Between entry and wedding?

[John&Juvy 36]

We are just trying to get as much done as quickly as possible. What can be accomplished prior to the wedding? Once Juvy is in SAVE (10 business days after entry), we will apply for SS#. We took a quick run by local SSA office yesterday, they of course told us she can not apply until the AOS...which is incorrect. We showed the clerk the 00203.500 policy memo, she was surprised, we did not push as she was not in SAVE yet. Next time we will ask for supervisor.

Down to Motor Vehicles, got her the study booklet, they also advised no SS#, no permit...also needed proof of address via first class mail (bill or govt correspondence to her at our home). No problem, she has not driven before and needs to study for written test anyway.

Bank. No SS#, no account. Sigh. Manager was Pinay, she let me get a second ATM card (with my name on it, though) for Juvy so she can get cash and shop.

We are lucky. Local SSA, USCIS offices less than 5 minutes from house.

Wedding planned July 19. We have completed and assembled I-485, I-131, I-765 package with support docs, pics, etc (no marriage cert yet of course).

What else can we do?

[Leafgal 3]

Sounds like you have everything well in hand. Best of luck on everything. How lucky for you that SSA and USCIS offices are so close to you, mine are not too far either which is nicer than those that have to travel 5 hours, yuck. Congrats on getting everything sorted out and I wish you a speedy AOS process.

[ELW 5]

Try adding her name on one or more of your credit cards, that is usually easy and quick (I did it online). Also adding her name to utilities bill and phone bill, if possible. And add her name to the lease if you are renting. After SSN comes you can add her name to the bank account and apply for an ID card at DMV, that is quicker than a drivers license if she needs to learn to drive, and it is a great thing to have! By the time you marry you could also get notarized statements from two or more friends, neighbors and relatives.

Congrats for planning so thoroughly beforehand!

[*JG* 2]

Slow down there a little. Enjoy the first few weeks together. There is plenty of time for all that other stuff.

[Eric-Pris 1,607]

Slow down there a little. Enjoy the first few weeks together. There is plenty of time for all that other stuff.

I agree. What's the rush? She's not going anywhere. The first few weeks is when your foreign fiancee needs you the most for support as they are in a new country, a new culture, new people, new language, new customs, etc.

[*JG* 2]

Try adding her name on one or more of your credit cards, that is usually easy and quick (I did it online). Also adding her name to utilities bill and phone bill, if possible. And add her name to the lease if you are renting. After SSN comes you can add her name to the bank account and apply for an ID card at DMV, that is quicker than a drivers license if she needs to learn to drive, and it is a great thing to have! By the time you marry you could also get notarized statements from two or more friends, neighbors and relatives.

Congrats for planning so thoroughly beforehand!

Why would you add her name to any of this stuff when you are getting ready to change it with marriage anyhow? That is more hassle then it is worth.

[payxibka 10,048]

We are just trying to get as much done as quickly as possible. What can be accomplished prior to the wedding? Once Juvy is in SAVE (10 business days after entry), we will apply for SS#. We took a quick run by local SSA office yesterday, they of course told us she can not apply until the AOS...which is incorrect. We showed the clerk the 00203.500 policy memo, she was surprised, we did not push as she was not in SAVE yet. Next time we will ask for supervisor.

Down to Motor Vehicles, got her the study booklet, they also advised no SS#, no permit...also needed proof of address via first class mail (bill or govt correspondence to her at our home). No problem, she has not driven before and needs to study for written test anyway.

Bank. No SS#, no account. Sigh. Manager was Pinay, she let me get a second ATM card (with my name on it, though) for Juvy so she can get cash and shop.

We are lucky. Local SSA, USCIS offices less than 5 minutes from house.

Wedding planned July 19. We have completed and assembled I-485, I-131, I-765 package with support docs, pics, etc (no marriage cert yet of course).

What else can we do?

Why did you simply not apply for the SSN when you were at SSA? She does not have to be in SAVE to apply, just needs to be verified before they will issue...

[PattyS_Husband 0]

We are just trying to get as much done as quickly as possible. What can be accomplished prior to the wedding? Once Juvy is in SAVE (10 business days after entry), we will apply for SS#. We took a quick run by local SSA office yesterday, they of course told us she can not apply until the AOS...which is incorrect. We showed the clerk the 00203.500 policy memo, she was surprised, we did not push as she was not in SAVE yet. Next time we will ask for supervisor.

Down to Motor Vehicles, got her the study booklet, they also advised no SS#, no permit...also needed proof of address via first class mail (bill or govt correspondence to her at our home). No problem, she has not driven before and needs to study for written test anyway.

Bank. No SS#, no account. Sigh. Manager was Pinay, she let me get a second ATM card (with my name on it, though) for Juvy so she can get cash and shop.

We are lucky. Local SSA, USCIS offices less than 5 minutes from house.

Wedding planned July 19. We have completed and assembled I-485, I-131, I-765 package with support docs, pics, etc (no marriage cert yet of course).

What else can we do?

Where did you get the 00203.500 policy memo? I hear of it, but I'd like to obtain a copy just in case. My fiancee will enter the US in September, and I'd like to have her SSN ASAP. Thanks.

[PattyS_Husband 0]

Slow down there a little. Enjoy the first few weeks together. There is plenty of time for all that other stuff.

I agree. What's the rush? She's not going anywhere. The first few weeks is when your foreign fiancee needs you the most for support as they are in a new country, a new culture, new people, new language, new customs, etc.

Well, if you have to go back to work in just a couple of weeks after arriving, you may want to get things done, for there is no time like today.

[PattyS_Husband 0]

Try adding her name on one or more of your credit cards, that is usually easy and quick (I did it online). Also adding her name to utilities bill and phone bill, if possible. And add her name to the lease if you are renting. After SSN comes you can add her name to the bank account and apply for an ID card at DMV, that is quicker than a drivers license if she needs to learn to drive, and it is a great thing to have! By the time you marry you could also get notarized statements from two or more friends, neighbors and relatives.

Congrats for planning so thoroughly beforehand!

I agree to have her state ID first as soon as you get your SSN even if the SSN does not allow her to work, but you should get that SSN.

[ELW 5]

Why did you simply not apply for the SSN when you were at SSA? She does not have to be in SAVE to apply, just needs to be verified before they will issue...

IF the name is not in the SAVE system, they have to put in special physical paperwork sent to a physical address before a SSN is assigned, and others who did that had to wait MONTHS before they got the SSN! It pays to just wait a couple of weeks until it is in the SAVE system, and get it right away!

Where did you get the 00203.500 policy memo? I hear of it, but I'd like to obtain a copy just in case.

I put it "00203.500" Google and the site came up:

https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx...33;opendocument

It's always good to have it with you when going to apply for the SSN!

[payxibka 10,048]

Try adding her name on one or more of your credit cards, that is usually easy and quick (I did it online). Also adding her name to utilities bill and phone bill, if possible. And add her name to the lease if you are renting. After SSN comes you can add her name to the bank account and apply for an ID card at DMV, that is quicker than a drivers license if she needs to learn to drive, and it is a great thing to have! By the time you marry you could also get notarized statements from two or more friends, neighbors and relatives.

Congrats for planning so thoroughly beforehand!

I agree to have her state ID first as soon as you get your SSN even if the SSN does not allow her to work, but you should get that SSN.

For clarification, the SSN is not the document that allows or does not allow a person to work or not... That is not what the "restriction" written on the card means at all.

[Eric-Pris 1,607]

Why did you simply not apply for the SSN when you were at SSA? She does not have to be in SAVE to apply, just needs to be verified before they will issue...

IF the name is not in the SAVE system, they have to put in special physical paperwork sent to a physical address before a SSN is assigned, and others who did that had to wait MONTHS before they got the SSN! It pays to just wait a couple of weeks until it is in the SAVE system, and get it right away!

It seems that this is not accurate. I went down to my local SS office with my new wife to get her a SS card, but that particular office does not accept new applications. We have to go to another office. I did ask a couple of questions though.

I asked the SSA employee what if she's not in the system yet. He said no problem, they will verify her. He told me that it is done "ELECTRONICALLY". I told him that I had heard it takes weeks to manually verify her, he said "NO, it takes 1-2 days".

This is what a SSA employee directly told me, take it for what it's worth.

[Cassie 8]

Try adding her name on one or more of your credit cards, that is usually easy and quick (I did it online). Also adding her name to utilities bill and phone bill, if possible. And add her name to the lease if you are renting. After SSN comes you can add her name to the bank account and apply for an ID card at DMV, that is quicker than a drivers license if she needs to learn to drive, and it is a great thing to have! By the time you marry you could also get notarized statements from two or more friends, neighbors and relatives.

Congrats for planning so thoroughly beforehand!

I agree to have her state ID first as soon as you get your SSN even if the SSN does not allow her to work, but you should get that SSN.

That's only good if you are in a state that allows for a state ID to be issued before an EAD or GC is issued.