Just got married! What now?

[MatthewAndVenus 0]

Good evening VJ community!  

 

It was a long process through USCIS and the NVC but my WIFE and I are finally done!  We just got married on 03/25/2017 and now we are looking at our next steps after our K1 visa.

 

We already have our marriage certificate.  Is the first step to update her social security?

 

As far as we can tell we need to file the I-485.  Is this correct?  When will the government quit nickle and diming us?

 

 

Thanks for all your replies!

 

-Matt

Edited March 30, 2017 by MatthewAndVenus

[KULtoATL 1,552]

You need to file the I-485 and you can file the I-765 and I-131 concurrently for free. 

 

If she's already got a SSN upon her entry and now she has a married name, then yes get it updated at SSA office to her married name.

 

Refer to this guide for the AOS, EAD and AP: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1k3aos

 

Edited March 30, 2017 by KULtoATL

[Unlockable 7,322]

 Oh boy. You have plenty more to do. Follow the guides in this link for AOS. http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1k3aos

 

Please take my following advice with all sincerity... It is on your best interest to learn the ENTIRE process while moving forward. There are many steps in immigration. For instance, you now have to do AOS which isn't cheap nor fast. It is almost $1200 and can take up to 9 months to complete. During that your wife cannot work until she receives her work authorization which is an EAD (a SSN is NOT work auth in case you didn't know). If she wants to travel outside the US she will need AP to return. If she does not have AP then she will not be let back into the US. The EAD and AP takes about 3 - 4 months to receive after you file it along with the AOS. Btw, you mentioned the government is nickel and dime-ing you, but if you had researched the entire process and the costs you wouldn't be caught off guard.

 

But your AOS is not the end because in 2 years her green card will expire. Then you will have to  Removal of  Conditions (which is more money). Then after that is naturalization (which is more money). Point is that you can start saving now so you will have the funds for ROC and Naturalization when it comes.

 

I am advising you to learn the complete immigration process in its entirety for your own good so you know what to expect. We on VJ have seen some bad cases where people didn't know that needed to adjust this, or remove that, or have approval for those. People have came on K1, gotten married and went on honeymoon without adjusting status and the foreign spouse was denied entry and had to return to their country to wait for a new visa. 

 

Please take some time and review all the steps in the guide that pertains to your immigration category. 

Edited March 30, 2017 by NuestraUnion

[MatthewAndVenus 0]

3 minutes ago, NuestraUnion said:

 Oh boy. You have plenty more to do. Follow the guides in this link for AOS. http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1k3aos

 

Please take my following advice with all sincerity... It is on your best interest to learn the ENTIRE process while moving forward. There are many steps in immigration. For instance, you now have to do AOS which isn't cheap nor fast. It is almost $1200 and can take up to 9 months to complete. During that your wife cannot work until she receives her work authorization which is an EAD (a SSN is NOT work auth in case you didn't know). If she wants to travel outside the US she will need AP to return. If she does not have AP then she will not be let back into the US. The EAD and AP takes about 3 - 4 months to receive after you file it along with the AOS. Btw, you mentioned the government is nickel and dime-ing you, but if you had researched the entire process and the costs you wouldn't be caught off guard.

 

But your AOS is not the end because in 2 years her green card will expire. Then you will have to  Removal of  Conditions (which is more money). Then after that is naturalization (which is more money). Point is that you can start saving now so you will have the funds for ROC and Naturalization when it comes.

 

I am advising you to learn the complete immigration process in its entirety for your own good so you know what to expect. We on VJ have seen some bad cases where people didn't know that needed to adjust this, or remove that, or have approval for those. People have came on K1, gotten married and went on honeymoon without adjusting status and the foreign spouse was denied entry and had to return to their country to wait for a new visa. 

 

Please take some time and review all the steps in the guide that pertains to your immigration category. 

 

Nuestra,

 

Thank you.  I already completely agree.   My wife did so much of the research for everything so far I have been playing catch up.  Thank you for the info!

 

 

[MatthewAndVenus 0]

26 minutes ago, KULtoATL said:

You need to file the I-485 and you can file the I-765 and I-131 concurrently for free. 

 

If she's already got a SSN upon her entry and now she has a married name, then yes get it updated at SSA office to her married name.

Thank you!

[shayden10 78]

You will want to apply for her adjustment of status (form I-485) and can include the employment authorization form (I-765) and advance parole (I-131) forms if she would like to work and travel outside the US prior to receiving her Green Card

 

I applied for my SSN back in January and asked if, after being married, I can return to have my last name changed to my married name. I can not, I have to wait until I get my EAD to update my name on my SSN. 

 

My husband and I also got a car and I had to put the title in my maiden name, I will not be able to change it until I have a piece of ID in my married name. (Which also means that the DMV are going to charge us again for a name change on the title of the car!)

 

My state (Delaware) will not issue me a Drivers License or ID card until I get my EAD as well. Some States allow you to get a DL with your first Notice of Action after submitting the AOS application. These things all depend on your State and their requirements, so I would look into it if she's interested in driving. In addition, they may limit the validity of the DL based on current immigration status and charge renewal fees as the length of her status changes.  

 

You still have a lot more nickel and diming to go through yet! The AOS has a filing fee and biometrics fee that totals $1,225. Two years less 90 days after receiving the green card you will likely want to apply for Removal of Conditions, which costs $595. Three years later, if your wife would like to apply for Naturalization (Citizenship) it will cost $725. The fees relating to ROC and Naturalization may change prior to when we will file for them. 

 

You up can look at the many guides on this website and in the forum for Family Based Adjustment of Status, once you file you can also join your months progress report forum to see what you might expect during your adjustment. Also, look at the forms you will be filling out for the adjustment on the USCIS website and make sure you read the instructions!

 

Congratulations on your marriage! Good luck on your journey