Questions about PoE after K1 received

[Mixel96 12]

Hello,

 

I received my K1 visa in October. My trip to the U.S. is coming closer and I am figuring out everything necessary for Port of Entry and the first days within the country. 

 

If you follow the official information, you only need:

• the sealed package from the embassy,
• your passport with the visa,
• police certificate (original?)
• birth certificate (original?)
• and the documents from the medical exam.

Is that all that's required? 

 

 

For the first steps after entry I have this as my focus:

• obtaining SSN (after 2 weeks of entering)
• look into how to obtain U.S. drivers license
• get married

 

 

Is there anything I am totally missing here? Feel free to provide some insight

Edited November 7 by Mixel96

[Edward and Jaycel 308]

At Jaycel's PoE in Los Angeles, all they asked her for was the Passport w/ visa and the yellow packet. They asked her what was the address she was staying at in the US and how much money she brought into the country. 5-7 minutes and she was stamped and good to go.

[OldUser 7,030]

If you're moving to the US permanently it makes sense taking originals of important documents such as birth certificate with you. Obviously, carry those with you and don't leave in checked bags.

 

Good luck!

[powerpuff 6,744]

You don’t need police certificates at entry or for AOS. Unless you’re referring to individual paperwork if you have arrests or convictions.

[P055UM 286]

7 hours ago, Mixel96 said:

obtaining SSN (after 2 weeks of entering)

No need to wait two weeks if you don’t have to. Some places may not let you do it sooner than two weeks but it is worth trying — the sooner you are in the system, the more likely it is they can issue the SSN before your I-94 expires. 

[SalishSea 17,987]

The question of drivers licenses is totally state dependent.   Where will you be living?

[TBoneTX 45,666]

51 minutes ago, SalishSea said:

The question of drivers licenses is totally state dependent.   Where will you be living?

It looks like Illinois.

[alliejourney 61]

Since everything is digital now, you may be able to head to your local SSA office the very next (business day) after arriving and apply for the SSN. Just go online and check your I-94, and if the most recent entry on the K1 is on there, you will be ready to apply!

 

Also driver's license is very state dependent so make sure to check out your state's DMV website. In Ohio, we weren't able to get his license until he had received his EAD but, again, it varies state by state. Good luck!

[Edward and Jaycel 308]

3 minutes ago, alliejourney said:

Since everything is digital now, you may be able to head to your local SSA office the very next (business day) after arriving and apply for the SSN. Just go online and check your I-94, and if the most recent entry on the K1 is on there, you will be ready to apply!

 

Also driver's license is very state dependent so make sure to check out your state's DMV website. In Ohio, we weren't able to get his license until he had received his EAD but, again, it varies state by state. Good luck!

 

Agreed with this... as soon as we saw Jaycel's I-94 online (like 4 days after her PoE), we applied for her SSN online at ssa.gov - When we completed the application online we printed the confirmation and then it took us to a page to make an appointment at the local SSA office to complete the application. Bring Passport, I-94 print out, Birth Certificate and application confirmation page to the SSA appointment. We had Jaycel's SSN card in the mail 6 days after the appointment

[Mixel96 12]

11 hours ago, SalishSea said:

The question of drivers licenses is totally state dependent.   Where will you be living?

Illinois. I was going to look at everything regarding that once I’m there. Or is there anything specific I gotta figure out beforehand ?
 

other than that, thanks to all of you for your kind replies 😊

[Edward and Jaycel 308]

Google is your friend 🙂 Do research now while you are waiting to enter the country. At least it will get you familiar with what you are heading into and it won't be all new

https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/drivers_license/drlicid.html#tvdl

[Mixel96 12]

2 minutes ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

Google is your friend 🙂 Do research now while you are waiting to enter the country. At least it will get you familiar with what you are heading into and it won't be all new

https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/drivers_license/drlicid.html#tvdl

Thank you and yes, I would. However, I can’t access sites like the one you posted. Must be because of my region being Germany. I will forward it to my fiancée so she can check. 

[OldUser 7,030]

8 minutes ago, Mixel96 said:

Thank you and yes, I would. However, I can’t access sites like the one you posted. Must be because of my region being Germany. I will forward it to my fiancée so she can check. 

VPN?

[Edward and Jaycel 308]

1 hour ago, Mixel96 said:

Thank you and yes, I would. However, I can’t access sites like the one you posted. Must be because of my region being Germany. I will forward it to my fiancée so she can check. 

 

Ahhh ok... I didn't know those kind of sites would be restricted from overseas

[DELTAFOXTROT 65]

On 11/7/2024 at 1:53 PM, Edward and Jaycel said:

At Jaycel's PoE in Los Angeles, all they asked her for was the Passport w/ visa and the yellow packet. They asked her what was the address she was staying at in the US and how much money she brought into the country. 5-7 minutes and she was stamped and good to go.

Did you enter with her? I know a pinay who was grilled and they had her crying about her Fiance, he had a some kind of police record for getting arrested for fighting, She told me they were trying to convince her to go back to Philippines when she landed in LA for her POE she was alone.