Identification?

[Thijs 0]

Hi all,

I'm about to leave for the US within a month.

I'm just curious:

Once me and my fiancee are married, do I get some kind of ID to proof that I'm no longer there as a fiancé? I know getting the greencard after the AOS is filed can take quite some time, so what do I have to carry on me to prove that's I'm in the US legally?

My Dutch passport only has the K-1 visa in it, so that doesn't prove anything beyond being a fiancé.

Thanks

[Dakine 26]

Hi all,

I'm about to leave for the US within a month.

I'm just curious:

Once me and my fiancee are married, do I get some kind of ID to proof that I'm no longer there as a fiancé? I know getting the greencard after the AOS is filed can take quite some time, so what do I have to carry on me to prove that's I'm in the US legally?

My Dutch passport only has the K-1 visa in it, so that doesn't prove anything beyond being a fiancé.

Thanks

If things are the same now. Stewie will give you an I-94 to fill out on the plane. IO will stamp it and stable in your PP.

It will expire 90 days after you arrive. After that you are in "Limbo" until you adjust status and get the GC.

[Thijs 0]

If things are the same now. Stewie will give you an I-94 to fill out on the plane. IO will stamp it and stable in your PP.

It will expire 90 days after you arrive. After that you are in "Limbo" until you adjust status and get the GC.

So, in example, what would happen if I get into contact with the police and I need to show ID? If I show them my passport, it will not have any proof being a legal resident in it, right?

(assuming I don't have the greencard yet)

[Liebi 0]

Thijs: I always carried a copy of my marriage certificate in addition to the I-94 in my passport with me and also a copy of the USCIS letter stating that they received my AOS application. This is not a valid document that proves you are legal, but I guess it's your best shot. If you do get in contact with the police it simply might take a moment to clarify the situation. Don't worry to much, you will be fine!

[Shub 78]

If things are the same now. Stewie will give you an I-94 to fill out on the plane. IO will stamp it and stable in your PP.

It will expire 90 days after you arrive. After that you are in "Limbo" until you adjust status and get the GC.

So, in example, what would happen if I get into contact with the police and I need to show ID? If I show them my passport, it will not have any proof being a legal resident in it, right?

(assuming I don't have the greencard yet)

In dealing with various kinds of employees and government workers in the US, I've found that most don't know what the K-1 visa is. If they're really interested, though, they will look it up and find out, obviously.

So from the time you enter the US until your marry, just your passport and your I-94 are all you need.

After you marry but before you apply for AOS, well... they don't really have a way of checking whether you're married or not, so until the 90 days are up, you're fine.

After you marry and after you apply for AOS, your passport and I-94 are still mandatory. I've heard that, to further prove that you're here to stay (if asked), you can show them the NOA1 for your I-485 application, which proves that your application for permanent residency is pending, and it proves you're not out of status. The marriage certificate is also a good document to carry around. Depending on your state, you will need it sometimes to apply for certain things. They wanted to see mine in order to apply for a driver's license in Pennsylvania -- but they didn't care for the I-485 NOA1.

[Carlawarla 1]

After 10-14 days of having arrived in the USA, you can go to the local SSA office and apply for your Social Security number. Given you're in the system already (sometimes it takes longer than 2 weeks), they'll send you out a card. You shouldn't carry around this card, but I made a copy of it, and put it in my wallet, in case I was asked for ID.

Not having US ID was one of my major complaints when I got here as well. Just keep your passport, and point out to anyone that does ask what the K-1 Visa is, and what you're applying for now etc.

Until you get your NOA1 regarding AOS, you'll just have to make do with your passport/visa, and a SSN. This would allow you to maybe get a library card as well, so that's another form albeit not "govermental" ID.

Carla

[Jasman0717 9]

Carry your passport with the visa until AOS. Always carry your GC. You can also get a state I.D., or should be able to, with the GC.

[Sand 5]

Good Luck!

[BishopMnA 0]

Hey Thijs,

In our case (which is common/normal), we married about a month after AAm arrived in the United States. After about 2 weeks, our wedding certificate arrived in the mail. We then took the wedding certificate and her passport and applied for a State ID (Michigan, in our case). That solved her first situation of having an easily verifiable U.S. Picture ID.

Soon after she received her Michigan State ID, she took and passed the Driver's Exam and received her Michigan Driver's License. That then became her main form of U.S. Picture ID.

In a couple months, we have our AOS (Adjustment of Status) Interview, and with God's blessing we'll hopefully be approved for her Greencard...then it should be smooth(er) sailing.

Congrats on coming to the United States in one month! And, don't worry too much about the ID, you'll be able to obtain one shortly after you're here.

Peace,

Mark-N-AAm

[igomo 0]

The "police" does not enforce immigration laws, therefore they don't ask for your immigration status. Even if the police asked you for your immigration status, all they could really do is report you to USCIS, then there's a very small chance they'd actually care about it.

Some states are changing the laws so that if you are charged with a felony they will then check your immigration status... Once you file for AOS, the NOA1 will serve as proof of status until you get approved.

[little white guy 0]

Hi all,

I'm about to leave for the US within a month.

I'm just curious:

Once me and my fiancee are married, do I get some kind of ID to proof that I'm no longer there as a fiancé? I know getting the greencard after the AOS is filed can take quite some time, so what do I have to carry on me to prove that's I'm in the US legally?

My Dutch passport only has the K-1 visa in it, so that doesn't prove anything beyond being a fiancé.

Thanks

True, your i-94 and visa covers you, follow the K1 guide for the rest.

As far as an ID contact the state divison of motor vehiches, whatever

its called there..In this state thats what its called..What you need

for a picture id you can find it there, each state is different in this

so get the phone book or find ur states web page

[little white guy 0]

Hi all,

I'm about to leave for the US within a month.

I'm just curious:

Once me and my fiancee are married, do I get some kind of ID to proof that I'm no longer there as a fiancé? I know getting the greencard after the AOS is filed can take quite some time, so what do I have to carry on me to prove that's I'm in the US legally?

My Dutch passport only has the K-1 visa in it, so that doesn't prove anything beyond being a fiancé.

Thanks

True, your i-94 and visa covers you, follow the K1 guide for the rest.

As far as an ID contact the state divison of motor vehiches, whatever

its called there..In this state thats what its called..What you need

for a picture id you can find it there, each state is different in this

so get the phone book or find ur states web page

Sorry but unless each state has thier own law about getting an SSN,

You will be told at ur local SSN office an EAD has to be appiled for

1st..Just make a phone call or go in person to them, thats always

the best way

[*JG* 2]

Thijs: I always carried a copy of my marriage certificate in addition to the I-94 in my passport with me and also a copy of the USCIS letter stating that they received my AOS application. This is not a valid document that proves you are legal, but I guess it's your best shot. If you do get in contact with the police it simply might take a moment to clarify the situation. Don't worry to much, you will be fine!

Yes, this is exactly what I carried in my purse for Andre too. Once the green card came and he got a DL & SSN, I put all that initial stuff in our safe deposit box.

[David-and-Mae 15]

Hi all,

I'm about to leave for the US within a month.

I'm just curious:

Once me and my fiancee are married, do I get some kind of ID to proof that I'm no longer there as a fiancé? I know getting the greencard after the AOS is filed can take quite some time, so what do I have to carry on me to prove that's I'm in the US legally?

My Dutch passport only has the K-1 visa in it, so that doesn't prove anything beyond being a fiancé.

Thanks

If your I-94 is not close to expiring, you can apply for a state ID. That would be the best identification you can have while not having the green card yet. In my case, I'm carrying a copy of my SS card, passport and visa and the military ID that my husband took for me. I'm also carrying a copy of all the documents that will show I adjusted my status here in US since my K1 visa expired last 9/30.

[pervez 4]

As has been explained there's nothing you get after the wedding that specifically says you're married to a US citizen, well your marriage certificate but that's not an ID.

If it makes you feel better you could carry around a marriage certificate and your passport.

However about 2 weeks after you enter you can apply for a Social Security Card at the Social Security Administration. I actually went there 8 days after entering the country and was then already in the system, the Social Security Card arrived in the mail 2 days after I applied for it

With the Social Security Card you can go and apply for a State Drives Licence, you'll have to take your passport(and I94) along as well since the SSC does not have a picture. Do this process as early after you arrive, since you might have problems if you go within 30 days of your I-94 expiring.

When you have a US drivers licence then you have a valid US Identification. The drivers licence will most likely be set to expire the day your I94 does, but until that day you can let your passport and other important documents stay at home.

That's what I'm doing, there's not a chance in hell I'll be dragging my passport with me everywhere I go, exposing it to the risk of being lost or stolen. With the drivers licence you have a valid identification here so you shouldn't have much problems. At least I figure that the likelyhood of me being locked up for not carrying my passport is so slim that it'd be worth being kept somewhere for the hour or less it'd take to get it delivered.

It keeps the pants pockets nice and light, only; keys, coin wallet, less that $10.00, debit card and a drivers licence

Edited October 6, 2007 by pervez