Getting marriage license and SSN

[Joanna&Bobby 3]

HI everyone!

So I finally got here to Pensylvania. We want to apply for a marriage license. I need SSN to do so.

I went to the SS office yesterday and they said I wont be given a number before I get married! WHat???????????????????????

SOmeone here has the wrong info?

I have a SSN from being here 3 years ago on a J1 student visa. They told me I am foing to keep the same number but cant use it until I get married. How am I suppose to get married????????????????

[Kez/JWolf 6]

The SSN you already have will not change.... so just use the one you have....

The information you were told at the SSA office was totally wrong.... you could go to a diffrent office and try again if you want to, but the number you have will stay the same...

Kez

[YuAndDan 153]

The officer at the SSA office was completely wrong, K-1 visas tend to confuse many SSA officers.

Firstly you already have a number, you do not need to get another one, you can use that number to apply for a marriage license.

FYI: K-1 is not a work visa, it is a fiancee visa for entry to the USA and marriage, K-1 is "Work Auth" primarily to be able to get the SSN, some states are strict in their interpretation of a federal law that requires persons applying for a "license" to have SSN, this can cause a problem with marriage license if only one person has SSN and the other (the K-1 holder) does not.

You could apply for a new card with married name shortly after getting married taking a copy of marriage cert to apply for it, however there are many reports of SSA not wanting to do it until you have an EAD card or Green-card. Also SSA wont do anything after 76 days after entry to the USA on a k-1, after that EAD or Green-card will be needed before dealing with SSA.

[malego77 2]

In some states (like Texas) you don't need a SSN to get a marriage license. Also, you can try to do it in a different office. I got my SSN before get married (I came to US with K1 visa too), so, you can get one without being married (I think so). Good luck.

[MsZ 6]

Hop on up to NY. No SS# needed here, either.

[YuAndDan 153]

In some states (like Texas) you don't need a SSN to get a marriage license. Also, you can try to do it in a different office. I got my SSN before get married (I came to US with K1 visa too), so, you can get one without being married (I think so). Good luck.

NOTE: The OP already has SSN from a period of time when they were in the USA on a J-1 visa.

[Joanna&Bobby 3]

Thank you very much. It's getting confusing once you get here!