First Day

[Anonymous]

1st time HP with several questions, TIA

The first morning our AP is here, we are planning to take her to get SSN, driving license and bank account. Any other important tasks (other than relax, unpack, your house, basiics shopping) in the first few days?

Not sure if we should start with SS office or DMV. Ideally, we’d be at both before they open to minimize wait times, but have to pick one From the agency paperwork, it seems their first day here will be too early to get the SSN, in which case, maybe best just to start with DMV. However, were also told that she will need to wait until 2 days after SEVIS account is active, which will be ten days after arrival to country. That seems like a long time. Also, ours is coming from Germany and VA has a type of reciprocity- can we get the process started before her arrival?

Have others had success with getting license and SSN within first couple days arrival to HF or is it a waste of time and therefore better to wait the week?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

OP-.From what I understand, they can drive on their home country license for up to 6 months, unless they are employed, in which case it is 60 days. Unsure if the cultural exchange is considered employment in this context. Also, does their home license need to be translated into English using an international license?

Also, recommendations on adding them to car insurance, eg- wait until they have state license here (or does that not matter), preferred companies, tips on bringing down the cost for someone under 26?

[Anonymous]

For a German in Virginia it is just a simple form they fill out. They can do it at a dmv express.

You cannot do anything ahead of time.

Our German aps did all that with their friends. Not sure where you are but in Arlington there are so many they know how to do everything from the other aps and prefer to do it that way.
Our Germans liked to minimize that type of stuff with us and do it with their country mates.

[Anonymous]

We do SSN and phone on the first day. Bank account when she gets the SSN, bank account a week later when she has actually received the SSN in the mail, and give her 30 days (DC) to study for the exam.

[Anonymous]

Welcome to the US, here's the DMV is not really putting your best foot forward. If it's her first day with you from training, then I would do fun stuff or let her rest. If it's her first working day, we focus on getting to know the kids (make a simple meal, find a park, maybe go to library). Also, check what paperwork the DMV needs. Ours have needed social security and a bank account before they could even take the written test. The paperwork part of this is stressful for everyone, and you definitely don't want to put it off too long, but first welcome her to your home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For a German in Virginia it is just a simple form they fill out. They can do it at a dmv express.

You cannot do anything ahead of time.

Our German aps did all that with their friends. Not sure where you are but in Arlington there are so many they know how to do everything from the other aps and prefer to do it that way.
Our Germans liked to minimize that type of stuff with us and do it with their country mates.

Do you mean dMV Select? Per online instructions, “DMV Selects do not issue or renew driver's licenses, learner's permits or identification cards.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Welcome to the US, here's the DMV is not really putting your best foot forward. If it's her first day with you from training, then I would do fun stuff or let her rest. If it's her first working day, we focus on getting to know the kids (make a simple meal, find a park, maybe go to library). Also, check what paperwork the DMV needs. Ours have needed social security and a bank account before they could even take the written test. The paperwork part of this is stressful for everyone, and you definitely don't want to put it off too long, but first welcome her to your home.

Haha! Good point. Unfortunately, for some HPs, it’s not possible to take off multiple days from work to take care of these things. And I’d hate for my overseas AP (who will not yet have friends here) to go to SSA on her own- another very miserable American experience.

[Anonymous]

Recently in VA SSN lines were insane, compared to years past.

Here is what we do:
1. AP arrives on Friday
2. On Saturday I take her to Bank of America to open account. They do it without SSN
3. Next week when kids are in camp outgoing AP takes new AP to SS office (Or I take off from work to do it). This year the line in Alexandria office at like 9:30 AM was huge. Next day they went to Arlington, line was just a bit shorter, and whole process took 3.5 hrs.
4. After SSN comes in the mail, we go to VA DMV. I was under impression that VA can’t process you till you have SSN, so never tried without it. For German and French, they actually put in request to home country to verify the DL, so the process can take 1-3 months... but they can drive with the international DL. DMV has some Saturday hours, with longer lines.

Yes, it is a PITA but this is what we kind of signed up for as host parents... after first trip to DMV my APs do the trips by themselves.

[Anonymous]

OP - to be on the safeside, wait till later in the week to go to the SS office - as you note it needs to be 10 days after arrival in country.

Also, the tone of your post suggests are more "business like" relationship with your new AP. Of course this is fine, but make sure you aren't dismissing too quickly the importance of the other things you mention like getting settled, spending time relaxing and getting to know the kid(s) before being on her own with them.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Don't force her to open a bank account, maybe she just wants to use cash.
My host family took me to the bank and didn't ask me if I wanted an account.
I left them (rematch) a few weeks later and had to pay $ to close the account.
I could have spoken up (I didn't want to be unpleasant) and they should have asked me what I wanted (or not).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Recently in VA SSN lines were insane, compared to years past.

Here is what we do:
1. AP arrives on Friday
2. On Saturday I take her to Bank of America to open account. They do it without SSN
3. Next week when kids are in camp outgoing AP takes new AP to SS office (Or I take off from work to do it). This year the line in Alexandria office at like 9:30 AM was huge. Next day they went to Arlington, line was just a bit shorter, and whole process took 3.5 hrs.
4. After SSN comes in the mail, we go to VA DMV. I was under impression that VA can’t process you till you have SSN, so never tried without it. For German and French, they actually put in request to home country to verify the DL, so the process can take 1-3 months... but they can drive with the international DL. DMV has some Saturday hours, with longer lines.

Yes, it is a PITA but this is what we kind of signed up for as host parents... after first trip to DMV my APs do the trips by themselves.

Is there a social security office in Arlington?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't force her to open a bank account, maybe she just wants to use cash.
My host family took me to the bank and didn't ask me if I wanted an account.
I left them (rematch) a few weeks later and had to pay $ to close the account.
I could have spoken up (I didn't want to be unpleasant) and they should have asked me what I wanted (or not).

Cash is not an option for us. You need a bank account to transfer your pay directly to you. It's in our handbook. Also, it's not prudent to just leave cash around--mkaes you a target for theft.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't force her to open a bank account, maybe she just wants to use cash.
My host family took me to the bank and didn't ask me if I wanted an account.
I left them (rematch) a few weeks later and had to pay $ to close the account.
I could have spoken up (I didn't want to be unpleasant) and they should have asked me what I wanted (or not).

It's 2019. This is ridiculous. All the agencies tell HFs to help APs open a bank account.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't force her to open a bank account, maybe she just wants to use cash.
My host family took me to the bank and didn't ask me if I wanted an account.
I left them (rematch) a few weeks later and had to pay $ to close the account.
I could have spoken up (I didn't want to be unpleasant) and they should have asked me what I wanted (or not).

Host families need to have proof of payment to protect themselves. I think you are going to have a hard time finding a HF that wants to deal with paying cash and having you and them sign that weekly payments have been made. Also, do you really expect your HF to have to deal with getting cash every week? Getting $200 in cash weekly would mean trips to the ATM/bank, because you can't get that amount of cash back at the store. HF are working parents that want to get home to their family, not make unnecessary trips to the bank. Also, how do you pay taxes without a bank account? You can't send the IRS cash. Are you going to ask your HF to write a check for you?

[Anonymous]

A bank statement is traditionally used for VA driver's license to prove residency. Other forms of proof are much harder to obtain (utility or mortgage bill?)

The DMV will take a credit card statement with your HF address. But somehow if you don't want to open a bank account, why would you have a cc statement with your American address?