Social security office said I was cleared for work!

[FutureMrs.Lacka 14]

So I went to the social security office today to change my last name to my husbands and the lady asked me to check that everything was correct in a piece of paper before she had the new one submitted. So I noticed there was a space that said legal alien authorized to work and I told her since I entered the US with a k1 visa I wasn't allowed to and she said that I was all cleared for work, and that's what it showed on the computer and everything that I was already authorized. The social security card I got says: VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION, which is what it should say but the lady said I was authorized, I don't know what to do, is there anywhere I can request information?

[Hypnos 6,576]

A K-1 requires an EAD to be able to legally work.

[ChicagoSarah 127]

I agree with Hypnos. If it has that message on it, you will need an EAD card or Green card to accompany it in order to legally work.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

So I went to the social security office today to change my last name to my husbands and the lady asked me to check that everything was correct in a piece of paper before she had the new one submitted. So I noticed there was a space that said legal alien authorized to work and I told her since I entered the US with a k1 visa I wasn't allowed to and she said that I was all cleared for work, and that's what it showed on the computer and everything that I was already authorized. The social security card I got says: VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION, which is what it should say but the lady said I was authorized, I don't know what to do, is there anywhere I can request information?

I think there is a odd little period until your I-94 expires (that you received at POE) but you'll have to stop work when it expires and as you apply for your EAD with your AOS pkg. I wouldn't bother trying to find a job for a month or 2. Employers are usually not interested in someone who can only legally work for a short period.

So basically - sit tight. Just apply for AOS/ EAD /AP and you'll be eligible to work permanently work soon enough.

The SS Office lady is right but she's only giving info based on her perspective - not the whole immigration picture

[aaron2020 11,651]

You are not authorized to work on a K-1.

Do not take immigration advice from a Social Security employee. Do so at your own perils.

You need the EAD or a green card to work.

Do not screw yourself over by relying on bad advice.

Your own SS card tells you that you need DHS authorization to work. Where is your authorization?

You need the EAD or a green card to work.

Edited April 28, 2014 by aaron2020

[Girl from Celebes 588]

So I went to the social security office today to change my last name to my husbands and the lady asked me to check that everything was correct in a piece of paper before she had the new one submitted. So I noticed there was a space that said legal alien authorized to work and I told her since I entered the US with a k1 visa I wasn't allowed to and she said that I was all cleared for work, and that's what it showed on the computer and everything that I was already authorized. The social security card I got says: VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION, which is what it should say but the lady said I was authorized, I don't know what to do, is there anywhere I can request information?

Not all social security employees know about the requirement. When my fiance and I went to Social Security Office in Key West to apply SSN, the lady behind the window had no idea about K-1 visa. She accepted my application even though it was less than 2 weeks before my I-94 is expired.

She asked me if I wanted to work or not which I replied that we are not married yet and I need an EAD to do so by apply AOS. She did not even know after enter the US, K-1 visa holder has to marry the petitioner within 90 days. She said," Oh I thought it was 6 months," which I replied to her that is validity of K-1 visa before PoE. She was nice and friendly. She said," oh I am not really familiar with K-1 visa thing. I've only known about that because my daughter in law came with K-1 visa from Canada and it was long time ago".

[Hypnos 6,576]

Do not take immigration advice from social security, or social security advice from immigration, or any other advice from anyone outside of that field.

When I got my kid's heart murmurs checked out I didn't have the mailman do it.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

The SSA has a K-1 go into the "authorized for work" box because their system doesn't have a way to issue a SSN without that requirement. Their own software is stupid, that's all.