Arrival in the U.S.

Should I obtain a Social Security Card for my Fiancé?

Yes! As soon as your Fiancé arrives, go and register her for a social security number. It will take a couple weeks for her card to arrive, but there are so many American forms and processes that require a Social Security Number, that you will find yourself glad you got this early. Apply within the first 10 days she is here if possible. If her K-1 Visa is close to expiration (married or not) she will not get a card.

In fact, she can't get a SSN later unless she has either a work permission card or adjustment of status. Both of these processes take months to complete, and during that time she will not be able to work legally, apply for a bank account or file taxes. Once married you will also need her SSN for any work related benefits your company provides such as medical, dental and life insurance plans.

What should I know about her getting a drivers license?

If your fiancé knows how to drive and has a license from her home country, get her driving license after she has her Social Security Number. This will be easier while her K-1 is still valid. Even if she marries you, her K-1 will expire in 90 days. Nothing can be done to extend that date, and applying for her adjustment is not automatic. For this reason, many government and authority offices do not recognize the proof that you applied for status (I-797) as a valid document. Your fiancé can drive on an International license for a period of 3-6 months usually, but many insurance companies do not recognize International licenses. This puts you and your fiancé at risk should an accident occur. A local license cures this issue and helps her establish residency in the state. It is also looked at by employers as a way to establish a background check for a potential employee, again this can work for your and her benefit.

How Can I help my Fiancée Adjust to life in the U.S.?

There are many things you can do and should anticipate doing after your Fiancée arrives. Imagine you are in her situation: You have left everything and everyone you know behind and now have to start over making friends and adjusting to life in a foreign country. The appliances are different in the house. The TV Stations are all in English and the Radio only plays American music.  IT will take some time for your Fiancée to adjust to so many new things at once but you can help.

A survey of American husbands who married Russian women revealed that Russian TV and Radio (available on the Internet or through Satellite Dish) made a big impact on their wives ability to assimilate into American Culture.  It allows your Fiancée to relax, to see and hear news and media from her home country. After all, she is translating non stop throughout the day and needs some time to let her mind calm down. If you're interested in Russian Satellite Channels, you can review the latest offerings on the media page.

Russian discussion groups are also very popular throughout the world. You can find local Russian speakers, many who may be in the same situation as you, by searching sites such as MeetUp.com This can be a great resource for making for making friends and meeting other Russians.