K1 Health insurance strategy

[A.j. 12]

Hello everyone, 

 

My fiance will be here soon, and in california civil weddings are being done online, and are backed up, so we cannot get married asap.

 

Since there will be some time before we can actually get married, I wanted to have some health insurance for my fiance until that time.

 

Does this look like the right strategy:

 

1. Before traveling to the usa,  buy 1-2 months of Patriot America Plus health insurance to cover any emergencies that may happen.

 

2.  After POE, after 1 or 2 days, go to a social security office and apply for a ssn with her maiden name.

 

3.  Get married as soon as the online marriage service is available. 

 

4. AOS

 

5.  Compare health insurance cost/ benefits for adding my fiance to my employer provided health insurance, and the cost of insurance through the marketplace ( covered california ),

And finally get health insurance.

 

Any help would be appreciated!

[milimelo 4,477]

Go to Las Vegas and get married there? We have a VJ member who is registered and authorized to perform marriage ceremonies - she can get you married in no time. 

[Dashinka 24,494]

I agree, head to Vegas, and do a quick wedding.  From what I hear, it takes a long time to get a copy of the marriage certificate in CA.

 

As to the OP strategy, this looks fine.

 

Good Luck!

[Crazy Cat 41,850]

@Loren Y is the gracious member who has offered to perform marriage ceremonies in Las Vegas for VJ members.  I also recommend that plan.

[JFH 12,190]

*~*~*moved to “moving to the USA” where similar topics are discussed*~*~*

[Boiler 45,499]

Las Vegas baby

[Loren Y 2,755]

I can definitely recommend the Vegas wedding... LOL, I'm the one doing them! Message me if you want and I will send you my contact information. I can get you married with certified marriage certificate in hand in less than a hour. As others have stated I don't charge for members of VJ. Marriage license is about 80 dollars total, and copies of your certified marriage certificate are 20 dollars each roughly ( Since they aren't taking cash for anything right now, they have a 2.5% credit card fee, but even then it only adds a few dollars to the totals above).  Should be able to get married with 2 copies of the marriage certificate for under 130 total. Other than the cost of fuel to get here. I just did a ceremony for a couple a few weeks ago, and civil marriages in California were at least 6 weeks out to get scheduled, and then a 6-8 week wait for the marriage certificate. Way too much time if you're here on a K1. This was in southern California, San Diego and Los Angeles counties. Not sure how things are going in northern California, but it probably isn't too much faster, and by the time you drive up there (if your in southern California) Vegas is closer. Let me know, I'll be happy to help you out.

[Crazy Cat 41,850]

2 minutes ago, Loren Y said:

I can definitely recommend the Vegas wedding... LOL, I'm the one doing them! Message me if you want and I will send you my contact information. I can get you married with certified marriage certificate in hand in less than a hour. As others have stated I don't charge for members of VJ. Marriage license is about 80 dollars total, and copies of your certified marriage certificate are 20 dollars each roughly ( Since they aren't taking cash for anything right now, they have a 2.5% credit card fee, but even then it only adds a few dollars to the totals above).  Should be able to get married with 2 copies of the marriage certificate for under 130 total. Other than the cost of fuel to get here. I just did a ceremony for a couple a few weeks ago, and civil marriages in California were at least 6 weeks out to get scheduled, and then a 6-8 week wait for the marriage certificate. Way too much time if you're here on a K1. This was in southern California, San Diego and Los Angeles counties. Not sure how things are going in northern California, but it probably isn't too much faster, and by the time you drive up there (if your in southern California) Vegas is closer. Let me know, I'll be happy to help you out.

What a deal!  Well worth the price of VJ membership......In all honesty, you are a most gracious and honorable individual for doing this......

[Loren Y 2,755]

23 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

What a deal!  Well worth the price of VJ membership......In all honesty, you are a most gracious and honorable individual for doing this......

It's not a problem. Just meeting people just starting out is really nice, and hearing all the stories of everyone's different path thru immigration from all the different countries is really interesting. Plus being part of people's first day of the rest of their lives together is a great reward in itself.

[A.j. 12]

2 hours ago, Loren Y said:

I can definitely recommend the Vegas wedding... LOL, I'm the one doing them! Message me if you want and I will send you my contact information. I can get you married with certified marriage certificate in hand in less than a hour. As others have stated I don't charge for members of VJ. Marriage license is about 80 dollars total, and copies of your certified marriage certificate are 20 dollars each roughly ( Since they aren't taking cash for anything right now, they have a 2.5% credit card fee, but even then it only adds a few dollars to the totals above).  Should be able to get married with 2 copies of the marriage certificate for under 130 total. Other than the cost of fuel to get here. I just did a ceremony for a couple a few weeks ago, and civil marriages in California were at least 6 weeks out to get scheduled, and then a 6-8 week wait for the marriage certificate. Way too much time if you're here on a K1. This was in southern California, San Diego and Los Angeles counties. Not sure how things are going in northern California, but it probably isn't too much faster, and by the time you drive up there (if your in southern California) Vegas is closer. Let me know, I'll be happy to help you out.

@Loren Y  You're amazing for doing this and helping everyone out.  My fiance will be here in a week or so, I will definitely contact you later this month!

[Loren Y 2,755]

41 minutes ago, A.j. said:

@Loren Y  You're amazing for doing this and helping everyone out.  My fiance will be here in a week or so, I will definitely contact you later this month!

Sounds good. Just message me and I'll send you my phone number, and I'll give you the rundown, so you can pick the best option for yourselves.

[pm5k 129]

On 12/3/2020 at 4:44 AM, A.j. said:

Hello everyone, 

 

My fiance will be here soon, and in california civil weddings are being done online, and are backed up, so we cannot get married asap.

 

Since there will be some time before we can actually get married, I wanted to have some health insurance for my fiance until that time.

 

Does this look like the right strategy:

 

1. Before traveling to the usa,  buy 1-2 months of Patriot America Plus health insurance to cover any emergencies that may happen.

 

2.  After POE, after 1 or 2 days, go to a social security office and apply for a ssn with her maiden name.

 

3.  Get married as soon as the online marriage service is available. 

 

4. AOS

 

5.  Compare health insurance cost/ benefits for adding my fiance to my employer provided health insurance, and the cost of insurance through the marketplace ( covered california ),

And finally get health insurance.

 

Any help would be appreciated!

It has been mentioned before, but the SSN is not required for health insurance (contrary to what many agents may say)

I can't comment on an SSN being required for the marriage certificate or not, but I am guessing it wouldn't be given that many people get married in the US without SSNs  @Loren Y can better advise (regarding Nevada at least)

[Loren Y 2,755]

3 hours ago, pm5k said:

It has been mentioned before, but the SSN is not required for health insurance (contrary to what many agents may say)

I can't comment on an SSN being required for the marriage certificate or not, but I am guessing it wouldn't be given that many people get married in the US without SSNs  @Loren Y can better advise (regarding Nevada at least)

No SSN is required for the marriage license in Nevada. You can actually fill everything out online in advance, and they store it in their system and give you an email with a reference number and barcode for when you arrive they can just scan it, verify the ID's for both parties and issue the license. Usually in less than 10 minutes. 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

On 12/3/2020 at 4:44 AM, A.j. said:

Hello everyone, 

 

1. Before traveling to the usa,  buy 1-2 months of Patriot America Plus health insurance to cover any emergencies that may happen.

2.  After POE, after 1 or 2 days, go to a social security office and apply for a ssn with her maiden name.

3.  Get married as soon as the online marriage service is available. 

4. AOS

5.  Compare health insurance cost/ benefits for adding my fiance to my employer provided health insurance, and the cost of insurance through the marketplace ( covered california ),

And finally get health insurance.

 

1. Travel insurance often won’t pay when they find out you are not actually on holiday, but have immigrated. You could be buying insurance that turns out to be of no use. 
 

2. Social Security offices were closed in March with no announced reopening as far as I know. We have a new federal administration starting January 20 which could bring about different federal policies regarding closures....or not.  You don’t need a SSN for insurance, a marriage license, or applying for AOS. 

 

5. Spouse employer policies often give you better coverage. But if California will pay for you to have coverage then compare what you will get, how much you will pay up front (deductible), and if decent hospitals are included. I don’t really know much about Covered California but think they are pretty liberal at giving away benefits. My state has no state plans so not up on those that do. The best person I know to comment on insurance is @yuna628 who has done a lot of research on the topic. 
 

@yuna628 Please correct anything I may have misstated. You’re the pro on this.
 

 

[A.j. 12]

4 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

1. Travel insurance often won’t pay when they find out you are not actually on holiday, but have immigrated. You could be buying insurance that turns out to be of no use. 
 

2. Social Security offices were closed in March with no announced reopening as far as I know. We have a new federal administration starting January 20 which could bring about different federal policies regarding closures....or not.  You don’t need a SSN for insurance, a marriage license, or applying for AOS. 

 

5. Spouse employer policies often give you better coverage. But if California will pay for you to have coverage then compare what you will get, how much you will pay up front (deductible), and if decent hospitals are included. I don’t really know much about Covered California but think they are pretty liberal at giving away benefits. My state has no state plans so not up on those that do. The best person I know to comment on insurance is @yuna628 who has done a lot of research on the topic. 
 

@yuna628 Please correct anything I may have misstated. You’re the pro on this.
 

 

@Wuozopo

Sounds good.  I wanted to I get the ssn first because of the stories of how people have run into problems getting it after marriage due to a " mismatch"?

 

I also wanted to check for health insurance prices in the marketplace(covered california) to see if there is anything more affordable than my company insurance.  My company insurance would charge me $800 more a month for adding a spouse.