What to do without a Social Security Number

[Blathers 5]

I recently had my fiance come over with a K-1 visa and we're now happily married, but she was unable to get a social security number since her K-1 visa expired during the SSN application evaluation process. What should we do in terms of her identification while we wait for her green card approval?

 

It seems like we're fairly inhibited in what she can apply for, so we're wondering what to do in the interim. Would obtaining an ITIN be a good substitute in the meantime?

 

[JeanneAdil 6,606]

Recently  ?

No  info as no timeline and information on when married

If not married in 2020,  you can not apply for ITIN as that is only applied for with current tax returns and is a help only to have a # to claim spouse 

ITIN is not for work or other purposes

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

She has to carry her foreign passport as a form of identification. That's all she can do. A ITIN is only good for taxes nothing else.

[Joe Kano 327]

14 hours ago, Letspaintcookies said:

She has to carry her foreign passport as a form of identification. That's all she can do. A ITIN is only good for taxes nothing else.

ITIN lets you work , ITIN lets you open bank accounts much more easily. ITIN has lot of benefits

[Ayrton 965]

1 hour ago, Joe Kano said:

ITIN lets you work , ITIN lets you open bank accounts much more easily. ITIN has lot of benefits

ITIN is not a work authorization. Illegal immigrants using ITINs to file taxes doesn't make it legal in any ways.

 

An ITIN doesn't allow anybody to work. If you're allowed to work (EAD, GC, Visa) then you qualify for a SSN and should not apply for an ITIN.

 

To OP, some states will let you get a state ID/DL without a SSN. Call your local DMV to check their requirements.

[Joe Kano 327]

On 3/29/2021 at 7:01 AM, Ayrton said:

ITIN is not a work authorization. Illegal immigrants using ITINs to file taxes doesn't make it legal in any ways.

 

An ITIN doesn't allow anybody to work. If you're allowed to work (EAD, GC, Visa) then you qualify for a SSN and should not apply for an ITIN.

 

To OP, some states will let you get a state ID/DL without a SSN. Call your local DMV to check their requirements.

Never said it was work authorization.  Illegal immigrants get ITIN so they can get hired to work.  

 

But it does allow one to find work much easier

 

It also allow one to open an bank account quicker than having a greencard and SSN depending on the bank.

 

My wife went to bank inside of Wal-mart with a SSN and greencard, took 10 days before they let her open her account.  I asked the girl working at front why so long she didn't know, she said if she had a ITIN # and ID card from the Mexican Consulate the account would of been opened the same day.

Edited April 5, 2021 by Joe Kano