NOA2 Approvals-October 2014 Filers (TSC)

[KASH2011 382]

I was waiting sooooo long to see a CO, but when I did get to see one he was ok, kind of cold not warm like the preprocessing lady. He asked where my fiance lived, what he does for a living and how we met. He read the how we met letter and said it's basically approved, but can't continue until I get him the one document I'm missing, when I get it in they will contact me about getting my passport to have the visa printed.

Congrats!

[SantyAndAllie 155]

Congrats JDWright!!! make sure you give them a little time to print while your case is pending!

And thanks guys! I'm gonna see this whole immigration thing is just a mess.

I know that this is more about being in limbo with the k1 visa rather than noa2 status loll but I'm all kinds of confused about this since Santys just considered a visa holder right now apparently, even though we're married.

Gonna try to keep this short but can anyone point us in the right direction? Santy can't get anything- a bank account, state ID, social security, etc. I'm being given the run around by every department and their websites and visa help sites. I'm incredibly confused about the contradicting advice I'm being given. Essentially Santy can't get anything, according to them, until he gets his green card or for a social, work authorization. So we're in limbo for 3 months waiting? Or 6+ for the green card? I'm so angry that he can't get anything. All he has is our marriage certificate and his visa, and that apparently means nothing. Oh, and they say, "you don't need a social to get benefits like a license or schooling blah blah". Yeah, not true! I'm sure you guys will be dealing with this soon, but I know some of you know more about this stage than I do, so I figured I would see! And this way others browsing on here can see what they have to do, too, for when they have the same questions.

[StephanieC 43]

Congrats JDWright!!! make sure you give them a little time to print while your case is pending!

And thanks guys! I'm gonna see this whole immigration thing is just a mess.

I know that this is more about being in limbo with the k1 visa rather than noa2 status loll but I'm all kinds of confused about this since Santys just considered a visa holder right now apparently, even though we're married.

Gonna try to keep this short but can anyone point us in the right direction? Santy can't get anything- a bank account, state ID, social security, etc. I'm being given the run around by every department and their websites and visa help sites. I'm incredibly confused about the contradicting advice I'm being given. Essentially Santy can't get anything, according to them, until he gets his green card or for a social, work authorization. So we're in limbo for 3 months waiting? Or 6+ for the green card? I'm so angry that he can't get anything. All he has is our marriage certificate and his visa, and that apparently means nothing. Oh, and they say, "you don't need a social to get benefits like a license or schooling blah blah". Yeah, not true! I'm sure you guys will be dealing with this soon, but I know some of you know more about this stage than I do, so I figured I would see! And this way others browsing on here can see what they have to do, too, for when they have the same questions.

Hi Allie,

I just did this research the other day to look at university options for my fiance. When you send the AOS/EAD it could take 3 months to get the permission to work. He will get a EAD card in the mail that explicitly states that he is permitted to work. It will state his auth number, country of birth, A# and other similar information. It will also show his picture and a validity date of one year (it must be renewed). Once you obtain your green card the EAD is no longer valid. If he doesn't have a social security number, there should still be no issues with opening an account. Some banks just don't know any better. Please review this link for help: http://www.keytlaw.com/usrealestatelaw/open-us-bank-account/

State IDs, unfortunately, are a little different. You will need a SS or at least the valid I-94, I-797, or Visa Waiver stamp.

I'm assuming you do not yet have a SS# for him? If so, K1 Visa holders are permitted to obtain a SS#. In fact, in my state you cannot get a marriage license without one.

[SantyAndAllie 155]

Yeah, k1 visa holders can, as it says, only get a social security card with permission, as it's used primarily for work reasons, and k1s can't work.. Im confused as to why you'd need one for a marriage license?! You can't get one here without the EAD. I know the wait times which is why I said we're in limbo for 3 months. The social security website clearly says you can't get a card, so that's weird.

Buttt my lawyer just got back to me with this:

You're correct that other than his passport and any type of Ecuadorian ID Santy will not have ID for now. However, after his fingerprint appointment which should be in the next 2-3 months an employment authorization card will be issued to him. Once he has that card he will be able to get a social security card issued. Once he has the EAC and the social card he will be able to apply for identification and open a bank account, etc.

Pretty much what I already knew based on the SS site and MVC: limbo for 3 months. Thanks, k1 visa. You're great! ?

Ps- with the bank, you need valid id. At least for our bank. They don't consider (in their system) just a k1 visa and passport a valid form of US ID. So unfortunately no bank account, state id, social, etc, until EAD. Greeeeaaatt. Santy won't even be able to work then because no license! And no license without the rest of the aforementioned items. Gotta love US immigration.

Sorry if I got anyone else stressed with this- LOL. We had no idea it would be THIS damn complicated.

[Gill&Grant 5]

Sorry just wondering is he applying for a social work license ?? Or did I misunderstand ?? If so which one LGSW or LCSW???

[yuna628 9,541]

Yeah, k1 visa holders can, as it says, only get a social security card with permission, as it's used primarily for work reasons, and k1s can't work.. Im confused as to why you'd need one for a marriage license?! You can't get one here without the EAD. I know the wait times which is why I said we're in limbo for 3 months. The social security website clearly says you can't get a card, so that's weird.

Buttt my lawyer just got back to me with this:

You're correct that other than his passport and any type of Ecuadorian ID Santy will not have ID for now. However, after his fingerprint appointment which should be in the next 2-3 months an employment authorization card will be issued to him. Once he has that card he will be able to get a social security card issued. Once he has the EAC and the social card he will be able to apply for identification and open a bank account, etc.

Pretty much what I already knew based on the SS site and MVC: limbo for 3 months. Thanks, k1 visa. You're great! ?

Ps- with the bank, you need valid id. At least for our bank. They don't consider (in their system) just a k1 visa and passport a valid form of US ID. So unfortunately no bank account, state id, social, etc, until EAD. Greeeeaaatt. Santy won't even be able to work then because no license! And no license without the rest of the aforementioned items. Gotta love US immigration.

Sorry if I got anyone else stressed with this- LOL. We had no idea it would be THIS damn complicated.

Actually K1's get an SSN that states ''cannot work without authorization'', this is later changed when you obtain a GC to the same exact dang card, just without that little message. Nothing is stopping him from obtaining an SSN now. There are some SSN employees that don't know what to do when a K1 asks about an SSN. But it's all right there in federal law and their own SSA instructions. If you wait near where the K1 visa expires, then unfortunately you'll be past the point of obtaining an SSN, and you'd then have to wait until the GC. If you obtain the SSN that has the ''cannot work without authorization'' message, once your EAD arrives that *is* the authorization, at least until you have a GC and you swap out the SSN card.

I had my dad go into my local bank and inquire what my fiancé would need to be put onto my bank account. They said all he needed is either his passport or even his UK license as a form of ID, his visa, and our marriage certificate. No SSN would be needed.

Edited July 22, 2015 by yuna628

[SantyAndAllie 155]

Okay now I'm just frustrated that I'm getting a million different things!! How are you guys getting this info? Because that's not what I'm getting from the actual offices when I call, lol.

I read what you're saying on the visa sites. Doesn't apply when I call them and ask, which is why I'm confused as to where you're getting this info.

Moreover, I went into our local bank and called twice. It's not them; their system won't physically allow it. Not adding him- but giving him his own bank account. They need ID, and he doesn't have it.

I also read about the 'not authorized to work' on SS card thing but when I called, they don't allow it. Please give me sources for this info so I can call because I hear what you're saying, but how am I supposed to do that when the office itself won't let me?!?

[SantyAndAllie 155]

Also just want to clarify- Santy has an Ecuadorian id. He doesn't have a license or anything else. And that's not what the bank system wants. They want a valid US ID, ie: license, state ID, social security card, etc. In order to get any of those, we need proof of address.. Ie: bank account, Lol. Can't get any of these things without an EAD, so I'm told.. By people who work in these offices! Ahhhh! So the whole expiring K1 thing.. That doesn't really make sense to me because that's not what they're saying at SS office, and my lawyer, who also works with SS, didn't say that either. So that's why I'm confused as to where this is coming from?!

Edited July 22, 2015 by SantyAndAllie

[StephanieC 43]

Are you saying that you haven't been able to get his SSN and #?

http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

It's a process to get it, but you can get a ssn about a week after his POE. The link above gives you step by step on how to do it. Then you can get your bank account, and THEN apply for state ID with his Passport and the POE stamp and 1-94.

Edited July 22, 2015 by StephanieC

[SantyAndAllie 155]

Our lawyer said she confirmed that we don't have an i94! What the heck guys?! Santy NEVER got one, and our lawyer said k1s don't get them!

[StephanieC 43]

Review this website: http://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/i-94-instructions

[SantyAndAllie 155]

She told us last week:

I have confirmed that the CBP will not issue an I 94 to Santy because he traveled and entered on the K-1 visa.

--

I also tried to find it electronically before. Doesn't exist. And Santy never got one. So, again, how can we get a ss# without an i94?!

I just don't know what to believe anymore.

I already did, Stephanie. We don't have one there either. And my lawyer had called CBP, too.

[StephanieC 43]

Understood. Perhaps maybe try this?

http://www.uscitizenship.info/us-visas/replace-I-94-arrival-departure-record-form-I-102.jsp

Here is also an interesting thread on it:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/433330-arrived-in-the-us-on-k1-visa-but-no-i-94/page-2

Additionally it's odd because I'm like 99% sure you have to send your I-94 with your I-485 form.

Edited July 22, 2015 by StephanieC

[SantyAndAllie 155]

Oh man. I gotta look at all of this and seriously confront these people.

Thank you guys so much for helping!

Sorry for taking over the feed and all the notifications. Lol. Hope my nonsense helps someone else, too!!

[StephanieC 43]

I can't imagine how frustrated you must be. Your lawyer really has some explaining to do. K1 is a nonimmigrant visa. I-94s are specifically FOR nonimmigrant visas. Check and make sure his passport is stamped as class k1.