So hard to find answers

[spi9959]

Wife's daughter (who is over 21 and unmarried) and her 11 year-old son who live in Russia have visa availability for F-1, family-sponsored which we're in the process on acting on, and hope to complete by mid to late 2017. Petitioner is my wife, a US citizen living in the US. First, does anyone know if the daughter and her son will have social security numbers allocated to them upon completion of a successful interview or do they have to wait until after their arrival in the US? Secondly, and most importantly, we want to make sure that they have health insurance as soon as possible after they arrive. They'll have no US income for 2017 nor will they file a tax return for 2017. Can they get insurance through the Exchange? Someone told me that they might qualify for Medicaid here in Illinois which doesn't have the five year wait requirement, but I'm worried that financial responsibility would ultimately be my wife's (and mine) because of having signed the affidavit of support. Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!

[rayb]

The SSN's for wife and daughter will be mailed to their U.S. destination about a month after arrival in the U.S. If SSN's don't show up by 30-40 days after arrival , go to an SSA office and reapply.

You will have to apply for medical insurance through the Illinois options, as the availability and costs vary by state.

--Ray B

Wife's daughter and 11 year-old son who live in Russia have visa availability for F-1, family-sponsored which we're in the process on acting on, and hope to complete by mid to late 2017. Petitioner is my wife, a US citizen living in the US. First, does anyone know if the daughter and her son will have social security numbers allocated to them upon completion of a successful interview or do they have to wait until after their arrival in the US? Secondly, and most importantly, we want to make sure that they have health insurance as soon as possible after they arrive. They'll have no US income for 2017 nor will they file a tax return for 2017. Can they get insurance through the Exchange? Someone told me that they might qualify for Medicaid here in Illinois which doesn't have the five year wait requirement, but I'm worried that financial responsibility would ultimately be my wife's (and mine) because of having signed the affidavit of support. Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!

[spi9959]

First, if they are under 21 they are not in the F1 category. They will be in the Immediate Relative category if unmarried (or F3 if married).

Upon arrival, they will immediately become permanent residents. In the immigrant visa application, you can permit them to apply for a Social Security Number for them, but that's not always reliable so you may have to follow up after entering the US.

Furthermore, if they are under 18, upon arrival, they will also automatically become US citizens, since they are living in the US with a US citizen biological parent (their mother). Therefore, they do not need I-864 affidavit of support from the petitioner or anyone else; they will fill out I-864W instead. And as US citizens, they are not under any restrictions about getting public benefits in any state.

I'm sorry. I left out the critical information that my wife's daughter is over 21 and unmarried. I've just edited the original post to include that information.

[Adrian Gruber]

Wife's daughter (who is over 21 and unmarried) and her 11 year-old son who live in Russia have visa availability for F-1, family-sponsored which we're in the process on acting on, and hope to complete by mid to late 2017. Petitioner is my wife, a US citizen living in the US. First, does anyone know if the daughter and her son will have social security numbers allocated to them upon completion of a successful interview or do they have to wait until after their arrival in the US? Secondly, and most importantly, we want to make sure that they have health insurance as soon as possible after they arrive. They'll have no US income for 2017 nor will they file a tax return for 2017. Can they get insurance through the Exchange? Someone told me that they might qualify for Medicaid here in Illinois which doesn't have the five year wait requirement, but I'm worried that financial responsibility would ultimately be my wife's (and mine) because of having signed the affidavit of support. Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!

Normally if this falls under consular processing all documents including Social Security Cards are issued at the embassy.
Citizenship status will be a challenge as the daughter is born to a US citizen but in order for to obtain automatic US citizenship she needed to do it before age 18, the good news is she is "First Preference Category".

Concerning the Affordable Care Act: Exchanges are open to all residents (Legal) in the US.
Once your daughter is here legally she can apply for ACA benefits. However, if you and your wife are claiming your daughter as you will support her then you will need to apply for her as she is a dependant.

[rayb]

Adrian,

The SS Card is issued by the SSA and is not sent to immigrant until after he arrives in the U.S.

--Ray B

Normally if this falls under consular processing all documents including Social Security Cards are issued at the embassy.
Citizenship status will be a challenge as the daughter is born to a US citizen but in order for to obtain automatic US citizenship she needed to do it before age 18, the good news is she is "First Preference Category".

Concerning the Affordable Care Act: Exchanges are open to all residents (Legal) in the US.
Once your daughter is here legally she can apply for ACA benefits. However, if you and your wife are claiming your daughter as you will support her then you will need to apply for her as she is a dependant.

[Adrian Gruber]

Adrian,

The SS Card is issued by the SSA and is not sent to immigrant until after he arrives in the U.S.

--Ray B

Hello Ray, happy New Year.

I'm basing my comment on my experiences, in 1965 my parents applied for us in Bermuda. We went to the US embassy for processing in Hamilton. Each of us recieved our Green Card including our Social Security Cards on the spot. I'm guessing it changed?

[rayb]

Adrian,

I'm not sure about children who go thorugh CRBA process for recognition of U.S. derived citizenship and U.S. passport, but all immigrants now receive SSN's after arriving in the U.S.. The "trigger" for processing the SSN is by a response on the DS-260, the online NVC form, and arrival in the U.S. The problem with this protocol, however, is that it doesn't work in a sizable percentage of immigrant arrivals and the SSN has to be re-applied for at an SSA office if the SSN doesn't arrive in 30-45 days after arrival.

Also, however, your experience was that of someone receiving recognition of derived citizenship before you arrived in the U.S.

--Ray B

Hello Ray, happy New Year.

I'm basing my comment on my experiences, in 1965 my parents applied for us in Bermuda. We went to the US embassy for processing in Hamilton. Each of us recieved our Green Card including our Social Security Cards on the spot. I'm guessing it changed?