OK so I have just arrived to be with my wife on a CR1 visa, here in La Crosse WI.
Is there anything I need to do....I am visiting the SSA tomorrow to apply for a Social Security Number, if I remember right, will my 'proper' green card come in the post in a couple of weeks or do I need to apply for that also?

You have 62 days to get on a US-based health insurance plan, or you will be considered having a 'gap' in credible coverage such that insurance companies can refuse to treat pre-existing conditions (hint: take care of this asap).

As for the SSN bits, others will be on shortly to give you some advice on that.

Welcome to the USA.

Welcome aboard!

Update your location in your BE profile.

Find out when you need to get your driving license by. Or just do it ASAP anyway as it's so useful. Oh, and welcome!

Out of interest, as I'll be in the same boat in a few months....

What happens if you require medical attention within that 62 days but haven't found cover yet. Are you screwed?!

Is there a way to arrange medical insurance from the UK, so you're covered as soon as you get Stateside?!

I intend to get a job ASAP and the place I am looking has all the health/dental insurance etc so that will be taken care of. Can I actually apply for a driving license without having a SSN?

Almost certainly not, as based on anecdotes here on BE, the only people who seem able to get DLs without an SSN, have to present a letter from SS Admin stating that they are not eligible for one.

Andy,

Since you arrived on an Immigrant Visa, did you tick the box on the DS-230 which asked if you want a SSN assigned to you automatically? If you did, then you don't need to go apply for one now. It should come in the mail automatically within a month or so of your arrival.

If you did NOT check that box, or if it takes more than a month to get your SSN in the mail, then go ahead and apply in person. If you're going to apply in person, make sure you've been in the USA for around 10 days or more before applying. It takes that long for your status to show up in the SS database.

You will *probably* need your SSN in order to get a drivers license, but double check with the DMV in the state you live in.

Rene

Agreed.

Rene

Unless you're going to be employed - and even if you are employed there may be a ~30 day qualifying period before coverage starts - it's very hard to get coverage when you're still in the UK. Some companies even have a 6-month residency requirement. But for permanent and for temporary cover have a look at the Wiki on health insurance - http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Health_Insurance - note the temporary ones down the bottom which are limited in nature and in one, maybe both, cases, do NOT reset the 62-day clock requirement.

Even if you don't have coverage, you can get emergency treatment in any ER but expect a huge bill.

Four years ago a minor scratch on my arm became infected, which led to blood poisoning, a three day inpatient hospital stay, minor skin surgery, ...... and a bill for over $20k!

Thankfully I was covered by insurance, but even so there was a 10% copay.

Holy Sh*t how do you guys even leave the house every day....?!

I really do need to stop whinging and adjust my attitude to paying for health care I know but still....

When we were in Arizona we met a doctor who advised us not to bother with medical insurance....

His philosophy was that the most likely thing to happen to us would be an auto accident, which would be covered by auto insurance. We're both young, fit and healthy (touch wood) and if we got really sick we could catch a flight home...

But something like a scratch on your arm leading to a $20k bill... scary.

Right that's it, I'll stop complaining and hijacking threads now, sorry!

Give it 10 days before applying for your SSN.

If you're a bloke under 26, register with the SS.

Get your drivers license asap, but after you get your SSN in reality.

Get medical insurance. Even if you got that job and they offered insurance, do you know if it starts day one? Plenty of places have it starting after 30/60/90 days.

As for getting it without a job or temporary basis, so many threads on the subject as well as the wiki.

Great plan.

Till someone runs you over and you're stuck in the hospital with a broken back and can't fly and find the other person wasn't insured.

Most accidents happen within the home or within a few miles of it...