K-1 name change and SSN name

[janda 0]

What did you guys all do about name changes and all that kind of stuff? To get into more detail, lemme first give some background info.

My fiance arrived in the US a week ago. I took her to the SSA office, where we filed for a SSN. We also are in preperation for getting the marriage certificate. Now, when her SSN card comes out, it will have her Korean (written in English) name on it, just as written on her Korean passport and the K-1 Visa. But when we go to get married, her last name will be changed to mine (of her own free will of course!). So on the marriage certificate, it will show her new last name (mine). But wouldn't that be confusing as all hell for all the applications and possibly make things really complicated???

One more question along these lines. On her passport and K-1 visa, it has her Korean (written in English) name on there. If her last name is going to change, she also wants to change her first name to an English first name that she's been using for some time now. Since we're getting married in front of a judge, he has the power to legally change her name. Is that possible? and is it recommended? I know that if we file the I-485 with her Korean name, it will be close to impossible to change later. So maybe we should do this now?

Thanks!

[zyggy 9]

What did you guys all do about name changes and all that kind of stuff? To get into more detail, lemme first give some background info.

My fiance arrived in the US a week ago. I took her to the SSA office, where we filed for a SSN. We also are in preperation for getting the marriage certificate. Now, when her SSN card comes out, it will have her Korean (written in English) name on it, just as written on her Korean passport and the K-1 Visa. But when we go to get married, her last name will be changed to mine (of her own free will of course!). So on the marriage certificate, it will show her new last name (mine). But wouldn't that be confusing as all hell for all the applications and possibly make things really complicated???

One more question along these lines. On her passport and K-1 visa, it has her Korean (written in English) name on there. If her last name is going to change, she also wants to change her first name to an English first name that she's been using for some time now. Since we're getting married in front of a judge, he has the power to legally change her name. Is that possible? and is it recommended? I know that if we file the I-485 with her Korean name, it will be close to impossible to change later. So maybe we should do this now?

Thanks!

They can put two and two together... if your wife wished to use her married name, the I-485 should be filed in her married name...

If you have a name change certificate, you can use the new name on the I-485.. you just have to include the name change certificate with the I-485...

[Jasman0717 9]

Claudeth got her SSN when she first got here. After we got married we attempted to get her name changed and the lady at the SSA office said we couldn't do it without out some sort of document, EAD or GC, from the USCIS. When she got her EAD we went back and they processed the change. It took about 4 weeks to get the new card because they still had to validate it with USCIS. \

You could try a search on MDYoung posts, he is the pro with it comes to SSN issues.

[sukie175 0]

I got my SSN card in my maiden name and then changed ot to my married name. The key here is you have to do it really fast after the marriage and before your I94 expires. I did and it was no problem, they did not require EAD etc. But I think this varies from state to state.

[motu 5]

your marriage licese/certificate should be in her maiden name (her name doesn't change till after marriage.) When you file for AOS (or EAD) you should file in the new name (most people only change the last name but I think you can change both names at this point.) Then when you get the EAD/Green card you can change her name on the SSN card to whatever the new name is. I am assuming you already have the SSN in her maiden name. Hopefully mdyoung will correct/clarify. Good Luck

[I'm Gone 60]

What did you guys all do about name changes and all that kind of stuff? To get into more detail, lemme first give some background info.

My fiance arrived in the US a week ago. I took her to the SSA office, where we filed for a SSN. We also are in preperation for getting the marriage certificate. Now, when her SSN card comes out, it will have her Korean (written in English) name on it, just as written on her Korean passport and the K-1 Visa. But when we go to get married, her last name will be changed to mine (of her own free will of course!). So on the marriage certificate, it will show her new last name (mine). But wouldn't that be confusing as all hell for all the applications and possibly make things really complicated???

One more question along these lines. On her passport and K-1 visa, it has her Korean (written in English) name on there. If her last name is going to change, she also wants to change her first name to an English first name that she's been using for some time now. Since we're getting married in front of a judge, he has the power to legally change her name. Is that possible? and is it recommended? I know that if we file the I-485 with her Korean name, it will be close to impossible to change later.

To have her name corrected on the SSN without needing an EAD card or I-551 she will need to apply and have the application processed before she has been here 76 days.

If the marriage certificate has her age or date of birth that plus the I-94 should be enough to change her last name to your last name. If the marriage certificate doesn't have her age or date of birth she will need two additional identity documents. One with the name currently on the SSN record and one with the name she is changing to.

To change the first name on the SSN record she is probably going to need a court order, since state's probably don't allow changing of the first name when getting married. If the state does allow it she is still going to need to come up with an acceptable identity document with that name.

The applicant may submit either:

-- One legal name change document showing both the old and new names

(e.g., a court order for a name change or a marriage document). The

document must also show either (1) a description or photograph of

the person or (2) biographical information that can be compared with

the Numident data; or

-- When the name change document does not show either a photograph of

the person or biographical information that can be compared with the

Numident data, then, in addition to the name change document, the

applicant must also submit two acceptable identity documents. One

of the submitted identity documents must show the old name (the name

on the latest Numident record) AND the other submitted identity

document must show the new name (the name to be shown on the

corrected SSN card). The identity documents submitted must show

either a photograph of the applicant or provide biographical

information that can be compared with the Numident data.

Bride Takes Groom’s Last Name

In all 50 U.S. States (this means the 50 States, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa) the bride may take her husband's last name (surname or family name) as her new last name. (EXAMPLE: Jane Doe married John Jones and she may change her name to Jane Jones.)

Interim Guidance: If the bride wants to take her husband’s last name, accept the marriage document as a legal name change for the bride if the new name can be derived from the marriage document; even if the marriage document only shows each partner’s first names, the bride’s prior surname and husband’s surname.

In some U.S. States the couple may take an entirely new surname. (EXAMPLE: Sarah Ahalt married John Stockman and they changed their names to Sarah Easterday and John Easterday.) In this situation the marriage document can be accepted as evidence of the event for the name change and the old name (when it also shows biographical data that can be compared to the latest Numident record) but cannot be accepted as evidence of identity for the new last name and the applicant(s) must also submit an identity document showing the new last name.

When issuing immigration documents, the Department of State and DHS issue them in the person’s legal name. The legal name is also generally the name in which the foreign passport was issued.

When an alien applies for an SSN card, SSA presumes the name on the immigration document is the legal name unless the applicant presents evidence of a legal name change (e.g., marriage) that occurred after the immigration document was issued.

This is in addition to proof of current lawful employment authorized status.

You can find detailed information regarding changing SSN record (Numident) data on the SSA Website at:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203210

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. Documents for Adult Age 18 and Older

ALIEN: Adult Age 18 and older

1. Primary Evidence

Request a current U.S. immigration document and an unexpired foreign passport.

-- Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (includes temporary I-551 stamp/machine readable immigrant visa (MRIV) in combination with an unexpired foreign passport when the I-551 Permanent Resident Card has not yet been issued)

-- Form I-94, Arrival/departure Record in combination with an unexpired foreign passport

-- Form I-766, Employment Authorization card

-- Form I-688B, Employment Authorization card

RM 00203.200 Evidence of Identity for an SSN Card:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203200#E6

[Vinay 1]

My wife was unable to change her name on the SSN card. The marriage certificate only has her maiden name on it. But I'm applying for AOS using her new name(my last name). Will also be applying for her driver's license tomorrow, hopefully will not have any problems getting it in her new name so don't have to go through the hassle of getting the name changed later on.