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Annikena

SSN - can I apply right when I get to U.S?

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Norway
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Hi everyone!


I know this has been asked a million times, but I still cant seem to understand - since many are saying different things. I just got my visa approved and received it this week. Yaay! I will be moving to Los Angeles in June, and was wondering if I can go straight away to apply for SSN, like the day after I arrive? Some people say that is ok, others say you have to wait two weeks. I just wanted to know if anyone had any experiences regarding this. Thank you all! :)

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
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You do not have to wait 2 weeks........I would go a couple days after arriving.

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

August 7, 2022: Wife filed N-400 Online under 5 year rule.

November 10, 2022: Received "Interview is scheduled" letter.

December 12, 2022:  Received email from Dallas office informing me (spouse) to be there for combo interview.

December 14, 2022: Combo Interview for I-751 and N-400 Conducted.

January 26, 2023: Wife's Oath Ceremony completed at the Plano Event Center, Plano, Texas!!!😁

February 6, 2023: Wife's Passport Application submitted in Dallas, Texas.

March 21, 2023:   Wife's Passport Delivered!!!!

May 15, 2023 (about):  Naturalization Certificate returned from Passport agency!!

 

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

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Filed: Other Timeline

What is a couple of days in your immigration journey?  Take some time to unpack, meet your neighbors (get their phone numbers!), have a special dinner, take a bubble bath, go to the zoo, ...  The SSN will get done soon enough.

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Taiwan
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6 hours ago, Annikena said:

Hi everyone!


I know this has been asked a million times, but I still cant seem to understand - since many are saying different things. I just got my visa approved and received it this week. Yaay! I will be moving to Los Angeles in June, and was wondering if I can go straight away to apply for SSN, like the day after I arrive? Some people say that is ok, others say you have to wait two weeks. I just wanted to know if anyone had any experiences regarding this. Thank you all! :)

You'll need your valid i94,usually you can get it updated 1 week after you arrive in the USA. Not sure if you'll get married soon or not,if you'd change your name after the wedding ,then you need to wait till you've gotten the Marriage record .It's convenient to go on the website of your local social security office ,fill out the form, print it out ,bring it with your valid i94 , passport ,marriage certificate then it'll be done soon.Your social security number card will be mailed to you in 2 to 4 weeks. 

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Norway
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23 minutes ago, CEE53147 said:

What is a couple of days in your immigration journey?  Take some time to unpack, meet your neighbors (get their phone numbers!), have a special dinner, take a bubble bath, go to the zoo, ...  The SSN will get done soon enough.

Either answer the question I asked or dont say anything at all. Im pretty sure I will be able to do more than one thing in a day ;)

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Philippines
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1 minute ago, Jenna Ting said:

You'll need your valid i94,usually you can get it updated 1 week after you arrive in the USA. Not sure if you'll get married soon or not,if you'd change your name after the wedding ,then you need to wait till you've gotten the Marriage record .It's convenient to go on the website of your local social security office ,fill out the form, print it out ,bring it with your valid i94 , passport ,marriage certificate then it'll be done soon.Your social security number card will be mailed to you in 2 to 4 weeks. 

I would not wait to apply for ssn with a name other than the name the uscis has.  Far to many people have had issues. 

YMMV

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Norway
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3 minutes ago, Jenna Ting said:

You'll need your valid i94,usually you can get it updated 1 week after you arrive in the USA. Not sure if you'll get married soon or not,if you'd change your name after the wedding ,then you need to wait till you've gotten the Marriage record .It's convenient to go on the website of your local social security office ,fill out the form, print it out ,bring it with your valid i94 , passport ,marriage certificate then it'll be done soon.Your social security number card will be mailed to you in 2 to 4 weeks. 

Ok, thank you so much for your reply :) 

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Filed: F-2A Visa Country: Russia
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56 minutes ago, CEE53147 said:

What is a couple of days in your immigration journey?  Take some time to unpack, meet your neighbors (get their phone numbers!), have a special dinner, take a bubble bath, go to the zoo, ...  The SSN will get done soon enough.

 

32 minutes ago, Annikena said:

Either answer the question I asked or dont say anything at all. Im pretty sure I will be able to do more than one thing in a day ;)

 

You did not ask a question regarding what I am writing about next. The members response to you is probably with the following spirit I can relate to after going through the K-visa process.

 

With a K-visa, yes you can get Social Security card relatively quickly, however,  since you are probably a very active person, you are probably not going to like the following aspects of the K-visa path. 

 

You won't be able to get a State ID/Driver's License and/or work legally until 3-4 months after your I-485 gets filed with work document requested, which is filed after you get married. 

 

I went through this very difficult time and it really can test one's patience when I have been driving all of my adult life.  Imagine ... you want to plan for a wedding and you can't drive legally.  So I used Uber/Lyft a lot and did a lot of things like a tourist and took English classes ... free ones for immigrants at a local college and met a lot of friends that way.

 

Congratulations on your visa and hang in there with the K-visa difficulties to having a normal life until after you get your work document.

Edited by Juniper
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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Philippines
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34 minutes ago, Annikena said:

Either answer the question I asked or dont say anything at all. 

Be careful not to violate the site TOS

YMMV

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Norway
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2 minutes ago, Juniper said:

 

 

You did not ask a question regarding what I am writing about next. The members response to you is probably with the following spirit I can relate to after going through the K-visa process.

 

With a K-visa, yes you can get Social Security card relatively quickly, however,  since you are probably a very active person, you are probably not going to like the following aspects of the K-visa path. 

 

You won't be able to get a State ID/Driver's License and/or work legally until 3-4 months after your I-485 gets filed with work document requested, which is filed after you get married. 

 

I went through this very difficult time and it really can test one's patience when I have been driving all of my adult life.  Imagine ... you want to plan for a wedding and you can't drive legally.  So I used Uber/Lyft a lot and did a lot of things like a tourist and took English classes ... free ones for immigrants at a local college and met a lot of friends that way.

 

Congratulations on your visa and hang in there with the K-visa difficulties to having a normal life until after you get your work document.

I am well aware of all of this. I wrote this post asking about SSN. Thank you for taking the time to write tho. 

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Norway
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1 minute ago, payxibka said:

Be careful not to violate the site TOS

Pretty sure I am allowed to tell you to post comments that are related to what I am asking, not give me condescending "advice". 

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Philippines
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Just now, Annikena said:

Pretty sure I am allowed to tell you to post comments that are related to what I am asking, not give me condescending "advice". 

Read the TOS and report back with your findings.   You will be enlightened 

YMMV

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
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Let me clarify:  I would certainly get a SSN as soon as possible... Opening a bank account, renting an apartment, and other things are much easier........and there is no reason to wait the full 2 weeks as indicated in the VJ guide.  Back, before electronic I-94s, etc., it was better to wait....but not now... 

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

August 7, 2022: Wife filed N-400 Online under 5 year rule.

November 10, 2022: Received "Interview is scheduled" letter.

December 12, 2022:  Received email from Dallas office informing me (spouse) to be there for combo interview.

December 14, 2022: Combo Interview for I-751 and N-400 Conducted.

January 26, 2023: Wife's Oath Ceremony completed at the Plano Event Center, Plano, Texas!!!😁

February 6, 2023: Wife's Passport Application submitted in Dallas, Texas.

March 21, 2023:   Wife's Passport Delivered!!!!

May 15, 2023 (about):  Naturalization Certificate returned from Passport agency!!

 

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Norway
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Just now, payxibka said:

Read the TOS and report back with your findings.   You will be enlightened 

Not here to argue with you. Literally just wanted advice about SSN. If you have anything to say about that, then I would be happy about, if not; then lets move on.  I am sure we both have better things to do ;) 

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Norway
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3 minutes ago, missileman said:

Let me clarify:  I would certainly get a SSN as soon as possible... Opening a bank account, renting an apartment, and other things are much easier........and there is no reason to wait the full 2 weeks as indicated in the VJ guide.  Back, before electronic I-94s, etc., it was better to wait....but not now... 

Thank you! I appreciate it :) So as soon as the I-94 is available I can just go and apply for the SSN? Do you know when it is available?

Edited by Annikena
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