festin

Great question! If you go to the mass.gov website and look through the teaching requirements there is an option somewhere on there about obtaining a temporary SSN. I apologize I don’t remember more steps. I just remember my fiancé having to email someone with his intentions then they set it up. Worst comes to worst, you call someone from the education board and ask for assistance. 
 
Once he had the temp SSN # he sent in his collegiate degrees and certificates to the MA education board who then reviewed them and provided the American equivalent degree he had earned. From there he was told what license(s) he was eligible for and was able to study for the MTEL’s he was required to pass for the license. 
 
He was able to take the MTEL’s in South Africa. As long as there’s a Pearson testing center in the country your partner lives in, they can take the tests. The results do take a month to come back. 
 
I hope that that made sense and/or was helpful!!! 

Surprisingly, Ankara asked us for our facebook ID when we filed I-130. So I guess they accept it as a proof of bonafide relationship.

We have a similar case too, our exceptional circumstances fall under Job Offer and Pregnancy .
Dec. 19, 2017 ~ we emailed US Embassy in Ankara.
Dec. 21, 2017 ~ Embassy emailed us that USCIS in Athens approved our request. Booked December 28 for filing of I-130.
Dec. 28, 2017 ~ We filed I-130 at the Embassy in Ankara.
Jan.  2, 2017 ~ I-130 was approved! Consulate in Ankara emailed us case number, checklist of documents and instruction about IR-1 visa interview. 
Now we are waiting for appointment date for IR-1 Visa Interview.