SSN when is the best time to apply

[linuxgeek 0]

My Fiancees interview is coming up shortly if all goes well she will be here soon and we will be getting her SSN.

My question is when is the best time to apply for SSN?

Is it okay to get married then apply for SSN? Or is it better to get the SSN first then have the name changed on it after we are married.

I seen a case where someone had difficulty getting their SSN because they married first. The people at the office where telling them that because they were married they were no longer under Fianc'e' status and were not eligible for the specail provisions for getting a SSN with a k-1 visa. Which perhaps would explain why I see some cases of individuals applying for SSN getting Married then getting the name changed on it?

Does the law support that idea? Or where the people at that office simply out of their Gourds?

[Jasman0717 9]

Claudeth applied for her about two weeks after she arrived. After we got married and received her EAD we changed her name.

[I'm Gone 60]

I would apply with the maiden name and once the SSN has been assigned and you are married for corrected card with the married name. Even if you wait until after getting married, if the marriage certificate doesn't have the person's age or date of birth, still going need to apply with maiden name and wait until an EAD is issued with the married name.

An individual with K-1 status applying for a work authorized SSN must present evidence to establish his or her age, identity and current lawful employment authorized status.

An individual needs to provide at least two documents as evidence to establish age, identity and current lawful employment authorized status.

SSA will not assign an SSN or issue a card to an individual that is within 14 days of his or her alien status expiring. Until the 76th day after entry an individual with K-1 status only needs to provide an unexpired I-94 showing current K-1 status to establish employment authorized status for SSN purposes.

Once, an individual with K-1 status has been in the United States 76 days he or she will need another document, i.e. I-551, I-688B or I-766 to establish employment authorized status for SSN purposes.

RM 00203.500 Employment Authorization for Nonimmigrants:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203500#C1

RM 00203.410 Evidence of Alien Status for an SSN Card for an Alien Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203410

Suggest that individuals apply for a corrected SSN card to update the SSN record when there has been a name change due to marriage.

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.

Note: For a marriage document or marriage record to be acceptable as an identity document it must show, in addition to the applicant’s name, either the applicant’s age, date of birth or parents’ names and the marriage document alone can be accepted as evidence of identity for both the old and new names when it meets this standard.

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, we presume 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

When requesting an SSN card, the documents presented, as evidence must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. SSA wll not accept uncertified or notarized photocopies as evidence.

If a foreign-born person has the foreign birth certificate (BC) in his/her possession or can easily obtain a copy, he or she must submit it as proof of age. When a person is foreign-born, a BC may not exist, may not have been recorded shortly after birth, or the probative value of the document may not be high. In these situations, SSA can accept alternative evidence of age in order of probative value. The alternative evidence of age may be less than a year old, e.g., a DHS document or passport.

You can find detailed information regarding evidence that establishes age on the SSA Website at:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203110

The documents acceptable as evidence of identity are now based on three factors: (1) the applicant’s age, (2) the applicant’s citizenship/alien status, and (3) the relative probative value of documents.

Any document used to establish identity must meet the following criteria:

-- The document provides information the reviewer can compare with the

data on the form SS-5 (e.g., the person's name, as well as age, date

of birth, or parents' names) and/or

-- The document provides information the reviewer can compare with the

applicant (e.g., physical description, photograph).

NOTE: A non-picture identity document should have the person's name as well as information that can be compared to the SSN record, the applicant or other documents submitted (e.g., age, date of birth, or parents' names).

However, the acceptability of an identity document must be evaluated on a case by case basis by the office processing the application, taking into consideration the applicant's situation and exploring what evidence is available for the person.

You can find detailed information regarding evidence that

establishes identity on our Website at:

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

SSA will not accept an application filing receipt or notice of action as proof of current lawful employment authorized status.

Form SS-5, “Application for a Social Security Card,” is the appropriate form to request an original SSN and card or corrected card.

You can request Form SS-5 by calling the SSA toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 or it can be accessed on our Website at:

http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.html

Have your fiancé/spouse complete the Form SS-5 and take it along with the required documents, to the nearest Social Security office. Individuals age 12 or older applying for an original SSN and card must apply in person at one of our offices.

You can obtain the address and directions to the nearest Social Security office from the Social Security Office Locator, which is available on the Internet at:

http://www.ssa.gov/locator

Normally, an SSN card should be received in the mail within two weeks after the application and document(s) have been received and verified.

When an alien requests an SSN or replacement/corrected SSN card, SSA will verify his or her documents and current status with the appropriate Bureau of the Department of Homeland Security. If verification is not available through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system, SSA will send Form G-845 for manual verification.

RM 00203.720 Verifying Immigration Documents:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203720

Note: If the applicant has changed his/her name after an immigration document, i.e. I-94, was issued, e.g., married and is now using the married name, but has not obtained a corrected immigration document showing the new name; this is not a name discrepancy for enumeration purposes, i.e. SAVE clearance, if the applicant can provide an acceptable legal name change document to establish the new name.

The 14 day status expiration limit for assigning an SSN and/or issuing a card applies even if an individual submitted his or her application before being within the 14 day period and entered the 14 day period while waiting for his or her status to be verified.

All cards are mailed from Social Security Headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland to the postal address provided on the Form SS-5.

You may find additional helpful information on the CIS Website at:

http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/hdifiance.htm

http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/LPRApplication.htm

http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/ead.htm

http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/remCond.htm

You may find additional SSN and employment information on the Internal Revenue Service Website at:

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/intern...=129227,00.html

[andy28 0]

We got married first and applied for the SSN after getting married. We didn't see any rush for her to get her SSN first when she can't work anyway. Plus now we don't have to do a name change again.

andy

[myfellah 0]

In our case, my fiance is male. He applied for his SSN 3 days after he arrived. He was given the Temp EAD at JFK. Now we need to go back and get that message off his card before we forget.

[motu 6]

My fiancee applied for her SSN about 3 weeks after coming here on a K1. She got the SSN in the mail in about 2 weeks; we then got married and applied for a name change after giving them a copy of our marriage certificate - It took about 7 or 8 weeks to get the name changed on the SSN but it has the "DHS authorization needed" wording on it - so we will need to go back and get that changed (or maybe leave it as the green card should be more than enough to work if she decides to work.) Good Luck

[Vinay 1]

we waited until after marriage to get the ssn for my wife but she was unable to get the name changed. They require some kinda proof with the new name on it, the marriage certificate only had the maiden name. Guess we will just wait till she gets the EAD before we go there again.

So if you're in a rush to get the ssn (to apply for drivers license etc) then don't wait.

[CanGal 1]

I waited to apply for mine after I got married so I wouldn't have to redo the name change thing. Seems it's taking longer this way though, I have my EAD but I'm not updated in the system yet so i'm having to wait.

[linuxgeek 0]

Hey Guys thanks for all the info.

[I'm Gone 60]

In our case, my fiance is male. He applied for his SSN 3 days after he arrived. He was given the Temp EAD at JFK. Now we need to go back and get that message off his card before we forget.

What message off what card? If he has a restricted SSN card, he can't get an unrestricted card until he has an I-551 stamp or card.

[zed2283 1]

Yeah, I guess I'm not sure why you would want to get the SSN before getting married? You can't work until the AOS anyway, right (except for 90 days if you get EAD)? Is it just for drivers' license, bank account, etc?