K1 entry and timing (split)

[emergence 47]

On a somewhat tangential note, does anyone know of a good guide for what to do and how to time things once you enter the US on a K-1? I know, for example, that you have a specific period of time to get a SSN before getting your green card. We are really hoping to get my fiance able to work as soon as possible because my job situation is a bit dicey. 

[Ontarkie 13,979]

~~Post split off an unrelated thread.~~

[Chancy 6,233]

5 hours ago, emergence said:

I know, for example, that you have a specific period of time to get a SSN before getting your green card. We are really hoping to get my fiance able to work as soon as possible because my job situation is a bit dicey. 

 

Apply for SSN within 1 week of US entry on K1 visa.  Deadline is until day 76 after US entry, but you would want to apply for SSN as soon as possible, in case there are delays with SSA verifying the applicant's immigration status.

 

Note that even if the K1 visa holder gets SSN, they are not legally authorized to work until they get their EAD or GC.

 

Check the thread below for more suggestions on the order of tasks after arriving on K1 --

 

 

[SalishSea 16,977]

5 hours ago, emergence said:

On a somewhat tangential note, does anyone know of a good guide for what to do and how to time things once you enter the US on a K-1? I know, for example, that you have a specific period of time to get a SSN before getting your green card. We are really hoping to get my fiance able to work as soon as possible because my job situation is a bit dicey. 

If working was important, K-1 wasn't the best choice.  It is taking up to 8 months to get the work authorization....

[emergence 47]

14 minutes ago, SalishSea said:

If working was important, K-1 wasn't the best choice.  It is taking up to 8 months to get the work authorization....

Yes, we know that now. Unfortunately we can’t time travel back two years and get married instead. We opted for K-1 at the time because we believed the wait would be shorter, as it was before COVID. From this vantage point, it probably would have been more or less the same wait time and the CR-1 is superior in basically every other respect.
 

We’re hoping to expedite EAD since my fiancés employer wants to continue to employ him in the US and will provide an offer letter to do so.

Edited May 22, 2023 by emergence