What's next? SSN and name change

[Giovanne 6]

53 minutes ago, RJ_MA said:

Hello.

I am from Portugal and I took my interview in France. My passport got in the mail 4 days after the interview so that was pretty quick. After that I bought my flight and I was ready to go.

To your questions as I've been through many of them recently:

 

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") I needed my marriage certificate to apply for a SSN, so I'd say get married first. Going to the Social Security office and applying for a SSN can be a patience game. I went there the day I got married. They asked me for the marriage certificate, I-94 and my passport. I've also changed my name but I have a huuuuuuge name so that was the first problem. It wouldn't fit their filling spaces. The person there suggested I'd give them a name I'd like to use here so I went with my first, maiden and my husband's last. I waited for 4 weeks as they said it could around that and nothing came in the mail. I went back there and they said that it didn't get through because of my name change so I had to apply all again. I was a little bit mad but the manager happened to be passing by and heard me. He was super nice and helpful (the fact that he was portuguese migth have helped hehe) and they ended up tracking my application and giving me my SSN right away. After two days I got my card in the mail.

 

 3. How long does it usually take for me to be able to get a job and start working? After you get married apply rigth away for the AOS (adjustment of Status). Also apply for the EAD (Work permit) and the AP (Advance Parole) combo card. That will allow you to work and travel while your green card doesn't arrive - GC takes a while. The average waiting now for the EAD/AP combo card now is from 4-7 months depending on the office your send the documents to - mine is Illionois. You can't work without your work permit.

 

 

4. Does anyone know if I'll be able to drive with my current Portuguese drivers license? I am currently driving with mine. I advise you to get the IDP (International Drivers Permit) as our drivers license doesn't have English translation on it and we need it to drive around the states. You have to get yours in Portugal - If that's where you are now. All the other questions you should go to the RMV of your state  either their office or website and dig into that. 

 

 

 

 

 

Obrigado, how long does it take to get a IDP in PT?

[JFH 12,189]

*~*~*moved from “K-1 fiancé visa process and procedures” to “moving to the USA”*~*~*

[amah91 28]

5 minutes ago, Giovanne said:

Obrigado, how long does it take to get a IDP in PT?

De nada. I went to ACP - automóvel clube de Portugal and it was immediate. 

 

[JFH 12,189]

7 minutes ago, Giovanne said:

Obrigado, how long does it take to get a IDP in PT?

I would first check with the DMV that you are permitted to drive on a foreign license. Tourists can use foreign licenses here. But people who live here are required to have state driver licenses. The question is, when does your state consider you a resident? Some states require a green card or EAD to consider you a resident. Some will allow K-1 people to apply for a license immediately but it is only valid for the duration of their I-94. To my knowledge, no state will allow a resident of that state to drive on an overseas license beyond the initial transition phase when they first arrive (typically you are granted between 10 and 30 days after moving to a state to obtain a license from that state). 

 

Also check that if you are driving on a foreign license that your insurance company is aware of this. 

[Giovanne 6]

16 minutes ago, JFH said:

I would first check with the DMV that you are permitted to drive on a foreign license. Tourists can use foreign licenses here. But people who live here are required to have state driver licenses. The question is, when does your state consider you a resident? Some states require a green card or EAD to consider you a resident. Some will allow K-1 people to apply for a license immediately but it is only valid for the duration of their I-94. To my knowledge, no state will allow a resident of that state to drive on an overseas license beyond the initial transition phase when they first arrive (typically you are granted between 10 and 30 days after moving to a state to obtain a license from that state). 

 

Also check that if you are driving on a foreign license that your insurance company is aware of this. 

I'll look that up for the state of Michigan

[amah91 28]

Quote

 But people who live here are required to have state driver licenses.

 

Correct. Depending on the state you can use your IDP for a little bit usually until your I-94 expires. It's Massachusetts case.

[Giovanne 6]

Another question: I need glasses but I don't currently own any, my fiancee said that she will put me on her health insurance, meaning those glasses would be free, hence me not buying them yet. When should I be expect to be under her health insurance? Can I do it as soon as I get my SSN/Marriage certificate?

Edited August 30, 2019 by Giovanne

[amah91 28]

On 8/30/2019 at 11:57 AM, Giovanne said:

Another question: I need glasses but I don't currently own any, my fiancee said that she will put me on her health insurance, meaning those glasses would be free, hence me not buying them yet. When should I be expect to be under her health insurance? Can I do it as soon as I get my SSN/Marriage certificate?

Hi again,

Yes, after you get married you should be able to join your fiancée’s health insurance from a single insurance plan to a family one. 

[Del A. 44]

On 8/30/2019 at 7:00 AM, Scandi said:

I later sent an email to CBP and they actually fixed the issue, they managed to fit my whole name somehow.

Hi, I'd like to ask some things, if you don't mind.

My SSN application is going through manual verification right now. They didn't specify what the issue was, I didn't ask either. How did you e-mail CBP, and should I contact them to inquire about the mishap (perhaps it would speed up their review)?

Also, just in case you have an idea: I applied for SSN a week ago (13th) and my I-94 expires October 22nd. Should my SSN be issued earlier than 2 weeks prior to the 22nd for it to be valid? Or will the application process continue beyond the I-94 expiry because I applied for it in time (just in case the manual verification takes much longer)?