K1 and health insurance

[roshlioto 1]

Hello. I've arrived in USA (on a K1 visa) a month ago and all that time I was wondering what's my status considering health care. The wedding is in Jan, but what if I get sick or anything? What can I do? Do I need to have a health insurance in order to apply for permanent residency?

[NoneYa 73]

No, health care is not a requirement for residency. Once you are married, you can add yourself onto your husbands work insurance plan if he has one. I hope you have gotten a social security number/filed for one before marriage if not, go now. YOu willl need that for everything. Go get one now.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hello. I've arrived in USA (on a K1 visa) a month ago and all that time I was wondering what's my status considering health care. The wedding is in Jan, but what if I get sick or anything? What can I do? Do I need to have a health insurance in order to apply for permanent residency?

None. You have no status for health care. If you get sick it is ging to cost you a lot of money.

Once married, your spouse can usually add you to their health policy at work IF they have one. Otherwise you are on your own. Some countries offer their citizens foreign coverage at least temporarily. If your country has some sort f National Health Plan, check with them

No you do not need health insurance for permanent residency, it is not an issue for the government.

I was able to add Alla and the bys to my plan beginmning the first day of the month following our wedding. Another reason not to delay weddings.

[Enigma11561 336]

You do not need health insurance to apply for a green card, which takes place after you are married and have gone through the AOS. But insurance here is a good idea since medical care can be expensive. Can you be placed on your husbands insurance at his work, after you are married? That is the simplest and easiest way to do it. Otherwise you will need to find independent insurance and there are tons of places on the internet. But they are not cheap.

[roshlioto 1]

No, health care is not a requirement for residency. Once you are married, you can add yourself onto your husbands work insurance plan if he has one. I hope you have gotten a social security number/filed for one before marriage if not, go now. YOu willl need that for everything. Go get one now.

Great, so until then If I get sick I'm screwed. My fiancee said that I don't need a SSN for us to get married. I need my passport.

[baron555 934]

Hello. I've arrived in USA (on a K1 visa) a month ago and all that time I was wondering what's my status considering health care. The wedding is in Jan, but what if I get sick or anything? What can I do? Do I need to have a health insurance in order to apply for permanent residency?

I purchased Immigrant Health Insurance for two months for my wife and son for the time they were in the US before we got married. It didn't cost all that much.

Do a Google search; there are many legit online companies that do this.

Edited December 27, 2011 by baron555

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Great, so until then If I get sick I'm screwed. My fiancee said that I don't need a SSN for us to get married. I need my passport.

Don't fly off to other countries without health insurance and then get sick...or worse, pregnant! Bad idea.

Your fiancee is right. You do not need it for a marriage license. You will need it for healthcare insurance though. Lots of other things. There is more to life than a wedding.

Go get one today. Apply for it in your MAIDEN NAME exactly as in your passport. After you have your green card then go back and change your name IF YOU WANT, you do not have to change your name. Use your passport, K-1 and the I-94 as ID and do not leave the Social Security Office until you have a receipt for the application. If the clerk tells you that you have to wait, they are wrong. Get a supervisor.

[roshlioto 1]

Can I go after I get married? I would still have a month and a half till my departure date (if I don't get married).

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Can I go after I get married? I would still have a month and a half till my departure date (if I don't get married).

Yes, but why? You cannot change the name without a big hassle unless you have some form of ID with your married name, such as a green card.

The name on the card DOES NOT MATTER, the NUMBER is the only thing that matters. When you change the name the number stays the same. Get the social security number ASAP

[roshlioto 1]

I will not be changing my name. Not yet that is. So if it's only for the name it doesn't matter, does it? What will I gain if I get a SSN right now? Would I be able to get a job? I will still be practically no one until I get my permanent residency and work permit.

[Darnell 8,478]

Can I go after I get married? I would still have a month and a half till my departure date (if I don't get married).

Is possible, but what drives 'getting an SSN' is solely

a date range

between

2 weeks + the POE DATE

to

I-94 expiration date - 2 weeks.

Since it's free to apply, why not get one, todayish?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I will not be changing my name. Not yet that is. So if it's only for the name it doesn't matter, does it? What will I gain if I get a SSN right now? Would I be able to get a job? I will still be practically no one until I get my permanent residency and work permit.

bank accounts, school enrollment, get added to spouses credit cards, get added to utility bills for AOS purposes, insurance ...just to name a few. But hey, if you want to wait, be my guest.

Alla arrived on a Wednesday, we applied for SS card Thursday and had the number Friday. You do not have to wait two weeks, you only have to be updated in the SAVE system and that usually occurs the night you arrive.

Edited December 27, 2011 by Gary and Alla

[roshlioto 1]

Ok. I'll go today or tomorrow. Sadly It won't allow me to work, but still I won't be no one anymore.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Ok. I'll go today or tomorrow. Sadly It won't allow me to work, but still I won't be no one anymore.

It alone will not allow you to work, but you need it to go along with your EAD after you file for AOS to be able to work. You need both the EAD and SSN to work, not just one or the other.

[roshlioto 1]

I'm confused.

From SSA:

If you do not have permission to work: Lawfully admitted noncitizens can get many benefits and services without a Social Security number. You do not need a number to conduct business with a bank, register for school, apply for educational tests, obtain private health insurance, apply for school lunch programs or apply for subsidized housing. You cannot get a Social Security number for the sole purpose of obtaining a driver’s license.

Government benefits or services: If you do not have permission to work, you may apply for a Social Security number only if:

A federal law requires you to provide your Social Security number to get a particular benefit or service; or

A state or local law requires you to provide your Social Security number to get general assistance benefits that you already have qualified for.

If you need a number to meet these state or local requirements, you must bring us a letter from the government agency. It must be on letterhead stationery (no form letters or photocopies) and:

Specifically identify you as the applicant;

Cite the law requiring you to have a Social Security number;

Indicate that you meet all the agency’s requirements, except having the number; and

Contain an agency contact name and telephone number.