i have been trying to get my husband added to my bank account, checking account and utility bills and I keep being told that I cant cuz he not have a SSN yet or TIN#( i hope that abbreviation is right). What if we have our AOS interview before he gets this TIN#? Immigration wants this supporting evidence but how can I get him added to my accounts when he does not have his TIN#?

72maureen,

Some banks (Bank of America for example) don't require a SS# (at least in Texas) to be added - utilities and some/many leasing companies (apartments etc) can be troublesome because they run credit checks (which usually requires a SS#).

Am not 100% sure about the K3 - as far as applying for a SS card - but for the K1, we can do this shortly after entering the country and it only takes 2-4 weeks to get.

Not sure if this is more personal experience than advise.. =)

A TIN# (Taxpayer Identification Number) is a social security number. He should already be able to get SS# if he is here. You cna contact Social Security to find the nearest office.

http://www.ssa.gov/



http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/intern...d=96696,00.html

Taxpayer Identification Numbers

* Social Security Number "SSN"
* Employer Identification Number "EIN"
* Individual Taxpayer Identification Number "ITIN"
* Taxpayer Identification Number for Pending U.S. Adoptions "ATIN"
* Preparer Taxpayer Identification Number "PTIN"

I appreciate the advice, k3 cant apply for SSN (we tried) only k1. I feel like we are stuck in a hole and cannot accomplish anything. I think I will try to open an account at Bank of America. I just want something that has both our names on it.

Thanks again Karen and Otto, at least there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

There are many banks who will allow you to be added to an account without a SSN..... I was able to be added to my husbands account and also open a savings account before I had a SSN.... also my husband was able to add me as an additional credit card user without my SSN...

When we had our AOS interview I was not on any of the utility bills and it was not a problem.. we did have me added to his 401k as a beneficiary and also added to his life insurance as a beneficiary...

Kez

I am sorry, But, This statement is not true. My wife is here on a K3 visa, we filed for her and sons ss# soon after they got here. Both had their ss# within 2 weeks of filing. My son needed his for school, my wife needed hers so she could file for her EAD and Drivers license. My wife has been on our Bank account almost from the start, in fact, my wife is still waiting for her greencard and she has her own Credit Card, Drivers License and bank Account.
You have to be persistent and if 1 place denies you then go somewhere else. Information is everywhere.

Patrick

A Tax ID is NOT the same thing as the SSN (although similar). My friend is married to an illegal immigrant so he cannot get an SSN, but he does have the tax ID.
My husband was lucky enough to get his SSN, but I think that maybe Wachovia will allow you to open an account w/ a passport.
I was not able to add my husband to my lease until he had the SSN, but he was added to our water bill with no question of an SSN.

i called my local social security office and was told that my husband cannot apply for SSN until he gets his EAD papers. I guess maybe i will go to another social security office and try.

thank you all for your comments on this.

Bank of America gave me a credit card just using my TIN, when I didn't have a SSN. Also verizon allowed me to open an account for phone/internet, using my passport and b/c as identification (I didn't have ITIN yet).

Keep trying to get these things in both names. There are many non USC in the US who don't have a SSN and manage to accomplish a lot of these things.

You could also go to Blockbuster and get cards in both names.

As far as I know, K-3 people aren't eligible for a SSN until they have an EAD/Green Card. The person who was given one, might have just been lucky.