Life during AOS waiting time

[Anaar 2]

Hi all,

 

I often heard about the limbo state after one has moved over to the US, got married and have applied for their AOS. I am wondering what are we allowed to do during this period of time. Maybe people who are going through it can shed some light.

 

Can we do the below whilst waiting for our AOS?

 

• Buy a car
• Apply for a driving license (Oklahoma in my case)
• Open a bank account
• Buy property or land
• Work 
• Have a medical insurance (not job-related if working isn't possible)

 

 

[EatBulaga 252]

1 hour ago, Anaar said:

Hi all,

 

I often heard about the limbo state after one has moved over to the US, got married and have applied for their AOS. I am wondering what are we allowed to do during this period of time. Maybe people who are going through it can shed some light.

 

Can we do the below whilst waiting for our AOS?

 

• Buy a car
• Apply for a driving license (Oklahoma in my case)
• Open a bank account
• Buy property or land
• Work 
• Have a medical insurance (not job-related if working isn't possible)

 

 

Yes to everything you listed, except:

Can not work until the EAD or GC.

Can not travel outside of the country until AP or GC.

 

The foreign spouse can be added as beneficiary to the retirement accounts, 401K, etc.

Make social connections like friends,  church groups, etc. since you can ask them to write letters for proof of ongoing relationship, etc.

Build evidence of bona fide marriage.

 

Also, foreign spouse can take classes to build up skills. Some schools may want to charge international student tuition for degree track courses so you may want to research the best options. My foreign spouse is taking cheap online courses for certifications instead of degree. And after the foreign spouse gets state residency, the spouse can pay in-state tuition for degree programs.

Edited March 17, 2023 by EatBulaga

[Mike E 11,723]

1 hour ago, Anaar said:

Hi all,

 

I often heard about the limbo state after one has moved over to the US, got married and have applied for their AOS. I am wondering what are we allowed to do during this period of time. Maybe people who are going through it can shed some light.

 

Can we do the below whilst waiting for our AOS?

 

• Buy a car

I’ve nought cars in 4 states and always needed a state drivers license. 

1 hour ago, Anaar said:

 

• Apply for a driving license (Oklahoma in my case)

The answer appears to be no:

https://oklahoma.gov/service/all-pages/required-documents.html
 

https://oklahoma.gov/service/sokonline/online-real-id-checklist.html
 

 

1 hour ago, Anaar said:

• Open a bank account

Depends on the bank. Online, probably not. Bricks and mortar: varies. Wells Fargo will ime. 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Anaar said:

• Buy property or land

yes

1 hour ago, Anaar said:

 

• Work 

no

1 hour ago, Anaar said:

• Have a medical insurance (not job-related if working isn't possible)

 

 

Yes. However there is less friction if you have an SSN. 2 working days after you arrive in the U.S. you need to apply for an SSN. And you need to do it before you are married (sone have had luck applying after getting married) .

[Sarah&Facundo 576]

You can get medical insurance, but it's an uphill battle to get it. Be prepared to do a lot of arguing, but yes you can. I highly recommend getting a social security number before doing that though (although I believe technically, you aren't supposed to need one).

 

No, you can not work until you have your EAD card (many months after you apply for it).

 

It is tough to open a bank account. Most banks won't allow it, although some will.  In our case, Chase said no even though I was already an account holder, but Wells Fargo let us open a joint account. Again, you need that SSN to get anywhere with most of them. 

 

Regarding buying property, it would be nearly impossible to get a mortgage without any credit. I don't know how that would be different if you were paying cash.

[Anaar 2]

7 minutes ago, Sarah&Facundo said:

Regarding buying property, it would be nearly impossible to get a mortgage without any credit. I don't know how that would be different if you were paying cash.

Thank you for your response.

 

What if we get a mortgage together? me and my partner are planning on buying a home together as soon as we can once I move there.

[Sarah&Facundo 576]

2 minutes ago, Anaar said:

Thank you for your response.

 

What if we get a mortgage together? me and my partner are planning on buying a home together as soon as we can once I move there.

We were looking at homes, but ultimately we did not go through with it. I am the USC and the advise I was given by several realtors/lenders was that I should not get a mortgage with my husband. Having my husband's name on the mortgage would increase the interest rate since he had no credit score coming into the country nor could he contribute financially (since he could not work) or possibly not get approved at all. They recommended my husband's name could be on the deed to the house, but I should not apply with him for the mortgage.  Keep in mind that interest rates have gone up a lot in the last couple of years as well. 

[Crazy Cat 39,206]

5 minutes ago, Anaar said:

Thank you for your response.

 

What if we get a mortgage together? me and my partner are planning on buying a home together as soon as we can once I move there.

Depends on the lender policies.  Without a Green Card, you might be out of luck.   My wife and I got a low interest mortgage, but she was a legal resident (Green Card holder). 

Edited March 17, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Chancy 6,233]

*** Moved from K1 Process & Procedures to Moving to the US & Your New Life In America forum -- topic is about procedures after completion of visa process and US entry ***

 

[SalishSea 16,764]

6 hours ago, Anaar said:

Hi all,

 

I often heard about the limbo state after one has moved over to the US, got married and have applied for their AOS. I am wondering what are we allowed to do during this period of time. Maybe people who are going through it can shed some light.

 

Can we do the below whilst waiting for our AOS?

 

• Buy a car
• Apply for a driving license (Oklahoma in my case)
• Open a bank account
• Buy property or land
• Work 
• Have a medical insurance (not job-related if working isn't possible)

 

 

You cannot work without the EAD or green card.  Have a look at your state's DMV website to see if you can drive - all states are different.

 

 

[SalishSea 16,764]

3 hours ago, Anaar said:

Thank you for your response.

 

What if we get a mortgage together? me and my partner are planning on buying a home together as soon as we can once I move there.

You can, but with no credit history, it will be a challenge.

[*Snowdrop* 603]

 

You can do a lot to prepare and get ready for the AOS waiting time:

 

 

[top_secret 2,060]

Your fiancé can add you as an authorized user on his credit cards now.  Most banks only require a name and a birth date to add an authorized user.  This will have the effect of spawning your credit file and starting you out with a good credit score. (assuming  your fiancé has good credit).  I couldn't comment on what other requirements a mortgage lender may have but my wife's credit score the day she arrived would have qualified for any mortgage.

[Vulpis 24]

1 hour ago, top_secret said:

Your fiancé can add you as an authorized user on his credit cards now.  Most banks only require a name and a birth date to add an authorized user.  This will have the effect of spawning your credit file and starting you out with a good credit score. (assuming  your fiancé has good credit).  I couldn't comment on what other requirements a mortgage lender may have but my wife's credit score the day she arrived would have qualified for any mortgage.

My information maybe out of date, but Chase and American Express both require social security numbers within a certain amount of time (IIRC it is a few months) when adding authorized users.

[top_secret 2,060]

15 minutes ago, Vulpis said:

My information maybe out of date, but Chase and American Express both require social security numbers within a certain amount of time (IIRC it is a few months) when adding authorized users.

I don't have an Amex so I can't comment on that. For Chase, log in at chase.com and go  "More">"Account services">"Add authorized user".  It asks you simply name and date of birth and if you want the card mailed to primary cardholders address.  Capital One requires a SS# only if you set up online access for the authorized user, otherwise ss# is optional.  Citi, Barclays and Discover all will let you add an authorized user online with just a name and date of birth.  Those are the banks I know first hand where I actually did add my wife long before she ever set foot in the US.

[TBoneTX 43,040]

6 hours ago, *Snowdrop* said:

You can do a lot to prepare and get ready for the AOS waiting time:

Lynne, someone from my VJ era!   

I'll inquire about getting this one pinned.