HEY ,BLESS YOU ALL AL VJ'S SUB AFRICAN FORUM.
I AM SO PROUD OF YOU GUYS AND YOUR SUPPORT THROUGH OUT
THE FIRST PHASE OF MY K1 VISA PROCESS,THE LORD BLESS YOU ALL.

I ARRIVED U.S ON THE 9TH OF JUNE 2006, AND TODAY IS PRECISELY
A WEEK I GOT HERE.
WHEN CAN I APPLY FOR MY SSN NOT WEDED YET.
CAN I APPLY ON 17TH JUNE 2006?
PLEASE ANY SUGGESTION WIL BE APPRECIATED.
ALSO, DO I NEED TO GO TO ANY U.S MEDICAL DOCTOR,FOR
MY VACCINATION SUPPLEMENT OR DO I HAVE TO APPLY WITH THE FORM I WAS
ISSUED AT KAMOROSS FROM VI LAGOS.
THANK YOU FOR PROMPT CONTRIBUTION.

ANY ONE FROM TEXAS,CAN I APPLY FOR DRIVING LIECENSE WITH SSN OR EAD.

VALENTINE

You can't apply on June 17th, because Social Security offices are only open Monday through Friday, so Monday will be OK. Take your birth certificate, I-94 and passport to your local SSA office.

Naija babe here from Orlando, welcomeooooooooooo. KEDU? I just spoke with another Naija that came with K1, she said you have to get married first before you apply for the ss#.
Goodluck.

We are in the Austin area and he couldn't apply for the SS# until he had the AOS approval (our EAD was never processed before the AOS). As far as the Driver's License I'm not sure, but you can get a ID card as long as your VISA has not expired in your passport. Take your birth certificate, passport and go for it.

As far as the medical, you will need to have another medical done here. I can't remember the Form # off hand, but you willl most likely need more shots. We were told not to file for the AOS without the medical form which was completed in Texas.

Social Security How To Guide: Good idea, or a waste of bandwidth?



Blue tabs, top of the page.

No you don't have to be married. In fact you are less likely to have a problem applying in your maiden name.
You might want to look for the posting from yesterday that the SSA office told a woman that since she got married she is no longer a K-1, but now is a K-3, which is wrong, but they wouldn't take the SSN application none the less.

Congrats on your arrival and Welcome to the US. Check this out.

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


The Application Process:
:: For K1 Visa Holders ::As a K-1 Visa Holder you are eligible to receive a SSN upon producing a valid I-94 (unexpired). Donot 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 priorto 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 yourrecord of arrival will not be in the SAVE-ASVI system yet, and it will require manual verification from theUSCIS. 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
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.

Unofficial VJ SSN Guide

An individual with K-1 status applying for a work authorized SSN must present evidence to establish his or her age, identity and current lawful employment authorized status.

An individual needs to provide at least two documents as evidence to establish age, identity and current lawful employment authorized status.

We will not assign an SSN or issue a card to an individual that is within 14 days of his or her alien status expiring. Until the 76th day after entry an individual with K-1 status only needs to provide an unexpired I-94 showing current K-1 status to establish employment authorized status for SSN purposes.

Once, an individual with K-1 status has been in the United States 76 days he or she will need another document, i.e. I-551, I-688B or I-766 to establish employment authorized status for SSN purposes.

RM 00203.500 Employment Authorization for Nonimmigrants:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203500#C1

RM 00203.410 Evidence of Alien Status for an SSN Card for an Alien Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203410

Suggest that individuals apply for a corrected SSN card to update the SSN record when there has been a name change due to marriage.

The applicant may submit either:

-- One legal name change document showing both the old and new names
(e.g., a court order for a name change or a marriage document). The
document must also show either (1) a description or photograph of
the person or (2) biographical information that can be compared with
the Numident data; or

-- When the name change document does not show either a photograph of
the person or biographical information that can be compared with the
Numident data, then, in addition to the name change document, the
applicant must also submit two acceptable identity documents. One
of the submitted identity documents must show the old name (the name
on the latest Numident record) AND the other submitted identity
document must show the new name (the name to be shown on the
corrected SSN card). The identity documents submitted must show
either a photograph of the applicant or provide biographical
information that can be compared with the Numident data.

In all 50 U.S. States (this means the 50 States, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa) the bride may take her husband's last name (surname or family name) as her new last name.

EXAMPLE: Jane Doe married John Jones and she may change her name to Jane Jones.

Interim Guidance: If the bride wants to take her husband’s last name, accept the marriage document as a legal name change for the bride if the new name can be derived from the marriage document; even if the marriage document only shows each partner’s first names, the bride’s prior surname and husband’s surname.

Note: For a marriage document or marriage record to be acceptable as an identity document it must show, in addition to the applicant’s name, either the applicant’s age, date of birth or parents’ names and the marriage document alone can be accepted as evidence of identity for both the old and new names when it meets this standard.

When issuing immigration documents, the Department of State and DHS issue them in the person’s legal name. The legal name is also generally the name in which the foreign passport was issued.

When an alien applies for an SSN card, SSA presumes the name on the immigration document is the legal name unless the applicant presents evidence of a legal name change (e.g., marriage) that occurred after the immigration document was issued.

This is in addition to proof of current lawful employment authorized status.

You can find detailed information regarding changing SSN record (Numident) data on the SSA Website at:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203210

When requesting an SSN card, the documents presented, as evidence must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. SSA will not accept uncertified or notarized photocopies as evidence.

“If the applicant has no immediate need for the SSN and the translation can be done promptly or the foreign language document is the only evidence available; have the document translated by an authorized translator and use the document as evidence.”

“If the applicant has a pressing need for an SSN, and evidence other than the foreign language document is available; request other evidence and process the application without the foreign language document.”

RM 00203.040 Reviewing SSN Evidence:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203040#B3

GN 00301.340 Authorized Translators Defined:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0200301340

If a foreign-born person has the foreign birth certificate (BC) in his/her possession or can easily obtain a copy, he or she must submit it as proof of age. When a person is foreign-born, a BC may not exist, may not have been recorded shortly after birth, or the probative value of the document may not be high. In these situations, SSA can accept alternative evidence of age in order of probative value. The alternative evidence of age may be less than a year old, e.g., a DHS document or passport.

You can find detailed information regarding evidence that establishes age on the SSA Website at:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203110

The documents acceptable as evidence of identity are now based on three factors: (1) the applicant’s age, (2) the applicant’s citizenship/alien status, and (3) the relative probative value of documents.

Any document used to establish identity must meet the following criteria:

-- The document provides information the reviewer can compare with the
data on the form SS-5 (e.g., the person's name, as well as age, date
of birth, or parents' names) and/or
-- The document provides information the reviewer can compare with the
applicant (e.g., physical description, photograph).

NOTE: A non-picture identity document should have the person's name as well as information that can be compared to the SSN record, the applicant or other documents submitted (e.g., age, date of birth, or parents' names).

However, the acceptability of an identity document must be evaluated on a case by case basis by the office processing the application, taking into consideration the applicant's situation and exploring what evidence is available for the person.

You can find detailed information regarding evidence that
establishes identity on the SSA Website at:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203200#E6

SSA will not accept an application filing receipt or notice of action as proof of current lawful employment authorized status.

Form SS-5, “Application for a Social Security Card,” is the appropriate form to request an original SSN and card or corrected card.

You can request Form SS-5 by calling our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 or it can be accessed on the SSA Website at:

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

Complete the Form SS-5 and take it along with the required documents, to the nearest Social Security office. Individuals age 12 or older applying for an original SSN and card must apply in person at one of our offices.

You can obtain the address and directions to the nearest Social Security office from the Social Security Office Locator, which is available on the Internet at:

http://www.ssa.gov/locator

Normally, an SSN card should be received in the mail within two weeks after the application and document(s) have been received and verified.

When an alien requests an SSN or replacement/corrected SSN card, SSA will verify his or her documents and current status with the appropriate Bureau of the Department of Homeland Security. If verification is not available through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system, SSA will send Form G-845 for manual verification.

RM 00203.720 Verifying Immigration Documents:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203720

If the SSA office does send the G-845, suggest that you go back to the SSA office no more that once week with your documents to (1) ask them to check SAVE again (2) ask if they sent a G-845 (3) if yes, did it come back (4) after 30 days ask if they have followed up on the G-845 by calling or sending another mark “second request.”

Note: If the applicant has changed his/her name after an immigration document, i.e. I-94, was issued, e.g., married and is now using the married name, but has not obtained a corrected immigration document showing the new name; this is not a name discrepancy for enumeration purposes, i.e. SAVE clearance, if the applicant can provide an acceptable legal name change document to establish the new name.

The 14 day status expiration limit for assigning an SSN and/or issuing a card applies even if an individual submitted his or her application before being within the 14 day period and entered the 14 day period while waiting for his or her status to be verified.

All cards are mailed from Social Security Headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland to the postal address provided on the Form SS-5.

You may find additional SSN and employment information on the Internal Revenue Service Website at:

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/intern...=129227,00.html

If not eligible to be assigned an SSN, your local Social Security office can provide written notice using Form SSA-L676 to explain that an SSN cannot be assigned due to your not having provided authorization to work in the U.S. or evidence of a valid nonwork reason for needing an SSN.

The following are valid nonwork reasons:

-- Receive Social Security benefits
-- Receive Medicaid
-- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
-- Food Stamps
-- State/Local General Assistance Benefits

The IRS assigns individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITIN) to aliens for tax purposes who are not eligible to be assigned an SSN. A Form W-7, “Application for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number,” needs to be submitted to receive an ITIN.

You can download a form W-7 from the IRS Website at:

http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/index.html

You may also contact the IRS ITIN office by calling 1-215-516-4846.

You can find additional information on the IRS Website at:

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96287,00.html