Getting SSN, dealing with DMV etc when I arrive!

[awestney 12]

Hey everyone! 

 

So we have our approval and i will be flying out on May 10. We will be getting married on May 15. 

 

I have a few questions regarding the best steps to take when I get there! I keep reading to wait 2 week before going to get SSN? However I thought all you needed was a valid i-94 and as it’s electronic it’s usually updated within a day or so? A friend of mine just moved to LA on a work visa and he got his the day after he moved so is there any reason we would not be able to do that just because it’s a K1 visa I have entered on? 

 

Secondly, I’ve seen mixed comments about people having issues getting their SSN after marriage? Some have been fine others not, has anyone done this recently in the state of TN? What have your experiences been? 

 

Also do I need the SSN to go to the DMV and apply for a license. Similarly does anyone have any recent experience with this who could just give me a few pointers!? 

 

Thank you!!

[Ate 180]

Check out: https://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/156-social-security-numbers/

 

[JFH 12,189]

*~*~*moved from “K-1 fiancé visa process and procedures” to “moving to the USA” where similar topics are regularly discussed*~*~* 

[JFH 12,189]

For driver license requirements, check out the DMV site for TN. The requirements for new arrivals vary from state to state. 

[Wuozopo 4,285]

1 hour ago, awestney said:

I keep reading to wait 2 week before going to get SSN? However I thought all you needed was a valid i-94 and as it’s electronic it’s usually updated within a day or so?

Two weeks was from when the I-94 was a card filled out on the plane, turned in on arrival, then somebody eventually manually typed the info into a database. It's populated now by a scan of your passport. You should be able to go to Social Security as soon as you have an I-94 online. 

 

1 hour ago, awestney said:

Secondly, I’ve seen mixed comments about people having issues getting their SSN after marriage? 

It is all up to how well trained the employee at SSA is. Some say "you're not a K1 once you marry so not eligible. You're a K3 now". Not true. Ask for a supervisor to sort it. Also do not try to do any name change because of marriage. Apply in the name exactly as printed on the I-94. 

 

1 hour ago, awestney said:

Also do I need the SSN to go to the DMV and apply for a license. Similarly does anyone have any recent experience with this who could just give me a few pointers!? 

Tennessee driver license https://www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services/classd/dlnew.html

 

You're going to need approved EAD or greencard for proving legal presence. The use of a valid visa they mention are long term like student or work visas. Your K1 is no longer valid once used. Your legal presence on I-94 is only 90 days. If you managed to get a license, it would expire on day 90. Most K1s in any state aren't allowed a license until they have EAD showing it's valid for one year.

[Nashvan 133]

14 hours ago, awestney said:

Secondly, I’ve seen mixed comments about people having issues getting their SSN after marriage? Some have been fine others not, has anyone done this recently in the state of TN? What have your experiences been?

I applied for SSN at the Murfreesboro office on March 8 and it has yet to arrive. Fortunately the SSA clerk was familiar with the K-1 but YMMV. He said it will take up to 6 weeks unofficially because I applied two days after POE and my name had not been updated in their system yet. Technically I applied like 30 minutes after getting married but he didn't care about that and let me apply with my maiden name.

 

You're eligible to apply for a SSN as a K-1 visa entree. You can print a copy of the POMS (https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530, Class K-1) that proves you're eligible for SSN if they say otherwise.

 

12 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

You're going to need approved EAD or greencard for proving legal presence. The use of a valid visa they mention are long term like student or work visas. Your K1 is no longer valid once used. Your legal presence on I-94 is only 90 days. If you managed to get a license, it would expire on day 90. Most K1s in any state aren't allowed a license until they have EAD showing it's valid for one year.

This is correct. You could get a driver's license but it would only last until your 90 days are up. In addition to proof of legal presence (I-94), they require two proofs of residency meaning that you have show your name with a valid TN address on two documents (e.g. utility bill, bank statement, etc). This may take a while to get because you can't do a lot without the SSN, which may take a while to receive itself. Personally I'm waiting for the EAD/GC before getting a driver's license.