I know you've probably seen this question a million times....

[Billy_boy 0]

I'm currently on an activated K1 awaiting our wedding date of Oct 6. Going to get the marriage license today and the SS Office is close to where we have to go.....I have read many conflicting reports about the SSN process.

Like all this immigration stuff, there's a lot of either disinformation or muddled up rules. For instance I had read of several VJers that were able to get an EAD stamp at their POE , yet when I asked about it in Ottawa I was told by Homeland Security that they have not stamped K1 visas with an EAD for years. so, #######?

Am I able to apply for an SSN now or do I need to wait till we're married and have applied for AP/AOS/EAD etc. It's just a step we want to get out of the way seeing as we're going to be right there...I know some people here have done it , however the SSN Application web site indicates that I need to prove the SSN aplication is not for work purposes. I just don't want to wait in line all day if it's a waste of time.

Thanks.

[Kang Lang 7]

billy boy you are able to obtain an ssn on a k-1. generally it takes about 2 weeks after your poe to get into the system (SAVE) and you should have no problem. my bf received his ss card in the post about one week after we applied.i have heard though that if you i-94 is close to expiration they may not issue one to you.

good luck!

[payxibka 10,047]

You can apply anytime between day 1 and day 76 of entry but the two week suggestion appears to help many with the verification step the SSA does.

[Billy_boy 0]

Guess we'll go for it!

Thanks all.

[L_n_O 3]

Hey Billy Boy,

congrats on everything...

but.................

[misa 2]

The SSN guide here for K1s is pretty accurate:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...om&page=ssn

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Yes, definitely apply for your SSN before you get married - it just makes a lot of things easier in setting up your new life in the US to have a SSN. If you haven't been here yet for 2 weeks you may not be in the SAVE system - the database kept by immigration of people legally in the US - but if that is the case, it will just be a short delay until your information is entered into the system. SSN needs to verify you are legally in the country before you are issued a number.

Regarding the work authorization stamp - well, the majority of POEs do NOT issue the stamp anymore - however . . . there are a few that do. The problem is in finding which ones do. None of the airports in Canada - which do immigration pre-screening now - offer the stamp. If you are coming from overseas without a pre-screening you can get the stamp if you land at JFK. If you are using land border crossings from Canada, the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor-Detroit apparently will issue the stamp upon request. It is a hit or miss process. Ottawa, having an immigration pre-screening, does not issue the stamp so they told you correctly.

Edited September 11, 2007 by Kathryn41

[Earmuffs 1]

I've been trying to call land borders that give the stamp. so far windsor detroit is the only one. sucks that it is outta my way.

[vanee 13]

Yes, definitely apply for your SSN before you get married - it just makes a lot of things easier in setting up your new life in the US to have a SSN. If you haven't been here yet for 2 weeks you may not be in the SAVE system - the database kept by immigration of people legally in the US - but if that is the case, it will just be a short delay until your information is entered into the system. SSN needs to verify you are legally in the country before you are issued a number.

Is it that important to have an SSN before getting married? A lot of VJers get married within a couple of weeks of arriving in the US, so an SSN before getting married isn't an option for them.

[lynamon 0]

I married the day after I arrived in the US and waited the two weeks to apply. No problems, only they completed the paperwork not using my married name as they told me that immigration may not recognize it and it would take much longer. I've received my SSN card and simply have to go to the office to have them change it into my married name.

[Keisha 0]

I received my SSN before we got married , and i had no problem at all. Just brought my passport with the visa and I-94 and my Canada DL.

[L_n_O 3]

Canada DL?

[Jasman0717 9]

Claudeth went to SSA two weeks after she arrived and received her card a week later. That worked out well for us.

[vnoe 0]

got mine after I was married....no problemo!!!

[Keisha 0]

Canada DL?

Canada DL=canadian drivers license. Sorry I still make mistakes in English. i think they wanted to see a second ID, something like that.