Help on SSN

[Vkearney3]

Hey everyone, again i just to thank all who have helped me over these months. Thank you!

 

well we finally made it and now we are both in New York!. We just arrived yesterday July 15!.

 

I still cant believe it.

 

So today I called the SS office, the 1-800 number. I wanted to be sure and ask what i needed to apply for my soon to be wife number.

 

Now this guy didnt even know what I was talking about at first and he said I need the "I-551" to apply for her SSN.

 

Is this true? To my research the I-551 is a greencard. SO now Im really confused. I tired to explain to him that she is a K1 but he kept asking me what forms do I have, but all the forms were taken by immigration, the only forms I have are the original petition and her x-rays.

 

 

So im really confused and need some direction again. thanks everyone, Sorry for repeats once again.

 

Oh and this is my idea in this process.

 

1) Get SSN

2) Get her name on all my bank accounts, life insurance.

3) Try to get her NY state ID

4) Get married

5) send documents out to change status

6) after married change her name on SSN and Bank accounts, Ny ID to married name.

7) Wait for approval and two year green card.

 

 

Is this correct?? seem liek the process or am I missign a whole lot of steps?

 

Am i right that once packet is approved she gets 2 year greencard by snail mail? no interview

 

is the interview just for 10 year greeencard?

 

Im just really confused. Like always.

[Guest Rob & Jin]

All you need is her passport with the Visa and I- 94 in it and the downloadable SS# application form from SSA

 

http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.html

[Randy W]

. . . And be sure and be armed with the SSA's own memo's about K-1's. Like Rob said, all you need (immigration-wise) is the I-94, which is stapled in her passport.

[dnoblett]

K-1 can get SSN within 75 days of entry, after that and they will need EAD or Green-Card to get the number.

 

:: For K1 Visa Holders ::

 

As a K-1 Visa Holder you are eligible to receive a SSN upon producing a valid I-94 (unexpired). Do

not wait until you only have a few weeks left until your I-94 expires to file for a SSN. Many SSA

offices will not allow you to file for a SSN if your I-94 is about to expire (generally 14 days prior

to the expiration on your I-94). On the other hand, you should also not file for a SSN too soon either.

You should wait 2 weeks after you arrived in the US before applying for a SSN. If you go too soon your

record of arrival will not be in the SAVE-ASVI system yet, and it will require manual verification from the

USCIS. As this will add weeks to the period it takes to process the SSN, it is advisable to attempt to wait the two weeks to be safe. If you have waited the 2 weeks and they tell you they can not verify you arrival record via the SAVE database, you may allow them to to process it (but remember the potential delay for manual verifications). You can ask if they will check the computer again for you in a few days or return personally to have them look again -- thus eliminating the manual verification. The manual verification will require the SSA office to file a G-845 with the USCIS.

 

To apply for a SSN you will need to go to your local SSA office and bring the documents below. These

documents are proof of your eligibility to file for a SSN:

1. The SS-5 form you downloaded and filled out (they have some at the office if you forget).
   
2. Your Passport (with the K-1 Visa in it)
   
3. Your valid I-94
   
4. Another form of valid ID (as defined in the SS-5 instructions)
   
5. You should also bring the document RM 00203.500 that you printed out.
   

http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.pdf

https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx...opendocument#c1

Make sure to bring all the documents above because some offices have staff that are not aware

that a K-1 Visa Holder is eligible to file for a SSN. A friendly reminder is a nice thing to have -- if not

you could be turned away incorrectly.

 

Once you have successfully applied for your SSN, the SSN card will come in the mail in about 2 weeks. You can check on the status of the SSN application and/or often get the SSN in advance by returning in person (try calling) to the SSA office. If you need your SSN before it arrives in the mail you may ask them for an SSA-7028, Notice to Third Party of Social Security Number Assignments, to be sent to your employer or other interested third party once a SSN has been assigned. Your card, when you receive it, will be marked with the words "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH INS AUTHORIZATION" indicating to an employer that you must also have an unexpired EAD to be eligible to work.

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

 

Bring foreign Birth Cert, and if married, bring marriage cert.

 

Note, many report being given a hard time if applying for SSN after marriage using married name.

 

One last note, it takes at least a week of so for USCIS to update database used by SSA to confirm immigrations status, so don't attempt to apply for SSN within the week after entry on K-1 visa.

[warpedbored]

If you want her to take your last name and put on the card wait until you get married then go. As Randy said some report getting some flack over the married name. We didn't have any trouble but another couple we know here in Portland who went to the same office did.

[LeeFisher3]

Take the notary birth record for proof of age.

 

Some offices will only accept seperate documents for each requirement and the passport is proof of legal status and can't be used for proof of age in those cases.

[amerchin]

Ditto to what was said above.

 

I had no problem at the Chinatown branch getting the SSN. Although it did take some time for them to check out the information at the back of the office.

 

Every SS Office is different and it also depends on who is at the window. The offices near Chinatown should be more informed or have more experience on this matter. The window clerks still have to go to the back of the office to a desk person for them to check on the info they have on the computer. To save a little time, once you get to the SS office look for the machine that will give you a waiting number. Then wait for your number to come up via the screen. The number will also be flashing at the window that will serving you.

 

It's also better to fill out the short form ahead of time. We brought her passport, marriage certificate (since she took my last name), Notarized and translated birth certificate. We were married 2 weeks after her arrival and went to the SS office the same week. I timed that so that she would have been rested and comfortable by then and that the SS office would have her listed in their computer. So enjoy yourselves first before running around doing this and that!

 

I hope the both of you have discussed which last name she prefers. Some Chinese women will want to keep their own name. In NY you have three choices: 1) Keep her name as is 2) take your name or 3) Her name-your name. They will not allow for her to take her last name as a middle name and yours for a last name. It will have to be together with "-" in between.

 

I suggest that you get married first and then go to the SS Office, banks, etc. unless you're rich or have a lot of time to take off from work. I would take as many days in a row and have it all done in one shot rather than to do everything twice and change her name. I hate standing or sitting around waiting to be served. Usually you would have wasted at least half a day in one office.

 

Fill out the forms for AOS and send it to Vermont. If you're lucky your forms will be sent to California and no interview is required. If not then they will send you an interview date. It is the 10 year GC that an interview is usually not required.

 

Once you receive her two year GC then go back to the SS Office to remove the restriction "Valid for work only with DHS Authorization". The next step is to bring the SS card (Original not copy), her passport, and GC to the DMV for a permit for a license or a state ID.

[Vkearney3]

Thanks everyone for the info, it really helped me a lot. So i guess i will get married first, I do hate standing in lines and twice would not be fun! . So thank you again and Im sure Ill be back with more fun questions about AOS.