Question-Marriage-SSN timing,etc.

[zeroland 0]

Hey Folks-

I'm trying to verify the sequence of events for us to follow once my fiance arrives here in the States. I have seen it listed like this: Once she is issued her K-1, enter the country within 6 months, wait 2 weeks after entering the country to apply for SSN, get married, then apply for a name-change for the SS card. However, Ruth and I have decided that she will be keeping her current last name, and NOT changing it to my last name. So I am assuming that just means our sequence of events would be: enter the country, after 2 weeks apply for SSN, and just marry ASAP. Would we need to wait for the actual card with the number to have the civil-service ceremony performed? Are there any other details or considerations we should make in order to do it this way? Can anyone think of any problems or reasons not to do things this way? I'm just trying to make sure we don't run into any problems or roadblocks by following this sequence BEFORE we go this route. So any thoughts or input would be appreciated. Thanks for your thoughts...

[Otto 83]

Hey Folks-

I'm trying to verify the sequence of events for us to follow once my fiance arrives here in the States. I have seen it listed like this: Once she is issued her K-1, enter the country within 6 months, wait 2 weeks after entering the country to apply for SSN, get married, then apply for a name-change for the SS card. However, Ruth and I have decided that she will be keeping her current last name, and NOT changing it to my last name. So I am assuming that just means our sequence of events would be: enter the country, after 2 weeks apply for SSN, and just marry ASAP. Would we need to wait for the actual card with the number to have the civil-service ceremony performed? Are there any other details or considerations we should make in order to do it this way? Can anyone think of any problems or reasons not to do things this way? I'm just trying to make sure we don't run into any problems or roadblocks by following this sequence BEFORE we go this route. So any thoughts or input would be appreciated. Thanks for your thoughts...

Depending on your State - you may or may not need to have the social security card (and number) in order to get married. In Texas (for example) it is written that you must have a SSN to get married, but actually, if you don't, you can get married anyway (some states are stricter so you should call the office that issues marriage licenses).

I wouldn't let this stop you from applying for the SS Card though.

[David-and-Mae 15]

Most states don't require SS number to get married so don't worry about it. But you may want your fiancee to have one right away so that you won't run into problems later on. SSA is strict with assigning a number to an immigrant especially if the date on the I-94 (arrival form) is close to expiration. If that's the case, the immigrant should wait either for EAD or the greencard itself to be given a SS number. As for your fiancee not using your name, I don't think it's a problem at all. A lot of couples here have done that. You will still have to go back to SSA, not for a name change but to remove the conditions on her SS card. It's because if your fiancee will apply for SS card without EAD or greencard yet, the SS card will have a notation that she is not legal to work.

I hope it helps! Good luck!

--Mae

[zeroland 0]

Most states don't require SS number to get married so don't worry about it. But you may want your fiancee to have one right away so that you won't run into problems later on. SSA is strict with assigning a number to an immigrant especially if the date on the I-94 (arrival form) is close to expiration. If that's the case, the immigrant should wait either for EAD or the greencard itself to be given a SS number. As for your fiancee not using your name, I don't think it's a problem at all. A lot of couples here have done that. You will still have to go back to SSA, not for a name change but to remove the conditions on her SS card. It's because if your fiancee will apply for SS card without EAD or greencard yet, the SS card will have a notation that she is not legal to work.

I hope it helps! Good luck!

--Mae

Thanks for the responses so far...A quick check of Missouri's marriage requirements shows that they DO list each of us having identification, as well as SSNs. But I hadn't thought about the "not legal to work" aspect of the first issue of the SS card for Ruth. So now it looks like this: enter the country, wait 2 weeks, apply for SSN for fiancee, obtain card, get a marriage license, have the marriage ceremony performed....then return to the SS office, and remove conditions on her card. Will we need to wait some period after the marriage to remove conditions? Or as soon as the marriage is performed, we are good to go? Thanks!!!

[zqt3344 21]

MAE is right on! We were told that within 10 business days of 1-94 or K1 expiring SSA office will not allow you to file for social security card.

Most states don't require SS number to get married so don't worry about it. But you may want your fiancee to have one right away so that you won't run into problems later on. SSA is strict with assigning a number to an immigrant especially if the date on the I-94 (arrival form) is close to expiration. If that's the case, the immigrant should wait either for EAD or the greencard itself to be given a SS number. As for your fiancee not using your name, I don't think it's a problem at all. A lot of couples here have done that. You will still have to go back to SSA, not for a name change but to remove the conditions on her SS card. It's because if your fiancee will apply for SS card without EAD or greencard yet, the SS card will have a notation that she is not legal to work.

I hope it helps! Good luck!

--Mae

[SWA2 1]

Hey Folks-

I'm trying to verify the sequence of events for us to follow once my fiance arrives here in the States. I have seen it listed like this: Once she is issued her K-1, enter the country within 6 months, wait 2 weeks after entering the country to apply for SSN, get married, then apply for a name-change for the SS card. However, Ruth and I have decided that she will be keeping her current last name, and NOT changing it to my last name. So I am assuming that just means our sequence of events would be: enter the country, after 2 weeks apply for SSN, and just marry ASAP. Would we need to wait for the actual card with the number to have the civil-service ceremony performed? Are there any other details or considerations we should make in order to do it this way? Can anyone think of any problems or reasons not to do things this way? I'm just trying to make sure we don't run into any problems or roadblocks by following this sequence BEFORE we go this route. So any thoughts or input would be appreciated. Thanks for your thoughts...

My situation was similar to yours in that my wife did not change her name when she married. She's Chinese and traditionally Chinese women keep their family name when they marry. We wanted to get married as soon as possible after she entered the United States. In Minnesota there is a 5 day waiting period, but only one person has to be present to apply for the marriage license so I was able to apply for two weeks before she entered the country. Minnesota law requires a Social Security Number when applying for a marriage license. I called an Immigration Attorney about this and he hold me the Immigration Attorney's Bar Association would gladly take the county to court if they tried to enforce this law as they consider it unconstitutional, but that in reality every county in Minnesota will waive this requirement for a K1 visa. Missouri law actually allows for situations where one party does not have a Social Security Number in order to apply for a marriage license. Here's a link to the law in Missouri.

http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C400-499/4510000040.HTM

The second paragraph states, "Each application for a license shall contain the Social Security number of the applicant, provided that the applicant in fact has a Social Security number, or the applicant shall sign a statement provided by the recorder that the applicant does not have a Social Security number."

In our situation we married first, applied for an Adjustment of Status, EAD, and Advance Parole as soon as we received the official marriage certificate, and then applied for the SSN. We did all this within the first month.

[zeroland 0]

Hey Folks-

I'm trying to verify the sequence of events for us to follow once my fiance arrives here in the States. I have seen it listed like this: Once she is issued her K-1, enter the country within 6 months, wait 2 weeks after entering the country to apply for SSN, get married, then apply for a name-change for the SS card. However, Ruth and I have decided that she will be keeping her current last name, and NOT changing it to my last name. So I am assuming that just means our sequence of events would be: enter the country, after 2 weeks apply for SSN, and just marry ASAP. Would we need to wait for the actual card with the number to have the civil-service ceremony performed? Are there any other details or considerations we should make in order to do it this way? Can anyone think of any problems or reasons not to do things this way? I'm just trying to make sure we don't run into any problems or roadblocks by following this sequence BEFORE we go this route. So any thoughts or input would be appreciated. Thanks for your thoughts...

My situation was similar to yours in that my wife did not change her name when she married. She's Chinese and traditionally Chinese women keep their family name when they marry. We wanted to get married as soon as possible after she entered the United States. In Minnesota there is a 5 day waiting period, but only one person has to be present to apply for the marriage license so I was able to apply for two weeks before she entered the country. Minnesota law requires a Social Security Number when applying for a marriage license. I called an Immigration Attorney about this and he hold me the Immigration Attorney's Bar Association would gladly take the county to court if they tried to enforce this law as they consider it unconstitutional, but that in reality every county in Minnesota will waive this requirement for a K1 visa. Missouri law actually allows for situations where one party does not have a Social Security Number in order to apply for a marriage license. Here's a link to the law in Missouri.

http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C400-499/4510000040.HTM

The second paragraph states, "Each application for a license shall contain the Social Security number of the applicant, provided that the applicant in fact has a Social Security number, or the applicant shall sign a statement provided by the recorder that the applicant does not have a Social Security number."

In our situation we married first, applied for an Adjustment of Status, EAD, and Advance Parole as soon as we received the official marriage certificate, and then applied for the SSN. We did all this within the first month.

Well, I knew there was more than one way to do things...Just to clarify, we are looking to figure out what is the safest, fastest way to legally do everything we are required to do, while doing whatever it takes to allow Ruth to begin working legally......Thanks, and feel free to keep it coming...