When can beneficiary get license?

[tcrossle 19]

Hello all,

We had our interview and we were approved!

She got her visa within 2 days from the Bangkok embassy!

 

We wanted to ask how soon should we go about getting her a license in the states? And what documents she will need to get it?

 

Thank you!

[powerpuff 6,748]

~~ Topic moved from K1 forum to Moving to the US & Your New Life in America forum as this is about settling after getting to the US ~~

 

Each state has their own rules and regulations. Some allow DLs regardless of immigration status (NY, CA as an example) and some who only allow it once a person has work authorization (EAD) or GC (I know this is the case in NC as I know someone who came on K1 and had to wait for their EAD to get a DL).

 

 

Edited September 10, 2022 by powerpuff

[tcrossle 19]

30 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

~~ Topic moved from K1 forum to Moving to the US & Your New Life in America forum as this is about settling after getting to the US ~~

 

Each state has their own rules and regulations. Some allow DLs regardless of immigration status (NY, CA as an example) and some who only allow it once a person has work authorization (EAD) or GC (I know this is the case in NC as I know someone who came on K1 and had to wait for their EAD to get a DL).

 

 

I see thank you! We are in California so we can go right away and deal with the name change later.

[powerpuff 6,748]

31 minutes ago, tcrossle said:

I see thank you! We are in California so we can go right away and deal with the name change later.

Yes, that would be my advice. Also get her an SSN asap while she still has time to apply (75 day window out of 90). It’ll be in her maiden name which is fine, you can change once she receives either EAD/GC.

[tcrossle 19]

27 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

Yes, that would be my advice. Also get her an SSN asap while she still has time to apply (75 day window out of 90). It’ll be in her maiden name which is fine, you can change once she receives either EAD/GC.

Thank you, so we need to apply for SSN within 75 days?

[powerpuff 6,748]

3 minutes ago, tcrossle said:

Thank you, so we need to apply for SSN within 75 days?

Yes, but sooner the better (like within the first 2 weeks). The closer you approach day 75 the higher the chances they refuse to process it.

 

Regarding DL, when I applied they went by my marriage certificate rather than SSN. So I received my license in my married name but this was in NY, not sure if other states do it the same. But really it’s not big deal if it’s in the maiden name, it can easily be changed later

[tcrossle 19]

18 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

Yes, but sooner the better (like within the first 2 weeks). The closer you approach day 75 the higher the chances they refuse to process it.

 

Regarding DL, when I applied they went by my marriage certificate rather than SSN. So I received my license in my married name but this was in NY, not sure if other states do it the same. But really it’s not big deal if it’s in the maiden name, it can easily be changed later

Thank you so much for the advice, we will do that asap! I haven't heard much on how soon to do everything so your advice helps a lot!

 

 

[powerpuff 6,748]

20 minutes ago, tcrossle said:

Thank you so much for the advice, we will do that asap! I haven't heard much on how soon to do everything so your advice helps a lot!

 

 

No problem, I wish you a smooth journey.

 

question, are you planning on getting married in LA county?

[tcrossle 19]

10 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

No problem, I wish you a smooth journey.

 

question, are you planning on getting married in LA county?

Thank you, we won't be getting married until November and she arrives in a couple weeks, will there be any issues with her getting a SSN? Looking on the website it says we can apply when applying for the i485. And yes we are planning for LA county.

[powerpuff 6,748]

9 minutes ago, tcrossle said:

Thank you, we won't be getting married until November and she arrives in a couple weeks, will there be any issues with her getting a SSN? Looking on the website it says we can apply when applying for the i485. And yes we are planning for LA county.

There shouldn’t be an issue, she’s entitled to an SSN on her K1 status.
 

Yes, you can but then you would have to wait for an SSN until she gets her GC. SSN is asked for virtually everywhere you apply like opening bank accounts/credits cards, health insurance, etc. I don’t see a benefit of waiting for 1-2+ years to receive an SSN.

 

9 minutes ago, tcrossle said:

And yes we are planning for LA county.

Be aware that it takes them 2+ months to issue marriage certificates (see thread below). You’ll need to delay your AOS filing bc you won’t have a copy of a marriage certificate. 

 

Edited September 10, 2022 by powerpuff

[tcrossle 19]

1 hour ago, powerpuff said:

There shouldn’t be an issue, she’s entitled to an SSN on her K1 status.
 

Yes, you can but then you would have to wait for an SSN until she gets her GC. SSN is asked for virtually everywhere you apply like opening bank accounts/credits cards, health insurance, etc. I don’t see a benefit of waiting for 1-2+ years to receive an SSN.

 

Be aware that it takes them 2+ months to issue marriage certificates (see thread below). You’ll need to delay your AOS filing bc you won’t have a copy of a marriage certificate. 

 

Thank you for the info, I have seen it takes a while to get them, we will be having the marriage license appointment the day after she gets here, so I hope that gives enough time before our wedding in late November. We only went with LA county because I assumed you have to get the license in whichever county the marriage actually takes place, which in our case it is.

[Zoeeeeeee 797]

21 minutes ago, tcrossle said:

Thank you for the info, I have seen it takes a while to get them, we will be having the marriage license appointment the day after she gets here, so I hope that gives enough time before our wedding in late November. We only went with LA county because I assumed you have to get the license in whichever county the marriage actually takes place, which in our case it is.

The certificate is what you get after you're married - no relation to the license (which you get beforehand). You'll be fine getting your license the day before. But it's the certificate that you need when you send in your green card forms...so you may have to wait 2 months before you can send them.

Edited September 10, 2022 by Zoeeeeeee

[Zoeeeeeee 797]

4 minutes ago, Zoeeeeeee said:

The certificate is what you get after you're married - no relation to license (which you get beforehand). You'll be fine getting your license the day before. But it's the certificate that you need when you send in your green card forms...so you may have to wait 2 months before you can send them.

I had my wedding in LA...but I had a 'secret wedding' 2 months before, in the OC (because they issue their certificates so much quicker after the wedding).

 

We picked up our marriage license in Irvine, met our officiant for lunch, he married us there (and our waiter was our witness) and we got our certificate a couple of weeks later. We then had our big wedding two months later, in LA (Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga Canyon - it was amazing!) and no one knew we were already married 🙂.

 

EDITED TO ADD - actually, that's not true - 2 people at our wedding knew we were already married - our officiant and our 'witness'. No one else, to this day. 

Edited September 10, 2022 by Zoeeeeeee

[powerpuff 6,748]

40 minutes ago, tcrossle said:

Thank you for the info, I have seen it takes a while to get them, we will be having the marriage license appointment the day after she gets here, so I hope that gives enough time before our wedding in late November. We only went with LA county because I assumed you have to get the license in whichever county the marriage actually takes place, which in our case it is.

I’m not talking about marriage license, I’m talking about the actual marriage certificate you receive after getting married as mentioned by @Zoeeeeeee. You need a copy of that to apply for adjustment of status. If you actually read that thread, that’s the issue OP was having

Edited September 10, 2022 by powerpuff

[tcrossle 19]

4 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

I’m not talking about marriage license, I’m talking about the actual marriage certificate you receive after getting married as mentioned by @Zoeeeeeee. You need a copy of that to apply for adjustment of status. If you actually read that thread, that’s the issue OP was having

Thank you both, I see now. I am not too familiar with the process. Does it matter if we get our wedding certificate after the 90 days is up? Or is it just a matter of how soon we can try to apply for AoS?