Applying for SSN - Questions

[Ben and Jill 37]

Isn't insanity an outcome for many in this journey :-) Kenny is the American in our family and he is the calm cool one (most of the time). Best of luck with your AOS too, I see you filed shortly after we did. A friend of mine that had her biometrics a week before me just received notification that her AP and EAD were approved. So I'm hoping next week will be my week.

Yes, I hope both of us have a smooth and fast AOS process...that would be great. Let me know when you hear anything since we filed close to each other. Have a blessed one.

You immigrate to the U.S. with a K-1, which is a non-immigrant visa.

You need to state that you are authorized to work, but you are not authorized to work.

Don't try to make sense out of this, or you will experience brain bleeding.

Generally speaking, any experience with immigration, SSA, and DMV is harmful to a person' sanity.

I knowwwwwww, lol. I laughed out loud.

[bigdog 377]

On k1 you are technically allowed to work, but not. when it expires so does work, Wait the two weeks for the government to get you in the system on your K1, go get a learners permit DL and then a regular license, they may want you to wait for regular DL untill you get your I797c.

[monyfer 27]

I am more confused than other! Some say to put not allowed to work..others say put allowed to work....not sure what the general consensus is? It seems that it doesn't really matter and they just give you the card that says not valid without INS authorization anyway. Do I even have to fill out this SS5 form!?!? Soo confusing yes my brain is bleeding from trying to deal with this process...nothing is clear cut.

[Inky 1,111]

I am more confused than other! Some say to put not allowed to work..others say put allowed to work....not sure what the general consensus is? It seems that it doesn't really matter and they just give you the card that says not valid without INS authorization anyway. Do I even have to fill out this SS5 form!?!? Soo confusing yes my brain is bleeding from trying to deal with this process...nothing is clear cut.

I posted the link that is clear cut that is from the SSN office that tells you K-1 allowed to work.

[Ben and Jill 37]

I am more confused than other! Some say to put not allowed to work..others say put allowed to work....not sure what the general consensus is? It seems that it doesn't really matter and they just give you the card that says not valid without INS authorization anyway. Do I even have to fill out this SS5 form!?!? Soo confusing yes my brain is bleeding from trying to deal with this process...nothing is clear cut.

You should put "allowed" to work. See the link that Inky posted on the first page, and sorry about all the confusion...this thread came upon a mind of its own! LOL But, put "allowed". All will be superfine...and remember...nothing beats the fact that he is "home" so that puts everything in perspective. Good luck with everything.

[Guinness 3]

Must agree with the brain bleed. Was st SS yesterday . Checked Not to work. Will this cause issues later??

Name was not In System yet .they said would Check with home land security and if we did not hear from them in a month came back in

You immigrate to the U.S. with a K-1, which is a non-immigrant visa.

You need to state that you are authorized to work, but you are not authorized to work.

Don't try to make sense out of this, or you will experience brain bleeding.

Generally speaking, any experience with immigration, SSA, and DMV is harmful to a person' sanity.

[Ben and Jill 37]

Must agree with the brain bleed. Was st SS yesterday . Checked Not to work. Will this cause issues later??

Name was not In System yet .they said would Check with home land security and if we did not hear from them in a month came back in

I'm thinking it will not cause an issue (I hope). JeannieL put "not allowed to work" because the rep at the SS office told her to, and she got her card and it says the same thing as Ben's and we checked "allowed to work". Geez, lol, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't, lol. Keep your fingers crossed...

Edited October 26, 2011 by Ben and Jill

[KayDeeCee 4,900]

You should not have received one that reads "For Work Only." You should go to the SS office and get it straightened out.

Scratch that. I misread it yesterday. If it says VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION, then that is the right one.

and Monyfer: The correct way is legal alien ALLOWED to work. That is what you mark when you fill out the form. http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

[dindo and patty 20]

There are so many correct and incorrect answers for everything in this process....I would have to say the DMV was the worst experience of it all so far. ....Anyway I just checked my SSN card and it says.....Valid for work only with DHS authorization. It's in my maiden name because when I went back to change it after we were married they said they couldn't do it until I got my EAD which I am hoping will come very soon :-)

It never ceases to amaze me the inconsistency you get from the local SSA offices around the country. I guess we can consider ourselves

lucky because the SSA clerk we dealt with knew exactly what a K-1 is and Patty got her SSN card a week after we applied for it. She even

reminded us to come back and apply for a name change after we were married, which we did and Patty has her SSN card with her married

name. Then the clerk reminded us again to come back when she gets her GC & EAD to update her information.

[Joandjo 20]

My fiance has been in the U.S. almost a week. I know they say to wait about two weeks to go apply for the SSN, but I wonder if we will be ok after a week.

I was looking at the SS5 form and it is not clear to me on the "Citizenship" line if we check off "Legal alien allowed to work" or "Legal alien not allowed to work". We have not married or filed for AOS quote yet. We do not have EAD or anything. Which one would it be?

Thank you.

I called the SS office, you should absolutely check Legal Alien Allowed to Work for K1 Visa.

[Moomin 292]

I ticked the "not allowed to work" and the guy there almost made me freak since he put "allowed to work" instead. He said they check with DoS so he typed in what he got from them, knowing that I came on a K-1. The Social security card says "valid for work only with DHS authorization".

Edited October 26, 2011 by moomin

[thelastpetitioner 218]

Well i out not allowed to workand my ssn came back with the words allowed to work on it.so I guess when they check with DHS they automatically fix it.also I got it within a week of coming to the states,and it ws fine,another thing the guy told me was that in case like this the beneficiary is the only one who can sign off the ss card when it arrives

[Robert&Karen 264]

We went to the window and said "K-1 Visa applicant" to which the worker asked us right off how many days we have been in the US. At that time it had been 13 days, and she likes hearing that. I asked is nine would have worked, she said no way, has to be 10.