Srt Lp

I have a friend who lives in Estonia. She was in the USA 2 years back on a
1-year tourist visa when I met her, and since then we've talked a lot and we
both want her to come here and "see if things work out" between us. She
just applied for a 1-year tourist visa and it was granted, and I had a few
questions.

-Can she get a drivers license here? She has no license in Estonia, but if
she is here for a year, she is going to have to drive. I'm wondering if she
should get it now before she comes and either drive on it here (which I
believe is legal) or get some sort of converted license or temporary license
when she gets here

-Can you get a social security card on a non-immigrant visa? If she can,
then she can get a drivers license. On the social security website, it
appears they "may" give one if you "have a good reason" but if you are on a
tourist visa the card will say you cannot work. What do they consider a
good reason? Is "so I can get a drivers license" a good reason?

-I need to talk to her to see exactly if this is a B1 or B2 visa. I think
its a non-immigrant work visa. Does this allow her to GET a job, or is it
really meant for employees of foreign countries to come here for their
existing job?

-If things DO work out, can I apply for a fiancee visa WHILE she is in the
USA on a tourist visa? Or would her nonimmigrant visa expire as soon as the
fiancee visa was applied for requiring her to return to Estonia until it was
approved/denied. And if she would be able to stay if I applied for a
fiancee visa, how does that change the drivers license question? I mean if
she CAN'T get one on a tourist visa, what about on a fiancee visa?

She's going to be here for a year, and I can't imagine not being able to
have a SSN number and card... she wouldn't be able to have a bank account,
drivers license, checkbook, credit card, etc, etc. Seems like nobody could
live for a year in the USA without any of these services.

The final twist to all of this... I am not a citizen myself. I have lived
here for 18 years though (moved here as a child from the UK - all my
schooling was in the USA). I know I am "past the time limit" where I can
now apply for citizenship. So what is the time required from when I apply
to be naturalized until I become a citizen? And when I become a citizen, is
there a delay until I get citizens rights, such as the ability to apply for
a fiancee visa?

Last question, I promise! I believe part of the fiancee visa is an
affidavit of support. Only thing is, I am co-owner of an electronics
company, and I try to keep lots of expenses (my car, etc) in the business
name, and take a lower salary for tax purposes. I've heard there is a
minimum you need to make to be considered able to support someone. What is
that amount, and how long do you need to have been earning it to be
considered able to provide such support? I'm wondering if I need to
immediately raise my salary so that next years tax return will have a higher
salary so that the affidavit would be accepted, etc.

Thank you so much for any input. I figured I'd get some direction before I
go and spend a lot of money on an immigration lawyer.

Thanks
LP

Hnchoksi

    >Subject: Can someone on a tourist visa get a USA drivers license?
    >From: "SRT LP"
    >Date: 3/16/04 10:52 PM Eastern Standard Time
    >Message-id: <1YP5c.6540$>
    >I have a friend who lives in Estonia. She was in the USA 2 years back on a
    >1-year tourist visa when I met her, and since then we've talked a lot and we
    >both want her to come here and "see if things work out" between us. She
    >just applied for a 1-year tourist visa and it was granted, and I had a few
    >questions.
    >-Can she get a drivers license here? She has no license in Estonia, but if
    >she is here for a year, she is going to have to drive. I'm wondering if she
    >should get it now before she comes and either drive on it here (which I
    >believe is legal) or get some sort of converted license or temporary license
    >when she gets here
    >-Can you get a social security card on a non-immigrant visa? If she can,
    >then she can get a drivers license. On the social security website, it
    >appears they "may" give one if you "have a good reason" but if you are on a
    >tourist visa the card will say you cannot work. What do they consider a
    >good reason? Is "so I can get a drivers license" a good reason?
    >-I need to talk to her to see exactly if this is a B1 or B2 visa. I think
    >its a non-immigrant work visa. Does this allow her to GET a job, or is it
    >really meant for employees of foreign countries to come here for their
    >existing job?
    >-If things DO work out, can I apply for a fiancee visa WHILE she is in the
    >USA on a tourist visa? Or would her nonimmigrant visa expire as soon as the
    >fiancee visa was applied for requiring her to return to Estonia until it was
    >approved/denied. And if she would be able to stay if I applied for a
    >fiancee visa, how does that change the drivers license question? I mean if
    >she CAN'T get one on a tourist visa, what about on a fiancee visa?
    >She's going to be here for a year, and I can't imagine not being able to
    >have a SSN number and card... she wouldn't be able to have a bank account,
    >drivers license, checkbook, credit card, etc, etc. Seems like nobody could
    >live for a year in the USA without any of these services.
    >The final twist to all of this... I am not a citizen myself. I have lived
    >here for 18 years though (moved here as a child from the UK - all my
    >schooling was in the USA). I know I am "past the time limit" where I can
    >now apply for citizenship. So what is the time required from when I apply
    >to be naturalized until I become a citizen? And when I become a citizen, is
    >there a delay until I get citizens rights, such as the ability to apply for
    >a fiancee visa?
    >Last question, I promise! I believe part of the fiancee visa is an
    >affidavit of support. Only thing is, I am co-owner of an electronics
    >company, and I try to keep lots of expenses (my car, etc) in the business
    >name, and take a lower salary for tax purposes. I've heard there is a
    >minimum you need to make to be considered able to support someone. What is
    >that amount, and how long do you need to have been earning it to be
    >considered able to provide such support? I'm wondering if I need to
    >immediately raise my salary so that next years tax return will have a higher
    >salary so that the affidavit would be accepted, etc.
    >Thank you so much for any input. I figured I'd get some direction before I
    >go and spend a lot of money on an immigration lawyer.

A) She cannot get a license on a tourist visa. The most she can do is get an
international driver's license from Estonia, but those are usually valid only
six months.

B) You are assuming she will be able to stay here one whole year! Where do you
make such an assumption from? What if she is given a two month stay at the POE?
Ever think of that?

C) She cannot get an SSN. She cannot get an ITIN any more either. The IRS has
cracked down.

D) She will be a tourist here and will get no benefits accorded to people on
other visas.

E) In order to marry and sponsor her in a reasonable time, you should become a
US citizen soon. It may take a year depending on where you live. You need to
make at least 125% of the poverty level. More is bette,r of course.

J. J. Farrell

"SRT LP" <> wrote in message
news:1YP5c.6540$...
    > I have a friend who lives in Estonia. She was in the USA 2 years back on
a
    > 1-year tourist visa when I met her, and since then we've talked a lot and
we
    > both want her to come here and "see if things work out" between us. She
    > just applied for a 1-year tourist visa and it was granted, and I had a few
    > questions.

What do you mean by a "1-year tourist visa"? Tourist visas are usually
valid for longer that that, often 10 years. A person using a tourist
visa typically gets admitted for a maximum of 6 months at a time.

    > -Can you get a social security card on a non-immigrant visa?

Yes, but only if authorised to work. In exceptional circumstances
you might be able to get one if not authorised to work, but I've
not heard of that in recent years except when they've screwed up.

    > -I need to talk to her to see exactly if this is a B1 or B2 visa. I think
    > its a non-immigrant work visa. Does this allow her to GET a job, or is it
    > really meant for employees of foreign countries to come here for their
    > existing job?

There are many non-immigrant work visas. I believe they all require
prior sponsorship. It's most likely a B-2 tourist visa, in which
case she'll be admitted for 6 months.

Ray6

a lot depends on what State you are in...Here in Florida a tourist can
get a driving licence but it is only valid until the date on your I-
94..but you must have a English written driving licence from your home
country..Bank account are not usually a problem here either.. SSN ..no
chance!.. Not sure about a 12 month tourist visa..if if she got one the
POE is unlikely to give more than 6 months..

Amanda

"J. J. Farrell" <> wrote in message news:<s9T5c.44229$>...
    > "SRT LP" <> wrote in message
    > news:1YP5c.6540$...
    > > I have a friend who lives in Estonia. She was in the USA 2 years back on
    > a
    > > 1-year tourist visa when I met her, and since then we've talked a lot and
    > we
    > > both want her to come here and "see if things work out" between us. She
    > > just applied for a 1-year tourist visa and it was granted, and I had a few
    > > questions.
    >
    > What do you mean by a "1-year tourist visa"? Tourist visas are usually
    > valid for longer that that, often 10 years.

Are you serious?

    > A person using a tourist
    > visa typically gets admitted for a maximum of 6 months at a time.

6 months with 20 times extension?

    >
    > > -Can you get a social security card on a non-immigrant visa?
    >
    > Yes, but only if authorised to work. In exceptional circumstances
    > you might be able to get one if not authorised to work, but I've
    > not heard of that in recent years except when they've screwed up.
    >
    > > -I need to talk to her to see exactly if this is a B1 or B2 visa. I think
    > > its a non-immigrant work visa. Does this allow her to GET a job, or is it
    > > really meant for employees of foreign countries to come here for their
    > > existing job?
    >
    > There are many non-immigrant work visas. I believe they all require
    > prior sponsorship. It's most likely a B-2 tourist visa, in which
    > case she'll be admitted for 6 months.

Amanda

ojunk (Hnchoksi) wrote in message news:<>...

<snip>

    > A) She cannot get a license on a tourist visa. The most she can do is get an
    > international driver's license from Estonia, but those are usually valid only
    > six months.
    >
    > B) You are assuming she will be able to stay here one whole year! Where do you
    > make such an assumption from? What if she is given a two month stay at the POE?
    > Ever think of that?
    >
    > C) She cannot get an SSN. She cannot get an ITIN any more either. The IRS has
    > cracked down.
    >


What is ITIN? Is it like the number for tax purposes, say when
purchasing a property or openign a bnak account? Why does IRS crack
down?

People using it as SSN (I am assuming that it has same number of
digits as SSN) in applying for job, etc.?

How can people use it in place of SSN for employment purpose when
employers are supposed to look at SSN? Are employers accepting ITIN as
a form of SSN? Why empoyers don't ask the person "why don't you have
a SSN?". Just curious..
    > D) She will be a tourist here and will get no benefits accorded to people on
    > other visas.
    >
    > E) In order to marry and sponsor her in a reasonable time, you should become a
    > US citizen soon. It may take a year depending on where you live. You need to
    > make at least 125% of the poverty level. More is bette,r of course.

Joachim Feise

Amanda said on 3/17/2004 8:03:
    >
    > What is ITIN? Is it like the number for tax purposes, say when
    > purchasing a property or openign a bnak account?

Yes.

    > Why does IRS crack
    > down?

They don't. The ITIN is for people who don't have authority to work, but
still need to pay taxes, e.g., on stock buys, real estate, interest, etc.

    > People using it as SSN (I am assuming that it has same number of
    > digits as SSN) in applying for job, etc.?

That is of course not allowed. And while the ITIN has the same number of
digits as the SSN, it starts with a unique digit, so it can easily be
identified as an ITIN.

    > How can people use it in place of SSN for employment purpose when
    > employers are supposed to look at SSN? Are employers accepting ITIN as
    > a form of SSN? Why empoyers don't ask the person "why don't you have
    > a SSN?". Just curious..

Well, some employers just pretend not to know. It is illegal, of course.

-Joe

Joachim Feise

Amanda said on 3/17/2004 7:33:
    >>What do you mean by a "1-year tourist visa"? Tourist visas are usually
    >>valid for longer that that, often 10 years.
    >
    >
    > Are you serious?

Yes.

    >>A person using a tourist
    >>visa typically gets admitted for a maximum of 6 months at a time.
    >
    >
    > 6 months with 20 times extension?

No, you didn't get that. The *visa* is valid for 10 years. That does
*not* mean that the person can stay in the US for 10 years.
A person with a valid B2 visa is usually admitted into B2 *status* for
6 months. That can be extended once.
The person can travel with the visa to the US as long as the visa is
valid.

-Joe

Hnchoksi

    >Subject: Re: Can someone on a tourist visa get a USA drivers license?
    >From: Joachim Feise
    >Date: 3/17/04 1:55 PM Eastern Standard Time
    >Message-id: <c3a6un$cg4$>
    >Amanda said on 3/17/2004 8:03:
    >>
    >> What is ITIN? Is it like the number for tax purposes, say when
    >> purchasing a property or openign a bnak account?
    >Yes.
    >> Why does IRS crack
    >> down?
    >They don't. The ITIN is for people who don't have authority to work, but
    >still need to pay taxes, e.g., on stock buys, real estate, interest, etc.


Actually, as recently as a few months ago, a directive was issued to the IRS
to refuse ITINs unless there was a legitimate need for it.I don't recall now
what the new requirements are to get one, but you can check the IRS website.

Joachim Feise

Hnchoksi wrote on 3/17/2004 15:36:

    >>Subject: Re: Can someone on a tourist visa get a USA drivers license?
    >>From: Joachim Feise
    >>Date: 3/17/04 1:55 PM Eastern Standard Time
    >>Message-id: <c3a6un$cg4$>
    >>Amanda said on 3/17/2004 8:03:
    >>>What is ITIN? Is it like the number for tax purposes, say when
    >>>purchasing a property or openign a bnak account?
    >>Yes.
    >>>Why does IRS crack
    >>>down?
    >>They don't. The ITIN is for people who don't have authority to work, but
    >>still need to pay taxes, e.g., on stock buys, real estate, interest, etc.
    >
    >
    >
    > Actually, as recently as a few months ago, a directive was issued to the IRS
    > to refuse ITINs unless there was a legitimate need for it.I don't recall now
    > what the new requirements are to get one, but you can check the IRS website.

Not much has changed, really.
http://www.irs.gov/individuals/artic...=96287,00.html
"IRS issues ITINs to individuals who are required to have a U.S. taxpayer
identification number but who do not have, and are not eligible to obtain a
Social Security Number (SSN) from the Social Security Administration (SSA).
ITINs are issued regardless of immigration status because both resident and
nonresident aliens may have U.S. tax return and payment responsibilities under
the Internal Revenue Code."

Basically, what I said. If you need to pay taxes, you need an ITIN. The US
government wants your money...

The application standards have changed:
"What are the revised application standards for ITINs?
Effective immediately, each ITIN applicant must now:
* Apply using the revised Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer
Identification Number ; and
* Attach a federal income tax return to the Form W-7.
Applicants who meet an exception to the requirement to file a tax return
(see the instructions for Form W-7)must provide documentation to support the
exception.

Why is IRS revising the ITIN application process?
The revisions to the ITIN application process will help ensure ITINs are used
for their intended tax administration purposes."

-Joe