OldUser

There's no issue applying for marriage license before or after applying for SSN, as far as I know. Make sure to apply for SSN before marriage or at least before K-1 visa expiration though, because the next opportunity will only open in many months when receiving EAD or GC.

It takes 4-6 weeks from delivery to receive receipt in the mail. You're still within normal processing times.

I disagree with this statement. Having SSN solves a lot of issues. AOS can take a year or so, and not being able to drive / bank / build evidence of married life is painful. AOS is restrictive as is, it's not worth depriving the new immigrant of vital things. Using passport as ID is a bad idea in my opinion for at least three reasons: 1. Passport is a document for travelling outside of the US. If lost, immigrant will have issues travelling home in case of emergency. 2. Passport has endorsed immigrant visa which is proof of legal entry. If lost and if ever questioned by USCIS, it's hard to prove legal entry without it! No proof of legal entry = no adjustment in most cases. 3. Furthermore, if immigrant only has passport as ID, if lost - they have NO ID and no easy way go get a new ID. State ID / DL is a much better choice to show around. Passport is best kept safe at home when not travelling. 4. Many Americans cannot understand / don't want to / doubt foreign issued documents including passports. It's a much better idea to show state ID / DL for routine identity verification. Don't you want the immigrant to integrate in US society faster?

My opinion is somewhat different. Get SSN first while K-1 is valid. This would allow to add fiance to lease, bank accounts, health insurance and allowing to build evidence of bonafide marriage early in the process. Many people realize this when they get RFE during AOS and cannot get any new evidence without SSN.

Can I just write these words in gold? This IS the right process. Saw at least two messages today in I-751 forum where people complained about employers asking for GC while they're waiting for extension letter... To LPRs reading: Always, always show your DL (or state ID) with unrestricted SS card and you'll never have an issue.

Just go to SSA office and apply for SS card.

Same advice as here:

Same advice as here: I believe you can get unrestricted SS card as long as you have GC and extension letter. Once you have DL / state ID and unrestricted SS card educate your employer that you only need to show those for I-9 verification. Employer cannot demand to see GC.

Urgent: 1) Go to SSA office tomorrow (while 2 year GC is valid), file form SS-5 for replacement SS card without restrictions on it. The restrictions is wording "Valid for work only with DHS authorization". You'll have to show GC and ID to SSA personnel. If you don't have restrictions on your SS card, see the step 3. 2) In few weeks you will receive unrestricted SS card. 3) Assuming you have state ID or DL card that's valid, all you need to show employer is valid DL and unrestricted social security card for I-9 verification. Employer by law cannot demand to see your GC. List B and list C documents are enough to verify your work eligibility. List B document in your case is state ID or DL. List C document is unrestricted SS card. More info: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents Do not ever use GC for anything other than: 1) travelling into the US (airlines, CBP) 2) getting new / replacing ID / DL at DMV / BMV / DSP or whatever agency issues DL in your state 3) Banks when getting a mortgage / loan etc. This will save you a lot of stress. Good luck!

I don't think there's any overdoing with USCIS. Overprepared = prepared.

Being lectured or put in secondary is not the risk I was referring to. The risk of application decided not in somebody's favor while the one is overseas IS the risk I was referring to. USCIS may deny the case (sometimes without RFE / intend to deny) whether correctly or wrongfully while somebody is on AP overseas. I don't believe AP would allow the entry if underlying petition (I-485) is denied. Essentially it "dies" with denied I-485. Others can correct me.

I'd argue that you need to always build the strongest case possible. If it requires 2 inches of evidence - so be it. If it requires less - great. In my observation, people who bring thick files don't get asked much and their evidence often is not looked at. But folks who bring two pieces of paper or nothing with them get asked a lot of questions and / or issued RFEs. Strong evidence is an insurance that costs a little more to print. If one can afford - in my opinion is totally worth it One should be ready for everything, including stokes as you mentioned. Because you were prepared your interview went smooth. But if one takes it easy - that's when one gets hard times by IO.

I believe yes, some places allow it.

No you won't get denied. You can get passport first, it's totally fine. The benefit of doing SSA first is you don't leave certificate with them. But with passport, you won't have certificate back for some time, meaning you cannot get unrestricted SS card in that time.

You can download SS-5, fill it and bring it with you to SSA to save time. I'm not sure if it can be done online. When I removed restrictions on mine, SSA wasn't open and I did everything online / by post. I had to mail my actual GC to them!!! I'd think if it's still allowed, you'd me mailing naturalization certificate. I wouldn't personally take the risk. I had no choice during COVID, but now I'd walk there in person. No it wasn't mandatory. But it allowed you to only show SS card and DL to employers and not GC (plus any extension letters)

I see, I knew DMV / BMV. Now I know of DPS 😃

SSA - YES. What's DPS? Could have removed it when you got GC. But now can do it in one visit: update status to US citizen and file SS-5 for new SS card without restriction. After oath of course.

Advance parole cannot be filed before adjustment of status. Expedite request is never guaranteed. There's no official timeline for expedited requests. You can see estimated processing times for AP here https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/

There's always a risk travelling on AP. Ideally, one should not travel unless it's an emergency. I think somebody on VJ posted experience being lectured by CBP saying it should only be used for emergency when they're trying to enter the US. For the travel dates and destinations, one can always put "To be determined"

Deliver the news when you have passport with visa in hand. Nothing is certain until then. Good luck!

Yes if eligible

Agreed, but submitting one page of a bill may trigger RFE. I wouldn't submit this evidence unless there was no other evidence.

In my case tax return transcript was available 3-4 weeks after filing taxes. Maybe worth waiting?

No problem from USA side. No problem from Spain, but you need to confirm with a lawyer in Spain or at least research government websites in Spanish.

Agreed, @Juan Hernandez are you married? K-1 is for fiance not wife