Hello everyone,

For those that did the k3, pls I need ur help here. I have been in the U.S for a month now and me and my wife contacted the Lanlord to put me in the lease today and when U came I gave her my passport for her to verify that am here legally. She asked for my SSN which I don't have one yet as I can only apply for that until after I have my EAD first and those of U doing the K-3 process U know well what am talking about. Me and my wife was so surprised when she said that my living here with my wife without a social security is a violation of the law. We didn't asked her anymore as she refuse to put me on the lease.

I asked my wife why is it a violation of the law as we don't know what she means by this. I know so many people here are in the k-3 process as well so pls advise me on this.

I never heard of such a thing!

lekan, I think the answer to your question is in the lease that your wife signed with this landlord originally. It is a legal contract, and it depends on what agreement your wife has with the landlord as to whether you may live there, be on the lease or whatever.

I understand how you feel, it was not right of that woman to explain it to you like that. It's not against the law for you to not have a social security number, but it may be against the contract of your wife's lease.

Your wife should read her lease to find out what rules she agreed to.
You should not show your passport to uninformed people---there are very few people who would know that you are here legally by looking at your K-3 in your passport, and it is not the job of anyone but an Immigration Officer to check your immigration status.

Of course it's not against the law for you to not have a SSN yet. It's all part of the process.

Be informed that many US citizens do not have a full understanding of immigration law, so don't expect them to give you accurate information about it.

It's highly unusual for any landlord to allow a tenant to sign a lease if they do not yet have their SSN. In fact, I did not add my husband to my lease until it was time to renew (about 4 months after we got married, 5 months after his SSN was issued).

The only advice I can give you is to get your SSN as soon as possible, and then get added to your lease.

Thanks for ur response, my wife has been telling her landlord over 6 months before I arrive here that I will be coming so it is not a new thing to her. I will rather understand that she doesn't understand immigration law but why is it going to be problem living with my wife even if I don't have a social security yet to be added to the lease? she made it look like my living with my wife is illegal when actually my wife signed an affidavit to provide shelter and all that for me when I come here. We are husband and wife as we re legally married. I did not see anywhere in the lease that says ur husband must not live here with U. It just ask for the number of family and since I wasn't here then there was no way I can be added to the lease.

It take around 3 to 4 months to get an EAD and U can only apply for a SSN after U have the EAD. so what can I do here and this is out of my hands. The USCIS dictate the speed.

My husband is here on a K-3 as well and I was under the impression that you could get a ss without your EAD but it cant be used for employment purposes. I contacted to SS office and they informed me to bring in my hubbys I94 from his visa, along with his passport and NOA@ approval to office because he needs social fo his drivers liscence. i will let you know how it goes .I was also able to add my husband onto my lease at our old home even before he arrived and used it at his interview. It may also depend on your or in your case your wifes relationship with your landlord.

Don't worry about the landlord, she does not know what she is saying. It is not illegal for you to be here without a ss number. Maybe she thinks you came here illegally and thus do not qualify for a ss number. It sounds like she does not understand the process very well.
I agree with Felshen that you may be able to get a ss number for driving / work purposes.
Best Wishes

Sorry I can't edit. I meant for driving purposes, but not work.

Good Luck with that! That'd be the first K3 I ever heard of that was able to get a SSN w/o the EAD. Hope it works for you.

hmmm.. was gonna say so earlier. But then I thought about that thrid class of card that mdyoung mentioned. I think SSA killed that awhile ago though. The SS# is for employment tax reporting & SSA doesn't care that everyone and their brother is using the number for other purposes (so they don't care if your life is on hold until you're employment authorized).

felshen, I think you should save yourself a trip to SSA.

There's a list of valid non-work reasons to obtain a SSN. As far as I know, one has to fit into one of the scenarios. If I remember correctly, most of the exceptions were related to means tested gov't assistance of some sort which we all know the K3 is not eligible for to begin with. None of them care about drivers licenses and the like. In fact, these days states such as TN, KY and OH (those I know for sure) will issue DL or Driving Certificate to applicants w/o SSN if the applicant can bring a statement from the SSN that (s)he is not eligible for one. Thus, no K3 I know of has yet managed to obtain a SSN prior to being eligible to work.

But since many a SSA office has workers with their heads up their behinds, it may be worth a try. Why should there not be an office that errs in favor of the applicant? Odds are against, for sure, but it may still be worth a try.