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So a ~3% approval rate at eight/nine months out. My expectations were low, but that is even lower than I thought it’d be.

Working is likely a not possible, or at least annoyingly tricky. You already have to best route figured out by using the B1/B2. Come here for a while, get to know your partner, their life, their city etc etc. You won’t be able to work but honestly you wouldn’t learn all that much from it anyway. I did this kind of thing on a ESTA when we were LDR. The long stay got a little more scrutiny at the PoE than normal, but ultimately it was fine. Just be honest in all the questions they ask, make sure you bring plenty proof of ties to home country, have a return ticket and plan on leaving well before the expiry of your I-94!

Anybody had any movement on their case yet? I’m still over here playing the waiting game. I will be filing N-400 in February 2025. Hopefully that will move it along if it is still stuck then.

Fellow Wisconsinite here wishing her good luck!

This is useful! Thank you!

Thanks. I feel like I had got the idea that they were strictly required.

I’m mostly concerned that we don’t have three years of MFJ. I know it isn’t strictly a requirement to file jointly, but honestly I’m not sure what the point of including returns is at all if you don’t file jointly. I’m totally unclear what it proves to them.

My window for filing the N-400 under the three year rule will open at the end of February 2025. I arrived in the US on a K-1 in 2021. Wondering about the tax return requirements. Our taxes for the last three years look like: 2021: MFS (as required, spouse name is on 1040) 2022: MFJ 2023:MFJ The 90 day window will open before I have all of the documents ready to complete the 2024 return MFJ. I guess I have three options: 1) File N-400 with 2021-2023 2) File 2024 MFJ knowing it will probably need to be updated and send N-400 with 2022-2024 3) Wait until 2024 tax return can be filed with all forms (may take a long time as one particular accountant is extremely slow and the issue they are working on is somewhat tricky) Obviously 3) is the clearest option but I really would like to file N-400 as soon as possible. Would it be an issue going with 1) or 2)? Thanks!

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.

That sounds like government work, and government work costs money. As for the more general theme of this thread, it’s reasonable to assume that timelines are going to shift with the shifting priorities of the new administration. Guessing which parts are going to be most impacted is tricky, though I’d expect people coming into the country to be more affected, in general, than those already here. And those here under less established/executive programs will be more affected than than those here on the more traditional work/marriage programs. But honestly, my gut tells me that it is unlikely to become any easier for anybody.

Personal check is better than cashier’s check as you can see when it has been cashed! Good luck!

I agree best practice is to apply prior to marriage but the denial was in no way correct. OP should try a different office if able and still within status. I’m out.

No, what they were told is not correct. You are allowed to get apply for SSN after marriage, and plenty of us here have. I’ll not dispute that it is best practice to apply before, as mix ups like this can happen, but you are well within your rights to apply for SSN as a K-1 after marriage, as long as your I-94 hasn’t yet expired.

Literally every reply to this post is an assumption. Without being either of the candidates or within their inner circles, that’s pretty much all you’re left with.

Yes. Got SSN in 2021 after marriage. No issues. Just do it as quickly as possible as they can only issues it while the I94 is still valid.

I would just add a short statement saying why you filed MFS instead of MFJ. It is totally valid that you filed the way that was most financially advantageous. We did MFS in 2021 for exactly the same reasons. I just included the statement with my I751.

Yes you can travel no problem. Btw these days it is a 48 month extension.

I got SSN after marriage in 2021. Wedding was already arranged for two weeks after arrival in US. On first day here I called the SS office and they wouldn’t even allow me to book a place (during Covid) for two weeks due to outdated SAVE considerations. So, I got an appointment exactly a week after I got married. 100% no issues. With that being said, get the ball rolling ASAP as you only have a very small window on your I-94 to be issued the SSN as they will not issue one after day 76.

Regardless of the stats you're quoting, people have already given you the answer: it is questionable at best as to whether this would work. Furthermore, CR-1 is generally superior, so you aren't in too bad a spot.

Your initial relationship is already established. You need to supply evidence of an ongoing marital relationship. Online dating chat logs are (hopefully) not a part of that.

SSN is often required to DL. In my state a K1 can get a DL without EAD or GC, but they 100% *must* have an SSN.

Congrats!

A two year work history requirement is common but by no means ubiquitous. I would recommend shopping around, look at local credit unions, talk to realtors etc etc. Admittedly I don’t have a commission job but was included on the mortgage with less than six months work history. Hopefully you will be able to find a loan officer who understands your situation and can make exceptions or knows which avenues to follow. Good luck!

Ugh as far as I know there isn’t really a good option. It is a very niche marketplace and small set of consumers. Granted I haven’t researched it in a couple years. Obamacare is out. Travel insurance is lighting money on fire. Back in 2021 I bought some short term coverage through Loomis but honestly I am extremely glad I never tried to use it because who knows if it would’ve paid. Short answer is the best way to get health insurance is to get married. If you decide to wait on getting married then that is up to you, but you at least know the risk you are taking (not to mention longer to get green card/papers etc etc) Good luck!

Not in AZ but posed a similar question to the WI DMV a few months ago. Answer: - renew before I-751, get a new license valid to end of green card (in my case added like six weeks as my DL expired on my birthday) - renew after I-751 get an eight (yes! Eight!) year license I did the latter and got an eight year license, which is curiously valid well beyond my extension letter. I would recommend you file I-751 at the beginning of your window and then renew with the extension letter - they are coming pretty quick, mine was like two or three weeks back in Feb this year.