Social security as we all know enable you to pay tax, work and get the social security benefits. It’s also an identity number that is assigned only to you. Without this number life could be miserable in the US. You can’t open a bank account, build credit, go to school, get driver’s license etc. It simply means your stay in the US is not recognized. One of the benefits of life here in the US is to apply for social security number as soon as possible, if you have all the required documents.

Applying for SSN with K1/K3 visa is always a challenge but here are some ways you can get your SSN quickly:


You can apply for social security as soon as you arrive the US but that's only when you are issued temporary work authorization on your I-94 at point of entry into the US. With this I-94 then you can apply for social security number at any social security administration office close to you and you will receive the SSN in two weeks from the day you apply. But if you were not issued a work authorization on your I-94, then you cannot apply for your SSN until your application for employment authorization (I-765) is approved. Then you will present this card at the social security administration office for your SSN before you can then search for jobs and begin some necessary things of life.

For me, I had the SSN because I asked for the work authorization on my I-94 at the point of entry and then I applied for the social security number but for some reasons my name was typed wrongly on the immigration entry database which didn't correspondent with the information I gave the social security office. For that reason my SSN was delayed for about 8weeks. Eventually, when I got the SSN, the work authorization on my I-94 had less than 2weeks to expire but then I still did some job hunt, got some interviews but could not clinch any job because I had less than 2weeks work permit on the I-94. But now, I'm patiently waiting for the work authorization card before I can continue the job hunt again. The most painful moment was when I went to the department of motor vehicle (DMV) to apply for driver's license, though I had all the required documents on the 6point count, I was denied registering for the test after spending time to read the driver manual. I was told that I had less than 2weeks to the expiration of the work permit on the I-94 even with my marriage license and my SSN evidencing my legal continuous stay in the US. They told me that until my stay is legal in the United State with evidence of temporary Green Card, I won't be able to apply for driver's license. Funny enough, with my experience of job hunt, employers will first ask you for a driver's license before any other documentation showing your legal status.

I'm thinking even with the employment authorization (I-765) card, one might not be able to clinch on some jobs due to lack of driver's license and inability to drive to work. So I resolved to get my country driver's license and an International license. This has enabled me drive around the city and also prepares me for the working task ahead.


Please post your thoughts.....

Which POE stamped your I-94?
From what I've seen only JFK does so?
OOPs I see now it was JFK.
Strange they are the only one that does so!!!

Not true.

K1 is work authorized so you do not need the temp EAD to get the SSN.

For K1s trying to get SSN without the temp EAD, take THIS DOCUMENT with you to the SSA office and direct them to Section C. It outlines that K1 is work authorized and does not need EAD to get the SSN.

My husband had the temp EAD, but I never thought you had to have that to get SSN number or DL. My husband did get a SSN card and DL right away after moving here, with absolutely no problems. I did not go with him when he applied for either of them, so I can not say if he got them so easily because of the temp EAD.

I came in on a K1 without a temp EAD and had zero problems getting an SSN. I didn't need to show any more documentation then my passport (visa) and my marriage license.

Sorry you had such a hard time! Hopefully the rest of the process will be a bit easier on you!

You are correct but that's only when your I-94 is stamped with "employment authorized" at the point of entry else a social security number will not be issued. If on this case, with proper documents for a K1 visa and a social security number is issued then it will indicate "not valid for employment". Although I'm not 100% sure.

Once again....not true.

The document I linked to explicitly states that a K-1 does not need work authorization to get an SSN. Did you read it??? Under Section C it states:

The K-1 is number 26 on that list.

There are a lot of VJers who are successful in getting an SSN without the work authorization stamp.

If you get the SSN before getting your greencard it will say "Valid for work only with DHS Authorization". Once you get the greencard you can go back to the SSA and you will get an unrestricted SSN.

Please read the document I provided before posting any more misleading information.

OP, ZeeNuash is correct. Being able to OBTAIN a SSN, has nothing to do with work authorization status. Think of the men/women who come and decide not to work outside the home. Housewives and hubbies do have SSNs.

However, without a green card, the SScard will say something similar to "not work authorized without DHS approval", which means for employment you must show SScard and work authorization. My hubby applied for his SSN after about a week since entering the US, without any problems. Of course he had the DHS approval note on his card. When his Green card arrived we went to SS office and updated his records. A week later he had a regular SSN card, like I have. Note: he did get a temp EAD, but there was no point in going to update his records, the card would still have the DHS message. Its important to update records once your spouse has a green card because, a LPR is entitled to benefits that a legal alien is not. Similarly, once your spouse gets US citizenship, they should also update their status with SS office.

Hey ZeeNusah you are right. I didn't find time to read the link you posted. But my write-up were not information nonetheless misleading. They were just my parochial thoughts and I expected to read other VJ members opinion to learn more about the K1 processes. I guess you didn't take it personal, we are all learning, I presumed!!

No I did not take it personal.

But you need to be careful about what you ut up as truth and as your own thought. The way you worded it made it sound like you were speaking on some kind of evidence/authority.

A lot of people use this site as a source of information. We need to make sure that we are spreading correct information.

If it is a thought, you need to make that clear.

Same with us. My husband came on a K-1 through Washington D.C. and never got the temporary EAD stamp. We had absolutely no problems in getting his SSN. His SSN card has "Not valid for work with DHS" or something to that effect. We only had to show our marriage license, his passport with the visa and I-94. Two weeks later, the card arrived in the mail.

This seems to have been resolved already, but I just wanted to also add that this topic was started as very misleading. It didn't come across as just a "thought" and I thought that somehow the rules might have changed. As stated, some people rely heavily on the information found on VJ and it's best to make sure your statement is a fact before posting it.

My husband also had no problem getting his DL and SS Card. He received the SSN without a green card, so the SScard said: "not work authorized without DHS approval", which means for employment you must show SScard and work authorization. My husband applied for his SSN after about a week since entering the US, without any problems.

He obtained temporary employment at UPS and is now permanently employed by them.

When he receives his Green Card, he will go immediately and obtain the unrestricted SS card.

OP, your taking the time to post your thoughts, views, and experience was highly appreciated. Although some of your information was not correct and you worded it as though you were posting a "point of fact" and not an "opinion", it was still appreciated by some of us, I'm sure.

For many of us, this journey is a learning process of trial and error. You are not the first, nor the last person who posted misleading and incorrect information.

You may also find comfort and gain knowledge by visiting some of the other forums such as the K1 forum. Some forums are more neutral, while still offering the same, if not more, helpful information than others. While some seem to have more "Chiefs than Indians" (so to speak), who try their very best to take on an air of superiority, just to gain more "stars, hearts and squares" under their forum ID names. OP, your taking the time to post your thoughts, views, and experience was highly appreciated. Although some of your information was not correct and you worded it as though you were posting a "point of fact" and not an "opinion", it was still appreciated by some of us, I'm sure.

For many of this, this journey is a learning process of trial and error. You are not the first, nor the last person who posted misleading and incorrect information.

You may also find comfort and gain knowledge by visiting some of the other forums such as the K1 forum. Some forums are more neutral, while still offering the same, if not more, helpful information than others. While some seem to have more "Chiefs than Indians" who try their very best to take on an air of superiority, just to gain more "stars and hearts" under their forum ID names.

I have found that the overall feeling of each forum is completely different. Some actual feel like "family", while others seem to consist of "clicks" who are ready to jump-on and chastise posters who may make mistakes or post views that are not shared by the "massess."

Again, thank you for taking the time to post your information. Although filled with incorrect points, you later learned what was indeed "correct" and humbly stated such. Isn't that what this type of forum is all about in the first place?

I have learned quite a lot of information during the months I have been a member here, and appreciate having such a place to come to while I go through this process, but I rarely post unless it is to congratulate someone, primarilty because of this very reason. But that is just me. To each his/her own.

I hope you now have complete knowledge about the topic you posted about, and thanks again for your contribution.

I have found that the overall feeling of each forum is completely different. Some actually feel like a welcoming and helpful "family" atmosphere, while others seem to consist of "queen bees" "kings" and "clicks" who are ready to boast, jump-on and/or chastise posters who may make mistakes or post views that are not shared by the "massess." We are all human and make mistakes.

Again, thank you for taking the time to post your information. Although filled with incorrect points, you later learned what was indeed correct. Isn't that what this type of forum is all about in the first place?

I hope you now have complete knowledge about the topic you posted about, and thanks again for your contribution.

Sorry about the duplicated paragraphs....Case in point - We all make mistakes

Stevi, who "chastised" her and what "masses" are you talking about? Personally, I did appreciate the fact that she posted her thought. There is nothing wrong with that, but in doing so, her thought came across as an incorrect fact. She later cleared everything up by saying it was a thought and that it might not be 100% correct.

The only thing people did were to come and share their stories (which went against her original "thought") and correct the OP. It happens all of the time...someone starts a thread and the rest of the posters share their experiences. That's not being authoritative. Also, if information is incorrect are we all supposed to sit around and let it remain uncorrected? It's a fact that there are tons of people who don't take the time to thoroughly research their visa process and they believe every word they see on VJ. The visa process is a very big deal and everyone is trying their best to avoid delays. It's in the best interest of everyone to have correct information and true experiences to back it up. I think you saw this thread as being more than what it really was.

Also, I have seen you make mention of cliques before in other posts. While some people may talk together more often than others, everyone has always been free to "get in where they fit in" and post freely. Some people prefer to lurk while others are quite chatty. It's up to the individual person to make the most of their VJ experience.

OP, your thoughts were appreciated.

Thanks for your opinion. God Bless You

God Bless you, too.

Stevi, I read the thread again and I am not sure who is chastising, or cliques or anything like that in this thread.

I must say that I feel that your post is directed at me because I am the one who corrected the OP not once but twice and I am the one who has the most "stars and hearts" under my ID. And others came in to say that what I was saying was right so I assume that you think that is the clique. I don't see any airs of superiority here either. Just because I corrected the OP does not mean I think I am better than the OP (the OP knows me better than that). We are all here learning the process and if I know that I have information that is correct then I am not just going to sit back and let wrong infromation float on the boards.

That would be irresponsible of me.

VJ is a place for people to get information. This process is hellish enough without following wrong information. It may be hard to believe that I spend more time reading than posting but I do. I have never posted information that I could not back up and I am more than willing to admit when I am wrong. This is a community of people where we are supposed to learn from people. If we were to be as irresponsible as to leave wrong information on these boards for fear of being called 'cliques' then what service are we doing for one another? In my opinion every thread is a learning experience, be it learning what is correct and what is not. But we need to make sure that we make it clear when a mistake is made.

I am sorry you feel like there are cliques here but the truth is that there are not many people who read this forum. Maybe that is why those of us who post here everyday feel closer than those who are not here everyday. I spend 70% of my time on VJ in this forum because I know that if someone posts a question, it takes some time to get a response. For a lot of new posts in this forum I am one of the first to reply because I do not want the OPs to feel like they are being ignored or that no one has the answer. Even if it is just "Sorry, I don't know the answer to your question" I will reply. There is no traffic in here and I feel like someone needs to let others know that there is someone here reading and wanting to help them. Maybe I have too much time on my hands.

I do what I can to the best of my abilities.

OP, sorry this is so long. You know me well enough to know that I was only correcting you and that there was no malice or disrespect there.

*sniff* That made me all warm and fuzzy inside...kinda like an Obama speech, LOL! I *heart* Zee!

Like I always say, I aim to please

But sometimes I just can't keep my trap shut

Thanks for your opinion. God Bless You

Zee is right. That is not true. My husband got his SSN before we even submitted his work authorization application or his adjustment of status. He applied for his SSN shortly after arriving in the US.

This is very true. When I first joined VJ, everyone was more than helpful to me. As a matter of fact a few of the people who have posted on this very thread took time out to send me PM's when I had questions or just to check up on me when they had not seen me log in in a while. It is natural to form bonds with people who you tend to talk to or see often online.

If one feels as if he/she is not a part of a "clique" (which by the way is non existent) its because he/she chooses not to engage or get involved.

Please don't start anything and there will not be anything. We all have managed to maintain some sort of civility and some friendships. Once again, NEGATIVITY HAS NO PLACE HERE!

So lets all take it easy, be easy...and enjoy what VJ has to offer

I don't promote negativity at all. That was my point exactly. And I have never been one to "start" anything on a cyber forum. God Bless...

K1 is employment authorized.....but only for 90days, then it expires. That is why you apply for the AOS and employment authorization at the same time.

adding on to a previous post!

I really think that we all need to be easy. If we all worked for USCIS, then I can see why a point of correction would be a big deal. This is "Missy" and my husband posted the original message. We are all learning together. VJ is not the immigration bible, and yes, there will be and are inaccurate information posted. All we can do here is share and compare each other's experiences with our own. If a post is posted and there is a difference of opinions and/or ideas, let's have that discussion positively.

Thank you for your contribution. I agree with what you have said. No one is without fault. I know I am not

This question has probably already came up but, is it true that my fiance can apply for a SSN before he even get here? Is that possible.

Nope. He has to wait until about 2 weeks after he enters the US and then he can apply.

Ok, my fiance told me that, on his visa papers it said he could apply for a SSN before he came. I really thought that was weird anyway. Also, can he get a job before issuance of SSN. He is so adamant about having a job once he come.

He misunderstood what he read, ask him what "visa papers ".
As Zee said, 2 weeks after entry he can apply for SSN. If you do it too early he will not be in the system yet which can cause a whole other set of problems.

Yeah, I was thinking he read into that wrong too. It was actually the visa approval papers he read from.