Purple_Paladin

while you technically can
you would have to file the I-485, wait for the NOA1, and then file the I-765.
 
everything is a lot smoother if you file everything via paper at once

You will pay OOP for this regardless of insurance so I would get this scheduled as quickly as possible so that you can file it with the original submission package. You don't want to be dealing with an RFE later on in the process for this and delaying your case because of it. This link that @MalloryCat provided will find you all the options for a Civil Surgeon in your area https://www.uscis.gov/tools/find-a-civil-surgeon  Be advised that we had to call over a dozen civil surgeon offices before we found one that would do just the vaccine assessment part of the I-693. That's why I advise you make this a priority.

Does the co-sponsor file a seperate I-864? He's married. Does he file with his wife? (They file taxes jointly.) - yes he does. he will check the box on the I-864 "I am the only joint sponsor". his wife would fill out an I-864A. https://www.uscis.gov/i-864a. 
 
Is it correct that we do not need to file a separate I-864 for my step-daughter? - All intending immigrants must file an I-864 with their AOS packet. However, it can be just a copy of the one you fill out for your husband. From the I-864 instructions:
"Who Needs to Submit Form I-864? In general, the following immigrants are required by law to submit Form I-864 completed by the petitioner to obtain an immigrant visa overseas or to adjust status to that of a lawful permanent resident in the United States:
Person admitted to the United States as a K-1 nonimmigrant fiancé(e) or K-2 nonimmigrant child of a fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen and who seeks to adjust status on that basis"
 
What do I check off on my I-864 to indicate that there is a co-sponsor (to cover the fact that I won't meet the 
% requirement.)  - the only thing you check on your I-864 is the first option "I am the petitioner. I filed or an filing for the immigration of my relative" 
include a cover letter with you I-864, you can state in there that you are using a joint sponsor. 
 
The doc from the US embassy in France who did his medical exam gave him a hard time about vaccs that he already had (she marked that he didn't have them when he had proof that he did... it was one of the ones you get in 2 or 3 and he had the 3.) He literally got everything that was on the list but apparently they changed the requirement the day before his appointment.
In any case, I think that means we have to get him signed off by a civil surgeon? Where do we go for that? I did do a search and came up with a list of names locally... is it just a doctor with a specific certification from the government? - you can use this from the USCIS site to find a civil surgeon https://www.uscis.gov/tools/find-a-civil-surgeon. you may want to shop around. a lot of them will not just do the vaccine portion of the I-693.
 
My husband and step daughter won't be active on my insurance until October. I don't know if it's wise to wait so I guess we're paying oop for that. - this is not covered by medical insurance any way. you will have to pay out of pocket regardless. 
 
Facts that may or may not be relevant:
The co-sponsor does not live with us. He is a family member.
 
Also, for the I-765, (auth to work) do we have to file for the I-864 first?  - you file ALL forms together (I-485, I-864, I-765) in the same packet. 
 
I highly suggest watching some YouTube videos from people on how they organized their packets. It helped us a lot when we were putting ours together. 
 
I also highly suggest you read the instructions for the I-864. This is the thing that most people get RFEs for - https://www.uscis.gov/i-864 - https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-864instr.pdf
read it till your eyes bleed LOL
 

if you get married before, you might run into the issue of someone at the SSO saying you can't get the SSN because the visa has been "used" since you got married.
but you technically have until 2 weeks before his I-94 expires. so you should be able to apply for one within 75 days of his arrival regardless. 

I was clicking on Travel History from the actual I94 😅 Ok, so we're good for that!
 
Thank you!

It's best to apply for the SSN before marrying.  In my case, my fiance (now wife) applied before we married and she did not get her SSN until after we married.

Quick Update: I called the SS office and asked what I'd need. The agent said that the K1, his passport, and the I-94 should be enough. The agent reccomended that my fiance bring his French identity card as well.

Yes, it is possible to obtain a marriage license in Pennsylvania even if one of the parties does not have a Social Security number (SSN). In such cases, the applicant without an SSN is typically required to present a passport or another form of official photo identification as an alternative. 
Here's a more detailed explanation:
SSN Requirement:
Pennsylvania law requires applicants to provide their SSN if they have one. 
Alternative for Non-SSN Holders:
If an applicant does not have an SSN, they can provide a passport or another form of valid photo identification instead. 
Required Documents:
Generally, both individuals need to appear in person at the Marriage License Bureau with valid photo identification and, if applicable, a divorce decree or other relevant documents. 
Application Process:
The couple will complete an application form, provide necessary information, and pay the required fee. 
License Issuance:
Once the application is processed and approved, the marriage license will be issued. 

They don't give you the documents from the sealed K1 package back at POE

As @MalloryCat says it depends on the state. In California I needed my EAD in order to apply for a State Driving License

I was advised to go to the SSA office about 2 weeks after travelling here when applying for the SSN just to allow time for the immigration and SSA systems to correspond with each other (that was my understanding anyway).

So you're saying that they ask for the SSN when you apply for a marriage license, but it's not mandatory to have the SSN to get the license?

Maybe I misunderstood but, as I understand it, both of these things can't be true. If we must both have an SSN to get married, then how would we apply for the SSN months after marrying?
 
Also I checked the County website and here, in PA, it's not necessary to have a SSN to marry. 

Like @MalloryCat said, they return nothing from your yellow packet to you. Jaycel was able to get her DL here without a SSN but she was required to have the EAD to get it. When they issued it, it was NOT a "Real ID" compliant license. Once she gets her green card she will have to present that and her SSN to the DMV so they can give her the "Real ID" license. Those are the rules here in CO, I'm not sure of PA.

wow.. thats crazy lol
 
that depends on the state.
I know here in michigan my husband couldn't get even a state ID card without a SSN.
but check your states rules, sometimes they have a drivers license transfer thing. where if you have a license from a certain country they will accept that and give you a license for that state.
for example, in Michigan, german citizens could get a michigan license if they had a valid drivers license from germany. unfortunately my husband didn't have that so we have to go through the whole drivers test process for him. 

is he able to get another certified copy of his birth certificate?
 
that will be needed for AOS as well
 
they won't give you anything from the packet at POE

When we got Jaycel's SSN right after we arrived, we brought her I-94, her passport with the stamped K-1 visa in it and her birth certificate and that was enough for them to issue the SSN (BTW you do not get the I-94 at the Port of Entry) you go in the website a couple of days after arrival and download it)

Both can be true. Depending on state and county, you get asked for SSN to get license. If you have it, you provide it. If you don't have it, you say "I don't have it".
 
It's best to get SSN before marrying though. Because SSA staff become reluctant to issue SSN once married until you have EAD. The reason is, I-94 becomes invalid the moment K-1 fiance marries. Their K-1 status is based on them being unmarried from what I understand.
 

The Real ID rules are the same here, but it's unclear if he'll be able to get a standard non-Real ID license without the SSD. We'll go and try and hope for the best.
Thank you for the reply!

You can get an SSN before marriage, you just need valid passport with visa inside and print out of I94. I didn't take my birth cert, but states may differ.
 
It was only after I received my first SSN and got married that I had problems getting my name updated to my married name. I had to wait until I could show them my EAD for them to verify my identity.
 
For me, I think I messed up the timing of getting added to accounts as we tried to do that with my maiden name SSN, but we were already married so my legal name had changed. It wasn't adding up to their system so we couldn't do it. I'm now just waiting to receive my new SSN with married name and our next steps are for me to get added to accounts and look into a driving license.

Technically, yes. But considering I do not understand why creating two new lines would not count, I feel like we might end up paying like 100 dollars to set up new phonelines and then try to change them over and run into an issue getting the new phones comped. But I have delegated that to my fiance, I have enough ####### to deal with right now, lol. 

Update for those following:
 
They gave him the new passport, they asked him to submit a declaration that he would destroy the old passport (standard in France) once he's finished using it since the embassy attached the K1 to the old passport.
 
The cat has had all of his medical appointments/shots and now has his own passport.
 
Regarding his cell phone: it's showing signs of age so we'll just get him a new one on my plan when he gets here, same with step-daughter.
 

Update for those following:
 
They gave him the new passport, they asked him to submit a declaration that he would destroy the old passport (standard in France) once he's finished using it since the embassy attached the K1 to the old passport.
 
The cat has had all of his medical appointments/shots and now has his own passport.
 
Regarding his cell phone: it's showing signs of age so we'll just get him a new one on my plan when he gets here, same with step-daughter.
 

Congratulations!
 
I am taking my cat too and here's what I was asked to provide.
 
- Vaccine records (we have the 4in1 vaccine; the most important is vaccine against feline panleukopenia)
- updated anti-rabies shot/s
- microchip
- deworming records
- Import certificate from Bureau of Animal Industry
- Clearance from the veterinarian
 
There are the most common requirements based on my research.
 

most banks require a SSN at the very least to open a bank account. some require a state ID as well.
you might be able to add him to a joint account without a state ID, but he will need a SSN. Which he can apply for one when he gets into the US. Just not before. He'll need to make an appointment with a SSO for that. you cannot just walk in anymore -
but in short, no he more than likely cannot open a US bank account until after he arrives and has gotten an SSN
 
you might need to check directly with whatever airline he will be coming over with, but should only need documentation for the cat, like updated vaccine records. but different airlines have different requirements. but its typically very easy to do.
 
it depends on how he got his cellphone and what kind.
if he got it directly through a carrier (not sure what its like in France) it might be locked to that carrier, and he would have to get a different one in the states.
if it is something he got secondhand or directly through the manufacturer, it might be unlocked, and can be put on any cell providers plan. my husband has an iphone that he had purchased long before he moved here on his K1, but Germany almost always has phones that are unlocked, regardless of where you get them. and we were able to just add him to a cellphone plan here, no need to do anything
depending on what kind of phone he has he should be able to just google "how to check if my phone has a carrier lock" or something like that. an iphone will say "No SIM Restrictions", which means he should be able to be put on any cell plan. it should say something similar on androids.