What's next? SSN and name change

[Giovanne 6]

So my visa got issued today, I'm waiting on my passport to arrive. It is coming from France and all I got is it's tracking number, it's not on the system yet. So here are a few questions:

 

 

1.Does anyone know how Chronopost Europe works? On the packaging I delivered to the embassy it stated "1 day shipping". But online it says 2-5 business days for countries in Europe/

2. When I get to the USA I'll be marrying as soon as possible, I want to take my fiancee last name, so should I apply for SSN first, get married, and change the SSN later? Or should I just wait, get married and then apply for the SSN? (I'll also be changing my middle name, I never liked it, so I'll add something "nicer")

3. How long does it usually take for me to be able to get a job and start working?

4. Does anyone know if I'll be able to drive with my current Portuguese drivers license?

5. Will I be able to exchange my current drivers license to a Michigan drivers license?

6. How long does it usually take to be able to get a drivers license? (I read online that I'll be able to work much sooner than I will be able to drive, but Idk the veracity of these statements, and if so, that would greatly limit my options)

 

Thank you!

 

 

 

[Georgia16 2,858]

Get your SSN first and then go back and change name after marriage.

You need a EAD you sent that in with the AOS package so about 4-7 months to get your EAD.

 

You can read about DL here:

 

https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1640_50050-192748--,00.html

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/DE40_032001_20459_7.pdf

[Eric&Mirella 367]

Be aware that sometimes if you go "too soon" to the ssa office they won't be able to process your request. I got my SSN about 40 days later I came here. I decided to wait 3.5 weeks before applying just to be sure. 

 

 

Edited August 29, 2019 by Eric&Mirella

[Georgia16 2,858]

Just now, Eric&Mirella said:

Be aware that sometimes if you go "too soon" to the ssa office they won't be able to process your request. I got my SSN about 40 days later I came here. I decided to wait 3.5 weeks before applying just to be sure. 

I went the day after I got here. As long as she can print out the I-94 and everything on that is correct then she'll be fine.

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,093]

1 minute ago, Eric&Mirella said:

Be aware that sometimes if you go "too soon" to the ssa office they won't be able to process your request. I got my SSN about 40 days later I came here. I decided to wait 3.5 weeks before applying just to be sure. 

That's not really the case anymore. If you're going to be able to be processed without manual verification, they'll almost certainly be able to do it within a few days of POE (they certainly were for Anastasia). And if you are going to need manual verification, you might as well get them started ASAP.

[Eric&Mirella 367]

1 minute ago, Georgia16 said:

I went the day after I got here. As long as she can print out the I-94 and everything on that is correct then she'll be fine.

Not always, when I was at the office I saw several cases of people turned down because they had arrived that same week. They were students and k1.  That's why I said "sometimes" 

[Giovanne 6]

1 minute ago, DaveAndAnastasia said:

That's not really the case anymore. If you're going to be able to be processed without manual verification, they'll almost certainly be able to do it within a few days of POE (they certainly were for Anastasia). And if you are going to need manual verification, you might as well get them started ASAP.

we're talking about SSN right? this is all new to me

[Eric&Mirella 367]

4 minutes ago, DaveAndAnastasia said:

That's not really the case anymore. If you're going to be able to be processed without manual verification, they'll almost certainly be able to do it within a few days of POE (they certainly were for Anastasia). And if you are going to need manual verification, you might as well get them started ASAP.

In my case I had no issues. I had my SSN card like 5 days later, but I did see people being turned down  because they went "too early" hence my comment. That was at the El cajon office in San Diego. 

[Eric&Mirella 367]

You can check this link : 

https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm

You need to print and take your i-94 with you. After you enter you should print your i-94 from here: 

https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home

 

 

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,093]

15 minutes ago, Giovanne said:

we're talking about SSN right? this is all new to me

Yes.

 

9 minutes ago, Eric&Mirella said:

In my case I had no issues. I had my SSN card like 5 days later, but I did see people being turned down  because they went "too early" hence my comment. That was at the El cajon office in San Diego. 

We were downtown (because we happened to already be nearby due to ring shopping; otherwise we would have been in San Marcos).

[EllyLilia 9]

2 hours ago, Georgia16 said:

Get your SSN first and then go back and change name after marriage.

Interesting topic.  I am new to it too. Why do you think that it's better to get SSN first and then go for another one (with changed family/last name after marriage)? 

It's seems logical and more easy to me to go for it after marriage. Is there anything important in that sequence which I don't know?

Thank you!

[Pitaya 2,577]

2 hours ago, Giovanne said:

So my visa got issued today, I'm waiting on my passport to arrive. It is coming from France and all I got is it's tracking number, it's not on the system yet. So here are a few questions:

 

 

1.Does anyone know how Chronopost Europe works? On the packaging I delivered to the embassy it stated "1 day shipping". But online it says 2-5 business days for countries in Europe/ dunno

2. When I get to the USA I'll be marrying as soon as possible, I want to take my fiancee last name, so should I apply for SSN first, get married, and change the SSN later? Or should I just wait, get married and then apply for the SSN? (I'll also be changing my middle name, I never liked it, so I'll add something "nicer") See VJ K1 Flowchart for sequence.

3. How long does it usually take for me to be able to get a job and start working? You can only work after obtaining a SSN and an EAD, see AOS links below.

4. Does anyone know if I'll be able to drive with my current Portuguese drivers license? Check with Michigan DOL, each state is different: https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1627_8669_9040_9042_47086---,00.html

5. Will I be able to exchange my current drivers license to a Michigan drivers license? Refer to #4

6. How long does it usually take to be able to get a drivers license? (I read online that I'll be able to work much sooner than I will be able to drive, but Idk the veracity of these statements, and if so, that would greatly limit my options) Refer to #4 and associated requirements.

 

Thank you!

 

 

 

Agree with others. For the SSN, go to the SSA web site, fill out and print the Form SS-5.

 

VJ Flowchart sequence is still useful, timeline is dated: https://www.visajourney.com/content/k1flow/

 

Regarding DLs, check out this VJ Forum, similar topics are often discussed at this forum: https://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/15-moving-to-the-us-and-your-new-life-in-america/

 

For AOS/EAD/AP, file concurrently as soon as possible after marriage:

https://www.visajourney.com/content/k1k3aos/

https://www.visajourney.com/content/k1aos/

https://www.uscis.gov/i-485 , check out special instructions tab for concurrent AOS/EAD/AP filing.

https://www.uscis.gov/forms-filing-tips

 

Good luck on your immigration journey.

 

 

 

[Pitaya 2,577]

18 minutes ago, EllyLilia said:

Interesting topic.  I am new to it too. Why do you think that it's better to get SSN first and then go for another one (with changed family/last name after marriage)? 

It's seems logical and more easy to me to go for it after marriage. Is there anything important in that sequence which I don't know?

Thank you!

See VJ K1 Flowchart link in above posting.

[EllyLilia 9]

36 minutes ago, Pitaya said:

See VJ K1 Flowchart link in above posting.

Thanks, Pitaya. I saw that link previously, but it is still not clear for me Why is it so. Why is it not recommended to go for SSN after marriage? Doing it twice adds more steps to this already not very trivial process. The explanation would be highly appreciated.  

[Pitaya 2,577]

1 minute ago, EllyLilia said:

Thanks, Pitaya. I saw that link previously, but it is still not clear for me Why is it so. Why is it not recommended to go for SSN after marriage? Doing it twice adds more steps to this already not very trivial process. The explanation would be highly appreciated.  

Yep, and sometimes the clerks at the SSA offices are not the sharpest tools in the shed. The big thing that SSA has to verify is the person's entry into the CBP's SAVE program. The SAVE system is based upon the Form I-94. It is now automated, but until a few years ago, the data from the paper forms had to be hand-inputted into the SAVE system. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't, it still has glitches. You have to have a valid I-94 to get a SSN. Many people can and do apply for SSN after marriage. That is what we had to do, since it took the sloths at CBP inputting the I-94 data over six weeks to get my wife's info entered into the SAVE system (but I-94 was still valid. Additionally, in some locales (i.e., Los Angeles County) it can take several weeks (months) in order to get a copy of your certified marriage license. By that time, your I-94 has expired and your window of opportunity to get a SSN is closed, then you have to go through another set of hoops (AOS receipts). You will see that getting all of these disparate pieces of evidence is not always that easy and straight-forward. Sorry, for the roundabout explanation, get your SSN as soon as you can, you can always change the last name later.

 

HTH>