AOS from ESTA / abandoned K1

[CH1314 8]

My husband added me onto his insurance without any problems. Also added me onto his Citi bank account and a joint user on his Chase account. None asked for SSN

[LibertyBears 22]

We went to chase yesterday to open a joint bank account together, husband is an existing user and I did not require SSN 

HOWEVER

they did need US address proof which I did not have in form of :

- employer paystub (no EAD not working)
- drivers licence (never learnt to drive whilst in UK, can i apply for a learners permit here? )

- cellphone bill (going to see if I can get a phone plan without ssn today)

- utility bill (living with parents so this doesn't seem possible currently)

- US bank account (are there any banks that would let open an account without ssn or address proof 😕 )

 

 

[LibertyBears 22]

14 hours ago, Kaemouzy said:

You can apply for your driver's license in new York under the green light law. https://dmv.ny.gov/driver-license/driver-licenses-and-green-light-law

Thank you so much for this!! Going to apply immediately for one

thank you thank you 

[LibertyBears 22]

14 hours ago, Kaemouzy said:

You can apply for your driver's license in new York under the green light law. https://dmv.ny.gov/driver-license/driver-licenses-and-green-light-law

wait unfortunately I cannot apply for this yet as I don't have address proof

I don't think in my current situation I can obtain any of these to have as address proof...(listed below)

Seems so far A needs B but to get B I need A 😂

 

Going to try get a phone contract though regardless today and see how that goes.

I really don't want to give less evidence and get a RFE again if possible 

 

 

DMV requires one of the following as address proof:

Assisted Living or Nursing Home Statement (if issued within 1 year)

Annual Social Security Statement (SSA-1099) (if issued within the current year)

Bank Statement (if issued within 1 year)

Cancelled Check (if issued within 1 year)

College Photo ID Card and Official Transcript - United States (if issued within 1 year)

Credit Card Statement (if issued within 1 year)

DMV Statement of Identity (PDF) (MV-45B) (for applicants who can be considered a disenfranchised, homeless youth)

DMV Statement of Identity and/or Residence (PDF) (MV-45A) (for Applicants Represented by Government or Government Approved Facilities)

DMV Statement of Identity and/or Residence by Parent/Guardian (PDF) (MV-45) IF UNDER AGE 21

Federal or New York State Income Tax or Earning Statement (SSA-1099, SSA-1098) (if issued within the current year)

High School ID Card with Report Card or Official Transcript - United States (if issued within 1 year)

Homeowners/Renters Insurance (Policy, Proof of Claim) (if issued within 1 year)

Income Tax W-2 - Federal or New York State (if issued within 1 year)

IRS Tax Transcript or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number Issuance Letter (if issued within 1 year)

Jury Duty Notice (if issued within 1 year)

Life Insurance Policy or Current Statement (if issued within 1 year and in effect at least 2 years)

Medical Examiner's Certificate with New York State address and signature (for CDL medical exam requirement) (if issued within 1 year)

Military Orders that are still in effect

Mortgage statement (if issued within 1 year)

United States Municipal ID Card with photo and New York State address (e.g. New York City ID card)

New York State Certificate of Title

New York State Driver License/Permit/Non-Driver ID Card (current or expired less than 2 years)

New York State/New York City Pistol Permit

New York State Professional License

Parent/Spouse ID (in the same last name or with proof of relationship) (if issued within 1 year)

Pay Stub - United States Computer Printed (if issued within 1 year)

Postmarked mail (if postmarked within 1 year)

Property or School Tax Bills or Receipts (must reflect current address on mailing portion and portion stating what property is being taxed) (if issued within the current year)

Property Deed

Residential Lease (if issued within 1 year)

Retirement Statement (if issued within 1 year)

Selective Service Card

Supplemental Security Income Award Statement (if issued within 1 year)

Unemployment Benefit Statement (if issued within 1 year)

Utility Bill (e.g. phone or electricity) (if issued within 1 year)

Voter Registration (if issued within 1 year)

Welfare Benefit Statement (if issued within 1 year)

[USC4SPOUSE 506]

1 hour ago, LibertyBears said:

Thank you so much for this!! Going to apply immediately for one

thank you thank you 

@LibertyBears I would take the cell phone bill route, then get the bank account and then get a state ID first. You can apply for the driver's license later since you have to likely study for the test and then schedule a driving test.  

Alternatively, your in-laws could draw a lease, get it notarized, then get joint bank account and state ID. 

 

I think you have plenty of evidence, though. You just got married. I would just make sure to continue building your evidence for your interview. 

 

Question about your husband's employer sponsored insurance - does he have access to his benefits online? I know that when I added my husband all I had to do was click on "qualifying event" and then, the system prompted me to add his name and all pertaining information. 

 

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

Oh the address proof... it's even worse here in MS where they want two of it for everything. I thought I was holding the holy grail when I showed the bank lady my social security card still attached to the address portion of it. She looked at me and asked: don't you have anything better? Like a utility bill! I was flabbergasted. 😂😂

Edited June 23, 2021 by Letspaintcookies

[yuna628 9,680]

For banking, at least in my experience I was able to get a supervisor to merge my husband onto my existing account, thereby making it a joint account. It just required the marriage certificate and his passport. He did not have his SSN yet or his EAD. We did not open a *new* account, because there wasn't a need to.

 

Dealing with the DMV is a whole other world of.. stupidity. Typically you will not be able to get an ID or license without having an EAD, SSN, and some kind of mail proof. And if you have never driven before in any country, you won't be able to fast track through the license process either.

 

IIRC the order we went in was:

 

SSN (before marriage because of the K1 route)

certificate of marriage

bank (before the SSN arrived)

gophone contract

added him to insurances and other bills

EAD

DMV for fasttrack license process

Green Card

back to SSA for updated SSN

back to DMV for full license

once he had a job he was quickly able to obtain credit and other bills with our names jointly.

 

 

 

[LibertyBears 22]

2 hours ago, yuna628 said:

For banking, at least in my experience I was able to get a supervisor to merge my husband onto my existing account, thereby making it a joint account. It just required the marriage certificate and his passport. He did not have his SSN yet or his EAD. We did not open a *new* account, because there wasn't a need to.

Could I ask which bank this was with please?

I just emailed Chase and they told me that I will still require address proof to be added to his existing account... 

[yuna628 9,680]

19 minutes ago, LibertyBears said:

Could I ask which bank this was with please?

I just emailed Chase and they told me that I will still require address proof to be added to his existing account... 

It was a local bank specific to this state. I have heard some people having success with BoA. Proof of address will be tricky for you at this stage, unless you can get your name added to some kind of current bill. Do you have an NOA1 from the USCIS yet? That would certainly have an address on it.

[LibertyBears 22]

1 hour ago, yuna628 said:

It was a local bank specific to this state. I have heard some people having success with BoA. Proof of address will be tricky for you at this stage, unless you can get your name added to some kind of current bill. Do you have an NOA1 from the USCIS yet? That would certainly have an address on it.

No we haven't sent any of the forms for AOS yet, still compiling evidence for the I-130. 

We were going to send them all together at the same time, unless this is not the best plan?

[Illiria 980]

On 6/24/2021 at 11:54 AM, yuna628 said:

I have heard some people having success with BoA.

I managed to get a Bank of America account - they did have to list me as having a foreign address but then listed a us address for mailing the bank card and statements. They then changed it once I got my ssn and work permit. 

[LibertyBears 22]

We managed to get a Bank of America joint checking account opened together today! hooray!

 

They asked for two forms of ID both from me and my husband

They only needed my husband's SSN 

 

They didn't even ask to see our marriage cert neither did they need to me to sign anything regarding not havng a SSN ( I heard some people talking about a form if they didnt have SSN )

 

It was super fast and very smooth process!

 

Thank you to everyone that suggested Bank of America, the lady who helped us to open an account told us that she understood immigration process is tough and that she knows how it feels to be in our shoes as her husband was also an immigrant and he only received his greencard three years ago even though he arrived in 2011

Very grateful to her helping us !

Edited June 26, 2021 by LibertyBears

[sable227 0]

After I married my husband, I added him to my bank account and insurance without a SSN.  My son filed for his wife in the DR and after much wrangling, he was able to add her on his bank account.  Be patient but sometimes you have to also be persistent with insurance companies, banks, credit unions and the like.  

[USC4SPOUSE 506]

On 6/26/2021 at 7:28 PM, LibertyBears said:

We managed to get a Bank of America joint checking account opened together today! hooray!

 

They asked for two forms of ID both from me and my husband

They only needed my husband's SSN 

 

They didn't even ask to see our marriage cert neither did they need to me to sign anything regarding not havng a SSN ( I heard some people talking about a form if they didnt have SSN )

 

It was super fast and very smooth process!

 

Thank you to everyone that suggested Bank of America, the lady who helped us to open an account told us that she understood immigration process is tough and that she knows how it feels to be in our shoes as her husband was also an immigrant and he only received his greencard three years ago even though he arrived in 2011

Very grateful to her helping us !

@LibertyBears that’s awesome! That will make everything easier! Make sure you use it!

 

😊

[Mike V 56]

On 6/23/2021 at 11:57 AM, LibertyBears said:

Cancelled Check (if issued within 1 year)

Your name was added to your husband,s Chase account.  Was it a checking account?  If so just write a check.  Checks are processed electronically these days and the image will be back in your account 2-3 days after it is cashed.  You should also be able to get a statement showing your (and his) name on the account and your address.

 

On 6/23/2021 at 11:57 AM, LibertyBears said:

Homeowners/Renters Insurance (Policy, Proof of Claim) (if issued within 1 year)

Get a renter's policy at his parents address.

 

On 6/23/2021 at 11:57 AM, LibertyBears said:

Parent/Spouse ID (in the same last name or with proof of relationship) (if issued within 1 year)

Surely you husband has an ID?  Bring your marriage certificate along.

 

On 6/23/2021 at 11:57 AM, LibertyBears said:

Residential Lease (if issued within 1 year)

Sign a lease with his parents.

 

On 6/23/2021 at 11:57 AM, LibertyBears said:

Utility Bill (e.g. phone or electricity) (if issued within 1 year)

Does your husband have a cell phone?  They'd probably add your name to the account.  Also, a 2nd phone on an existing account is often the cheapest way to get a cell phone here.

 

Maybe his parents would add your name to an account or two?  I'm collecting evidence for our Removal of Conditions proof, so earlier today I emailed our fiber internet vendor and asked them to add her name and mail me a statement; they sent back a nice PDF file of a statement showing both names.

 

Regarding SSN's, they can't be required for benefits.  I had my fiance's name as my insurance beneficiary months before she arrived in the U.S.  They arrived here July 26, 2017.  We were married the next day, and I immediately emailed the benefits change form (no SSN's) so their health/dental/life/disability coverage started Aug. 1.  She (K-1) got her SSN a few days later; the kids had to wait about three months for the employment authorizations to arrive. I kept HR informed as we received the SSN's.