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My fiancee's here! But I don't know what to do next

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: China
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Yes, I know there are guides and flowcharts and the like, but I feel like things all get fuzzy after the Point of Entry.

My fiancee arrived two weeks ago. After living apart for a year and a half, it's been a big adjustment to be together again. And that's on top of the huge adjustment she's making to being in a new country.

We're looking into getting her a SSN, since that's the next item listed on the K-1 flowchart... but not sure if we have everything we need. According to the Social Security Administration they need two documents proving: 1)identification, 2) right to work, and 3) age. It goes on to say that only original documents are accepted and not photo copies.

Now, since she's here on a K-1 visa, she technically doesn't have the right to work yet, so how do we even provide that kind of info? Also, she doesn't have her birth certificate with her, so will her passport/visa and Chinese ID be enough?

Can any of you share your experience getting an SSN for a Chinese national?

2013.1.7- I-129f mailed to Texas Lockbox (with correct fee this time--> Delivered 2013.1.8 (priority date)

2013.5.29- RFE mailed--> 2013.6.3 RFE arrives --> 2013.7.3 Forms mailed back to CIS via DHL--> 2013.7.5 CSC confirms receipt of evidence

2013.7.26- I129f approved! --> 2013.8.16- NVC confirms receipt of petition

2013.8.30- P3 arrives at fiancee's home --> 2013.9.8 P3 documents mailed to GUZ

2013.9.20- P4 email arrives

2013.10.25- Medical exam; 2013.10.28- Interview--> APPROVED!

2014.2.20- POE!; 2014.2.21- reunited in my hometown :)

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline

Yes, I know there are guides and flowcharts and the like, but I feel like things all get fuzzy after the Point of Entry.

My fiancee arrived two weeks ago. After living apart for a year and a half, it's been a big adjustment to be together again. And that's on top of the huge adjustment she's making to being in a new country.

We're looking into getting her a SSN, since that's the next item listed on the K-1 flowchart... but not sure if we have everything we need. According to the Social Security Administration they need two documents proving: 1)identification, 2) right to work, and 3) age. It goes on to say that only original documents are accepted and not photo copies.

Now, since she's here on a K-1 visa, she technically doesn't have the right to work yet, so how do we even provide that kind of info? Also, she doesn't have her birth certificate with her, so will her passport/visa and Chinese ID be enough?

Can any of you share your experience getting an SSN for a Chinese national?

Um... did you two marry already, because that is the next step, before anything else can be done

Or K-1 Visa Journey:


- November 9th, 2013 : Sent I-129f package (FedEx)


- November 15th, 2013: Check was Cashed


- November 15th, 2013: NOA1 e-mail notification (TSC) smile.png


- November 21st, 2013: NOA1 Hard Copy arrived. (Official Notification Date - Nov 14th)


- November 21st, 2013: Alien Registration Number Changed


- February 7th, 2014: NOA2 received by text & email!! (85 days from NOA1 to NOA2) dancin5hr.gif heart.gif


- February 13th, 2014 (14th in Philippines...Happy Valentine's Day Surprise Babe!!rose.gif heart.gif ): I-129F shipped to Dept. of State to receive visa #


- February 14th, 2014: NOA2 hardcopy received.... Happy Valentine's Day!


- February 21st, 2014: NVC assigns visa number. Can now schedule online, interview for fiance at US Embassy


- February 24th, 2014: Now have interview date!! (May 5, 2014 @ 7:30 am)


- February 25th, 2014 (26th in Philippines): Fiance finished medical exam & vaccinations (all in one early & long day) @ St. Luke's & passed


- February 25th, 2014 (26th in Philippines): US Embassy - Manila (USEM) receives our case & is READY for interview


- February 26th, 2014 (26th in Philippines): Able to reschedule for a March 12th interview date! Whoo Hoo!!


- March 12th, 2014 (11th in US): Fiance interviews @ US Embassy....... APPROVED!!! YEA BABE!!idea9dv.gif dancin5hr.gif biggrin.png kicking.gif

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: China
Timeline

Um... did you two marry already, because that is the next step, before anything else can be done

We're planning on getting married next month, but want to work on other things if we can.

According to the K-1 flowchart, you can get an SSN even before getting married, and if she changes her name after the marriage we would have to apply to have it changed on the SSN.

2013.1.7- I-129f mailed to Texas Lockbox (with correct fee this time--> Delivered 2013.1.8 (priority date)

2013.5.29- RFE mailed--> 2013.6.3 RFE arrives --> 2013.7.3 Forms mailed back to CIS via DHL--> 2013.7.5 CSC confirms receipt of evidence

2013.7.26- I129f approved! --> 2013.8.16- NVC confirms receipt of petition

2013.8.30- P3 arrives at fiancee's home --> 2013.9.8 P3 documents mailed to GUZ

2013.9.20- P4 email arrives

2013.10.25- Medical exam; 2013.10.28- Interview--> APPROVED!

2014.2.20- POE!; 2014.2.21- reunited in my hometown :)

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Country: Vietnam
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You can get the SS card right away. The main source document can be her passport.

We're planning on getting married next month, but want to work on other things if we can.

According to the K-1 flowchart, you can get an SSN even before getting married, and if she changes her name after the marriage we would have to apply to have it changed on the SSN.

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: China
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Hey - check out my SSN-Howto over at

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/405546-ssn-howto/

there's a K-1 visa-holder section there. Basically, print that I-94 , bring it and the passport in 3 weeks after POE date (used to be 2, now it's 3)

Sometimes my language usage seems confusing - please feel free to 'read it twice', just in case !
Ya know, you can find the answer to your question with the advanced search tool, when using a PC? Ditch the handphone, come back later on a PC, and try again.

-=-=-=-=-=R E A D ! ! !=-=-=-=-=-

Whoa Nelly ! Want NVC Info? see http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/NVC_Process

Congratulations on your approval ! We All Applaud your accomplishment with Most Wonderful Kissies !

 

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline

Yeah, you don't need to get married before applying for your SSN. Actually, in some states it's required that you have your SSN to apply for a marriage license!

I got my SSN first, since some offices are ill-informed and will try to tell you that you are no longer under "K1 status" once you get married, and that you have to wait to adjust status to apply for a SSN. Apparently it's been a real nightmare for some.

But yeah, they issued me one and they printed text on the card saying "Valid for work only with DHS authorization", meaning we need to apply to adjust our status and either wait for our green card or a EAD till we can use the SSN for work.

I just followed this guide closely and it worked out for me! http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

Good luck!

K-1 Visa

01/26/13 -- I-129F Sent
02/05/13 -- I-129F NOA1
08/28/13 -- I-129F NOA2 (204 days from NOA1 date)
01/21/14 -- Montreal Interview (350 days from NOA1 date)
01/27/14 -- K-1 Visa Received
02/01/14 -- POE at Canada-USA Border Peace Bridge (Buffalo, NY)
02/24/14 -- Private Courthouse Marriage
02/26/14 -- Private 2 Week Honeymoon
04/13/14 -- Wedding with Friends/Family


AOS

04/08/14 -- Filed for AOS/EAD/AP
04/11/14 -- NOA
05/12/14 -- Biometrics Appointment

07/02/14 -- EAD/AP Card Received (84 days from NOA date)
07/10/14 -- NPIW Letter
02/24/15 -- Service Request Filed
03/05/15 -- Filed for EAD/AP Renewal

03/10/15 -- Received email acceptance notification for EAD/AP Renewal
03/20/15 -- Filed for Ombudsman Case Assistance (DHS-7001)
04/03/15 -- Biometrics Appointment (Round 2)
04/08/15 -- RFE (Expired Medical)

04/21/15 -- Medical Appointment (Round 2)
04/24/15 -- RFE Response Sent
04/30/15 -- GC Approved (Card In Production)
05/08/15 -- GC & Welcome Notice Received

Hasta la vista, USCIS B-)

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Hi you said that she has not got her birth certificate, well you will need to see about getting it sent to you as it will be needed when you do your AOS, because the USCIS will require a photocopy & a copy of translation of the birth certificate sent with your AOS application.

Edited by blk

AOS

Feb 3rd 2014 sent AOS pack I-130, I-485, 
Feb 17th 2014 Received NOA1 x 3 NOA1 date 5th Feb 2014
Feb 22nd 2014 Received biometrics appointment for 7th March 2014 at 3pm
Feb 27th 2014 Did early walk in for Biometrics successfully
March 17th 2014 Received text & email with interview date on 22nd April 2014

March 18th 2014 Received interview letter in post with time & place, 2.15pm at Mt Laurel NJ
April 16th 2014 Received EAD card
April 22nd 2014 Had AOS interview at Mt Laurel NJ APPROVED
April 22nd 2014 Text & email Case Status: Card / Document Production
April 26th 2014 Received my Green Card today
Total time from Application to Approval 11 Weeks & 1 Day
ROC
Feb 9th 2016 I-751 package sent to Vermont Service Center
Feb 11th 2016 I-751 package received at VSC
Feb 17th 2016 Cheque for $590 cashed

Feb 19th 2016 Received I-797 NOA Dated 02/12/2016

March 8th 2016 Biometrics Appointment at 10am. (Done)

April 14th 2017  I-551 stamp in passport 

April 27th 2017 Received text & email Card/Document Production

May 3rd 2017 Received 10 year Green Card today   

N-400

March 7th 2017 N-400 sent to Dallas TX 

March 10th N-400 Application received

March 15th Cheque for $725 cashed

March 20th received NOA1 dated March 15th

March 24th received biometrics appointment for 04/05/17

March 28th did early walk in for biometrics 

October 10th received Citizenship Interview letter

November 13th Citizenship Interview at 10 am Mount Laurel NJ passed my interview.

November 13th Oath ceremony 3pm now a citizen

November 14th applied for my passport 

November 25th Received my passport 

November 27th Received my naturalization certificate back

November 28th Updated my social security records 

 

 

 

 

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Greece
Timeline

I applied for my SSN on Friday, March the 7th, after entering the country on the 20th of February. They need at least 2 weeks to update their computer system with your data.

I brought the SSN application, my passport and my I-94 form and that was it.

The lady that did the whole thing was very efficient and knew her job, so, we didn't have any problems, but (to be on the safe side) we had printed out and brought with us all the info indicating that I can apply for an SSN BEFORE the wedding actually takes place.

As for the name change, this is what we're going to do, too. Go back and change it on the card after the wedding.

greek_american_flag100.gif

Vda4m4.png

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
Timeline

Hey - check out my SSN-Howto over at

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/405546-ssn-howto/

there's a K-1 visa-holder section there. Basically, print that I-94 , bring it and the passport in 3 weeks after POE date (used to be 2, now it's 3)

Best advice! :thumbs:

Completed: K1/K2 (271 days) - AOS/EAD/AP (134 days) - ROC (279 days)

"Si vis amari, ama" - Seneca

 

 

 

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: China
Timeline

You've already received good advice about her SSN and EAD card. But after my wife received those, we were faced with another problem - she needed a resume. Something to tell potential employers what she can do, how she can help their company. She is taking ESL classes (just finished ESL 7), to bring her up to speed on speaking and understanding English. We're sending out job applications, no nibbles yet, but we are confident that it's only a matter of time.

I also signed her up for an online course in Microsoft Office Suite, to make her more employable when she does get an interview. Since you are in a holding pattern, there are things you can do now to make the process easier when she gets her work authorization. Any training you can get her will help.

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  • 2 weeks later...
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: China
Timeline

Sorry for the slow reply. Thanks for all the good info, everyone.

We applied for her SSN on 3/14 and got it in the mail by 3/20. The process went very fast, and we were only in the SSA building for about 15 minutes.

Yeah, you don't need to get married before applying for your SSN. Actually, in some states it's required that you have your SSN to apply for a marriage license!

I got my SSN first, since some offices are ill-informed and will try to tell you that you are no longer under "K1 status" once you get married, and that you have to wait to adjust status to apply for a SSN. Apparently it's been a real nightmare for some.

But yeah, they issued me one and they printed text on the card saying "Valid for work only with DHS authorization", meaning we need to apply to adjust our status and either wait for our green card or a EAD till we can use the SSN for work.

I just followed this guide closely and it worked out for me! http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

Good luck!

Yeah, her card says that. Does she need to get a new card once she has a different status, or just keep this one and present it along with other documents?

You've already received good advice about her SSN and EAD card. But after my wife received those, we were faced with another problem - she needed a resume. Something to tell potential employers what she can do, how she can help their company. She is taking ESL classes (just finished ESL 7), to bring her up to speed on speaking and understanding English. We're sending out job applications, no nibbles yet, but we are confident that it's only a matter of time.

I also signed her up for an online course in Microsoft Office Suite, to make her more employable when she does get an interview. Since you are in a holding pattern, there are things you can do now to make the process easier when she gets her work authorization. Any training you can get her will help.

Finding work is starting to be a big worry for me, because I don't think there's much good work in this area, let alone work for a non-native English speaker. Her English is pretty amazing, especially considering she'd never been out of China before last month... but that doesn't do much good in a crappy job market.

2013.1.7- I-129f mailed to Texas Lockbox (with correct fee this time--> Delivered 2013.1.8 (priority date)

2013.5.29- RFE mailed--> 2013.6.3 RFE arrives --> 2013.7.3 Forms mailed back to CIS via DHL--> 2013.7.5 CSC confirms receipt of evidence

2013.7.26- I129f approved! --> 2013.8.16- NVC confirms receipt of petition

2013.8.30- P3 arrives at fiancee's home --> 2013.9.8 P3 documents mailed to GUZ

2013.9.20- P4 email arrives

2013.10.25- Medical exam; 2013.10.28- Interview--> APPROVED!

2014.2.20- POE!; 2014.2.21- reunited in my hometown :)

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline

Yeah, her card says that. Does she need to get a new card once she has a different status, or just keep this one and present it along with other documents?

I think for now you just use her current SSN with supporting documents, and then after she's adjusted her status/has her green card she can go back to the SSN office and update her card since she would be a permanent resident. I'm not 100% sure though, someone else might be able to confirm that.

K-1 Visa

01/26/13 -- I-129F Sent
02/05/13 -- I-129F NOA1
08/28/13 -- I-129F NOA2 (204 days from NOA1 date)
01/21/14 -- Montreal Interview (350 days from NOA1 date)
01/27/14 -- K-1 Visa Received
02/01/14 -- POE at Canada-USA Border Peace Bridge (Buffalo, NY)
02/24/14 -- Private Courthouse Marriage
02/26/14 -- Private 2 Week Honeymoon
04/13/14 -- Wedding with Friends/Family


AOS

04/08/14 -- Filed for AOS/EAD/AP
04/11/14 -- NOA
05/12/14 -- Biometrics Appointment

07/02/14 -- EAD/AP Card Received (84 days from NOA date)
07/10/14 -- NPIW Letter
02/24/15 -- Service Request Filed
03/05/15 -- Filed for EAD/AP Renewal

03/10/15 -- Received email acceptance notification for EAD/AP Renewal
03/20/15 -- Filed for Ombudsman Case Assistance (DHS-7001)
04/03/15 -- Biometrics Appointment (Round 2)
04/08/15 -- RFE (Expired Medical)

04/21/15 -- Medical Appointment (Round 2)
04/24/15 -- RFE Response Sent
04/30/15 -- GC Approved (Card In Production)
05/08/15 -- GC & Welcome Notice Received

Hasta la vista, USCIS B-)

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: China
Timeline

Yeah, her card says that. Does she need to get a new card once she has a different status, or just keep this one and present it along with other documents?

If she applied for AP at the same time, she will get a card from USCIS that works as both work authorization and her AP. She would present the card along with the SS card she got.

She won't get a new SS card at this point.

Edited by DJ&L

USCIS / VSC
3/08/2013: Sent I-129F to Dallas Lockbox
3/12/2013: NOA1 Issued
3/15/2013: NOA1 Received (VCS)

7/10/2013: Transferred to TCS

7/25/2013: RFE

7/31/2013: RFE Response Received
8/07/2013: NOA2

NVC

8/16/2013: Sent to NVC
8/21/2013: NVC received
8/26/2013: Case number

US Consulate Guangzhou

8/28/2013: P3
9/14/2013: P3 Sent
9/16/2013: P3 received by GUZ

9/24/2013: P4 received via email

10/22/2013: Interview - Approved

10/24/2013: Visa Issued

10/30/2013: Passport available for pickup.

USCIS California

6/17/2016 I-751 Sent

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: China
Timeline

re: resume -

it'll be clear she not work in the USA prior, and this confuses some resume readers -

so I suggest put in a phrase towards the bottom:

Legally able to work in USA without employer sponsorship.

[or however sponser/sponsor is spelled]

This removes a lot of confusion from the resume readers.

Sometimes my language usage seems confusing - please feel free to 'read it twice', just in case !
Ya know, you can find the answer to your question with the advanced search tool, when using a PC? Ditch the handphone, come back later on a PC, and try again.

-=-=-=-=-=R E A D ! ! !=-=-=-=-=-

Whoa Nelly ! Want NVC Info? see http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/NVC_Process

Congratulations on your approval ! We All Applaud your accomplishment with Most Wonderful Kissies !

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: China
Timeline

I see that there is no I-94 form anymore, is this correct? Just print out the Addmission Number Retrieval (has the AR Number on it) from the dhs.gov site and present that?

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