K-1 entry checklist

[Dan & Elsie 1]

Hi Guys,

 

So the time has finally come and I'll be flying out to California in less than two weeks. I just had a few questions and an advice request for anyone who has done this before...

 

So when I arrive at LAX...

1. Do I just queue in the normal line at customs as if I was visiting like i normally do on the WVP?

2. All I need for entry is the big "DO NOT OPEN" envelope and the K-1 visa in my passport, right? Or should I have anything else prepared?

3. Can anyone give a brief overview of the process? Do they keep the envelope, do I need anything back, do I need anything stamped etc etc?

 

When I wake up the next day...

1. Is there anything that I need to be thinking about doing that might not be obvious (registering for anything anywhere, driving license, etc)

 

If there is any advice anyone has on this part of the journey then I'd love to hear it. I'm sure that there are certain experiences had and lessons learned from people on here that would be valuable to know.

 

Cheers,

Dan

[A'n'L 735]

1) You should line up in the Visitor w/ Visa line. 

2) That's all you need.

3) In some airports the K1 visa will be processed on the spot, in others they will take you to the secondary inspection office. It could also depend on how busy they are. In any case, it's just a formality. They will open the envelope and look briefly through the documents. You will NOT get anything back. They will take your picture and fingerprints, and stamp your passport. Then you should be good to go.

 

The next day/within a few days, you should visit the SSA office to apply for a SSN, and you and your fiancé should of course get a marriage license and get married within 90 days of your entry. Then you're onto applying for AOS, for which you can follow the VJ guides again :-)

[Fr8dog 312]

They will most likely give you back a cd-rom with the x-rays.

 

Before leaving the UK, make sure you have all documents you need for the AOS (Birth certificate and the famous D-3025 to name a few). Check the form/guides to find out what you need.

 

Do not put the envelope in your checked luggage.

[TheSkywalkers 143]

5 hours ago, A'n'L said:

1) You should line up in the Visitor w/ Visa line. 

2) That's all you need.

3) In some airports the K1 visa will be processed on the spot, in others they will take you to the secondary inspection office. It could also depend on how busy they are. In any case, it's just a formality. They will open the envelope and look briefly through the documents. You will NOT get anything back. They will take your picture and fingerprints, and stamp your passport. Then you should be good to go.

 

The next day/within a few days, you should visit the SSA office to apply for a SSN, and you and your fiancé should of course get a marriage license and get married within 90 days of your entry. Then you're onto applying for AOS, for which you can follow the VJ guides again :-)

Thank you for this! I honestly needed some clarification with regards to the SSN part. Whether it goes before or after getting married. They say either way is fine but getting it before getting married has some advantages, is that true?  

 

Sorry Dan & Elsie if I had to ask this question here, it may be of help for you too.  

[pantonia 39]

3 hours ago, missushabes said:

Thank you for this! I honestly needed some clarification with regards to the SSN part. Whether it goes before or after getting married. They say either way is fine but getting it before getting married has some advantages, is that true?  

 

Sorry Dan & Elsie if I had to ask this question here, it may be of help for you too.  

This may vary from state to state, but in general it is pretty good to have a SSN as soon as possible. If you get it before you marry and after the wedding you adopt your spouses last name (or hyphenating like I did), you'll have to go back with the marriage license and have them change the name and reissue the card.

 

Personally, I didn't want to try and get anything done with my maiden name, so I just waited till after the wedding, got my SS card with the married name and THEN I went ahead and got all the bank accounts, apartment leases, etc. etc. Getting all of those without a green card or EAD was hard enough, so I suggest to at least have your SS card sorted out already, to have at least one document with your proper current name. 

 

10 hours ago, Dan & Elsie said:

Hi Guys,

 

So the time has finally come and I'll be flying out to California in less than two weeks. I just had a few questions and an advice request for anyone who has done this before...

 

So when I arrive at LAX...

1. Do I just queue in the normal line at customs as if I was visiting like i normally do on the WVP?

2. All I need for entry is the big "DO NOT OPEN" envelope and the K-1 visa in my passport, right? Or should I have anything else prepared?

3. Can anyone give a brief overview of the process? Do they keep the envelope, do I need anything back, do I need anything stamped etc etc?

It depends on the person and their mood, and how busy you are, but you can expect to be taken to a separate room where they look at your sealed envelope and do some quick checking and boring processing. That may take some time depending on how many people are in that room waiting too. It's nothing out of the ordinary, so no need to worry. 

 

When I wake up the next day...

1. Is there anything that I need to be thinking about doing that might not be obvious (registering for anything anywhere, driving license, etc)

Getting your SSN the sooner the better is important since that's the least you'll be asked for to do anything (bank accounts, driving license, etc.) Getting a driving license as a k-1 holder can be easy or a pain in the a** (like here in texas), so I recommend to find out right away what you need for that.

 

If there is any advice anyone has on this part of the journey then I'd love to hear it. I'm sure that there are certain experiences had and lessons learned from people on here that would be valuable to know.

It seems that you'll have a direct flight so that's good. Having a POE and then a connecting flight to your final destination can be stressful if you have a short time to connect the flights.

 

Cheers,

Dan

 Depends on th

[A'n'L 735]

6 hours ago, missushabes said:

Thank you for this! I honestly needed some clarification with regards to the SSN part. Whether it goes before or after getting married. They say either way is fine but getting it before getting married has some advantages, is that true?  

 

Sorry Dan & Elsie if I had to ask this question here, it may be of help for you too.  

You'll want to get your SSN as soon as possible, as it is a key ingredient to most of the processes you will be subject to later on (getting a bank account, DL, etc). Also, you need legal status to get a SSN. That means you need at least 2 weeks left on your K1 entry I94 to obtain it, or else you'll have to wait for your EAD/GC. If you're changing your name after marriage, you'll also have to wait for the EAD/GC to obtain your SSN, as they'll require an official ID with your desired name on it. That's why most people chose to get their SSN as soon as possible, and before the wedding.

[pantonia 39]

1 hour ago, A'n'L said:

You'll want to get your SSN as soon as possible, as it is a key ingredient to most of the processes you will be subject to later on (getting a bank account, DL, etc). Also, you need legal status to get a SSN. That means you need at least 2 weeks left on your K1 entry I94 to obtain it, or else you'll have to wait for your EAD/GC. If you're changing your name after marriage, you'll also have to wait for the EAD/GC to obtain your SSN, as they'll require an official ID with your desired name on it. That's why most people chose to get their SSN as soon as possible, and before the wedding.

That bit is not exactly true, unless it is only so in that state or something (I don't think it is, since SS is a federal agency, so rules should be universal across the country). I changed my name after marriage and I had to show my marriage license to prove it and get my SSN under my new name, didn't need an EAD/GC. In fact, to get my married name on any paperwork before I got my EAD/GC, I always was asked to show my marriage license, even with SS card in hand.

[A'n'L 735]

7 hours ago, pantonia said:

That bit is not exactly true, unless it is only so in that state or something (I don't think it is, since SS is a federal agency, so rules should be universal across the country). I changed my name after marriage and I had to show my marriage license to prove it and get my SSN under my new name, didn't need an EAD/GC. In fact, to get my married name on any paperwork before I got my EAD/GC, I always was asked to show my marriage license, even with SS card in hand.

Some have had luck with that, but not all. Practices appears to differ between offices.