Social security number

[William&Emily 36]

I remember reading a lot about people applying for social security a few weeks after entering, before adjusting status. 

However i looked on the website and it basically says if you have no right to work they won't issue one. And won't issue one for the sole purpose of a drivers license. Does this mean that I really don't need one until we've adjusted?

This is where i got the info

https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm

 

[coltr 92]

I applied for a social security number 1 week after arriving. Providing you have an unexpired I-94 showing entry on your K-1 visa, then you can apply for a social security number, which will help you with building a credit score, applying for bank accounts and setting up health insurance. You likely can get a bank account and health insurance without an SSN, but it will give you more options and make things easier.

 

VisaJourney has instructions here: https://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn/

 

Your initial social security card will display "valid for work only with DHS authorization" which can be removed once you have adjusted status.

Edited September 24, 2019 by coltr

[Wuozopo 4,293]

9 minutes ago, William&Emily said:

I remember reading a lot about people applying for social security a few weeks after entering, before adjusting status. 

However i looked on the website and it basically says if you have no right to work they won't issue one. And won't issue one for the sole purpose of a drivers license. Does this mean that I really don't need one until we've adjusted?

This is where i got the info

https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm

 

Open this Social Security page and scroll down until you find K1

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530

 

You can only get a SSN up until 14 days before your 90 days are up. When the window closes, then you have to wait until you get EAD or your greencard.

Edited September 24, 2019 by Wuozopo

[HRQX 4,145]

27 minutes ago, William&Emily said:

This is where i got the info

https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm

From that link: "If you are a foreign worker, we only need to see your I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) or admission stamp in the unexpired foreign passport showing a class of admission permitting work." SSA follows their POMS: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530 In the K-1 row it says "Legal alien allowed to work"

[Loren Y 2,755]

My now wife applied for hers 18 hours after landing in the US. She had her card in a few weeks.

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,092]

14 hours ago, William&Emily said:

However i looked on the website and it basically says if you have no right to work they won't issue one.

You're technically able to work if you have an EAD, so you can apply. The Social Security Administration doesn't care that you can't really get an EAD within 90 days so applying for an EAD prior to AOS is pointless.

[coltr 92]

13 hours ago, HRQX said:

From that link: "If you are a foreign worker, we only need to see your I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) or admission stamp in the unexpired foreign passport showing a class of admission permitting work." SSA follows their POMS: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530 In the K-1 row it says "Legal alien allowed to work"

I saw this too when I applied for my social security card. I assume that it means that you eligible to work with DHS authorization, as opposed to types of visas which do not permit any kind of work authorization (see the three types of card here https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/cards.htm). In any case, it wasn't an issue for me at all. The social security office were familiar with the K-1 visa and processed my application without any questions.

[HRQX 4,145]

2 hours ago, coltr said:

I assume that it means that you eligible to work with DHS authorization, as opposed to types of visas which do not permit any kind of work authorization (see the three types of card here https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/cards.htm).

That assumption is incorrect. K-1 is "a class of admission permitting work" for SSA purposes: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530

Edited September 24, 2019 by HRQX

[Ed&Midori1031 330]

We applied for my wife's about 3 weeks after she arrived in the U.S.  with the Valid I-94 she was perfectly fine to get one, even though she couldn't work until the green card came.  The sooner to apply, the better. 

[ineedadisplayname 499]

19 hours ago, William&Emily said:

I remember reading a lot about people applying for social security a few weeks after entering, before adjusting status. 

However i looked on the website and it basically says if you have no right to work they won't issue one. And won't issue one for the sole purpose of a drivers license. Does this mean that I really don't need one until we've adjusted?

This is where i got the info

https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm

 

K1 is allowed to work. So u are eligible for a SSN. Filing for EAD as a K1 is expensive and won't do any good since the processing time is way longer than the availability of I-94...

 

Go and get a SSN before you get married/change your name, otherwise you need to wait until you get the EAD to be able to obtain a SSN.

 

You can apply for SSN on the same day as your wedding. Also you don't need to wait weeks after entering to apply successfully.

[William&Emily 36]

Do i just need an ID and the i-94?

[Lil bear 4,218]

5 minutes ago, William&Emily said:

Do i just need an ID and the i-94?

Passport and print off of your I94

[Teacake 76]

6 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

Passport and print off of your I94

From memory, I believe they require two documents for identification. I brought along my birth certificate in addition to my passport and I-94.

[Scandi 4,166]

You'll need the SSN if you're planning on filing taxes next year (it's recommended, will use all tax returns for when you file for ROC later on, but also evidence to bring to your AOS interview), your EAD might take up to 8 months and your greencard even longer. Surely you don't want to wait for either of those to get a SSN when you can apply for one today.

Edited September 24, 2019 by Scandi

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,092]

6 minutes ago, Scandi said:

You'll need the SSN if you're planning on filing taxes next year (it's recommended, will use all tax returns for when you file for ROC later on, but also evidence to bring to your AOS interview), your EAD might take up to 8 months and your greencard even longer.

Also, unless your income and your spouse's income are just about equal (or are both low enough that you're not paying much in the way of federal income taxes), it's very likely filing jointly will save you quite a bit on taxes.