Holder

[Del A. 44]

Hello all,

 

I was curious about applying for an SSN as a K1 visa holder because it seems a lot of people rush into it. I've been in the US for a month now, wedding is on October 4th, haven't submitted any other paperwork since I got it. Should I also be working on getting an SSN before I get married? What's the rush, as opposed to getting it after marriage?

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

If the I-94 is near to expiration, the SSN will not be issued, so you'd have to wait until receiving work authorization. 

Also, some applicants do not appear on the SAVE data base, things have to be done manually and getting the SSN will be delayed. 

If you change your name after marriage, even within validity of the I-94, some offices will not issue it. 

 

Having it as soon as possible makes things easier, such as opening a bank account or filing for a joint tax return.

Edited September 7, 2019 by Allaboutwaiting

[payxibka 10,045]

7 hours ago, Del A. said:

Hello all,

 

I was curious about applying for an SSN as a K1 visa holder because it seems a lot of people rush into it. I've been in the US for a month now, wedding is on October 4th, haven't submitted any other paperwork since I got it. Should I also be working on getting an SSN before I get married? What's the rush, as opposed to getting it after marriage?

There are a few good reasons to do the ssn quickly 

[SB5130 88]

8 hours ago, Del A. said:

Hello all,

 

I was curious about applying for an SSN as a K1 visa holder because it seems a lot of people rush into it. I've been in the US for a month now, wedding is on October 4th, haven't submitted any other paperwork since I got it. Should I also be working on getting an SSN before I get married? What's the rush, as opposed to getting it after marriage?

I got my SSN before marriage. Why:

1. Driver's license requires SSN

2. Building credit requires SSN

3. Filing taxes requires SSN/ITin.

4. Some health insurance/bank requires SSN

5. If you missed out, you'll have to wait for EAD/GC. Ead takes 5months atleast these days.

6. If you have your SSN before marriage, you can update to married name anyways at any time you choose.

7. I personally feel name change process is a big decision. It's a matter of losing my identity and 90days (validity of I-94) isnt enough for me to think about it.

Edited September 8, 2019 by SB5130

[kcbenz 1]

3 hours ago, SB5130 said:

I got my SSN before marriage. Why:

1. Driver's license requires SSN

2. Building credit requires SSN

3. Filing taxes requires SSN/ITin.

4. Some health insurance/bank requires SSN

5. If you missed out, you'll have to wait for EAD/GC. Ead takes 5months atleast these days.

6. If you have your SSN before marriage, you can update to married name anyways at any time you choose.

7. I personally feel name change process is a big decision. It's a matter of losing my identity and 90days (validity of I-94) isnt enough for me to think about it.

I agree with everything you posted. Getting SSN before I got married made my life a lot easier. To the OP, save your self future headaches and get your SSN as soon as you can. Don’t wait too long since SSA will no longer issue you SSN within 2 weeks/14 days of your I94 expiration. 

[Del A. 44]

On 9/7/2019 at 4:28 PM, Allaboutwaiting said:

If the I-94 is near to expiration, the SSN will not be issued, so you'd have to wait until receiving work authorization. 

Hello again. So I went to apply for SSN a week ago (Sept. 13) and the officers tried this and that, said there's some kind of mismatch, and that manual verification is required, it may take up to 4 weeks. Week no. 4 is on October 11th, and my I-94 expires October 22nd. If the application fails to push through in time, does this mean I reapply for the SSN via the AOS/EAD instead, and I won't get an SSN until after the AOS/EAD is complete?

[payxibka 10,045]

1 minute ago, Del A. said:

Hello again. So I went to apply for SSN a week ago (Sept. 13) and the officers tried this and that, said there's some kind of mismatch, and that manual verification is required, it may take up to 4 weeks. Week no. 4 is on October 11th, and my I-94 expires October 22nd. If the application fails to push through in time, does this mean I reapply for the SSN via the AOS/EAD instead, and I won't get an SSN until after the AOS/EAD is complete?

Unfortunately not until EAD or GC, whichever completes first.  

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

5 minutes ago, Del A. said:

Hello again. So I went to apply for SSN a week ago (Sept. 13) and the officers tried this and that, said there's some kind of mismatch, and that manual verification is required, it may take up to 4 weeks. Week no. 4 is on October 11th, and my I-94 expires October 22nd. If the application fails to push through in time, does this mean I reapply for the SSN via the AOS/EAD instead, and I won't get an SSN until after the AOS/EAD is complete?

No no. You don't need to reapply.

In general, manual verification does not take those 4 weeks -though for some it has taken even more than that-.

The process for the SSN will continue even if the I-94 is expired, as you requested it on time. 

 

Btw, they should have given you a letter stating when did you apply for the SSN. 

Edited September 21, 2019 by Allaboutwaiting

[payxibka 10,045]

1 minute ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

No no. You don't need to reapply.

In general, manual verification does not take those 4 weeks -though for some it has taken even more than that-.

The process for the SSN will continue even if the I-94 is expired, as you requested it on time. 

No it won't.   It needs to be issued before the i94 expires.   That's why they won't take an application after day 75, because normal processing is up to 14 days.

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

5 minutes ago, payxibka said:

No it won't.   It needs to be issued before the i94 expires.   That's why they won't take an application after day 75, because normal processing is up to 14 days.

In our personal experience, they considered the date of the application, not the issuing date.

[payxibka 10,045]

Just now, Allaboutwaiting said:

In our personal experience, they considered the date of the application, not the issuing date.

Did your ssn issue before the expiration of the i94?

[Rayson 42]

17 hours ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

No no. You don't need to reapply.

In general, manual verification does not take those 4 weeks -though for some it has taken even more than that-.

The process for the SSN will continue even if the I-94 is expired, as you requested it on time. 

 

Btw, they should have given you a letter stating when did you apply for the SSN. 

Correct.

 

My manual verification took just a week and i called the SSA office when i saw it was verified on the SAFE website.

 

Social security card arrived two weeks after i made the call.

[Del A. 44]

Thank you all for your help. 😊