Quick marriage after entry to US and SSN application

[Jaylen Brit 0]

It looks likely that after I emigrate on K1, we will probably get married within 2 - 3 weeks of me arriving..barely enough time for me to get onto the SAVE system.

My question is, will this pose any problem/cause delays as my new married name won't match up with the info on SAVE which will have been given in my current surname.

I *was* going to apply for SSN# within 2 weeks of me arriving - as many have suggested it takes about that long for records to catch up on SAVE from entry to the US - and then go back for a name change after marriage, but this now looks a bit pointless if we are marrying so soon; so I will most probably be applying for my FIRST SSN# under my new married name.

We'll be in Lenoir, NC - not sure where the nearest SS office is tho.

Any advice / tips/ info welcome

[cheeky^Wolf 0]

It looks likely that after I emigrate on K1, we will probably get married within 2 - 3 weeks of me arriving..barely enough time for me to get onto the SAVE system.

My question is, will this pose any problem/cause delays as my new married name won't match up with the info on SAVE which will have been given in my current surname.

I *was* going to apply for SSN# within 2 weeks of me arriving - as many have suggested it takes about that long for records to catch up on SAVE from entry to the US - and then go back for a name change after marriage, but this now looks a bit pointless if we are marrying so soon; so I will most probably be applying for my FIRST SSN# under my new married name.

We'll be in Lenoir, NC - not sure where the nearest SS office is tho.

Any advice / tips/ info welcome

I think as long as you take you passport and marriage certificate with you to the SS office, they will sort it out. Application for an SS Card is http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.pdf.

If they say they can't do it, I would just apply in your maiden name, let that take 2 weeks to process, then go back and change names. Bit of a pain but it might be easier.

https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps6z/FOLO/fo001.jsp is the SS office locator.

How exciting! When are you flying out?

Hx

[rebeccajo 14]

Just make sure you don't need a SS# to get married in that county! If you don't I would wait till after the wedding and take the documents like cheekywolf suggested.

[Rocio 0]

just to add.........i was in the system 1 week after my arrival, you might be lucky too so give it a try after a week ok

good luck and congratulations

[canucker18 0]

I was in exactly the same situation. We married 3-4 weeks after I arrived. I waited the 2 weeks and went and applied for my SSN with my maiden name.

My suggestion would be to apply withy our maiden name first, then get it changed. The reason being that there can be a hassle with trying to get your SSN in your married name and many folks can attest to that.

This way you can go in after 2 weeks, apply with no hassles, and get the card. Then go back and change your name afterwards. Yes it's an extra step, but there are many offices that have given people hassles here with the whole married name thing.

Your marriage cert. must also have certain criteria listed on it in order to get the name change, such as your date of birth.

MDYoung will probably post further on this but my advice is get it in your maiden name first just to have it in your hands. With an SSN you are 1 step closer.

That's my 2 cents.

[I'm Gone 60]

https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps6z/FOLO/fo001.jsp is the SS office locator.

I think this is much easier to remember:

http://www.ssa.gov/locator

[I'm Gone 60]

It looks likely that after I emigrate on K1, we will probably get married within 2 - 3 weeks of me arriving..barely enough time for me to get onto the SAVE system.

My question is, will this pose any problem/cause delays as my new married name won't match up with the info on SAVE which will have been given in my current surname.

I *was* going to apply for SSN# within 2 weeks of me arriving - as many have suggested it takes about that long for records to catch up on SAVE from entry to the US - and then go back for a name change after marriage, but this now looks a bit pointless if we are marrying so soon; so I will most probably be applying for my FIRST SSN# under my new married name.

Never know what's going to happen when you go into an SSA office until you get there. Person (K-1) reported the other day that the SSA office told them they were now a K-3 since they were married and need an EAD card, which is wrong, but how do you correct them, other than trying another SSA office.

The thing about applying with your married name is your marriage certificate having your age or date of birth. If it doesn't you will probably have to apply with maiden name and come back after you have EAD card with married name.

If they can verify you as "Temporary Employment Authorized" through SAVE with your maiden name and everything else is OK in SAVE, i.e. name spelled correctly(allowed one letter to be off) and date of birth is correct, they shouldn't need to send the G-845 if you apply with married name..

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203735

RM 00203.735 Requesting Online (Primary) Verification By SAVE

E. PROCEDURE—ONLINE SAVE QUERY RESPONSE INFORMATION DOES NOT AGREE WITH

IMMIGRATION DOCUMENT

1. Name

e. Applicant Has Changed His/Her Name But SAVE Query Response Shows Old

Name

In some cases, the applicant may have changed his/her name after DHS

issued the immigration document (e.g., he/she has married and is now

using the spouse’s last name) but does not present an immigration

document showing the new name. In these cases, the DHS system reflects

the new name only when the person provided the name change information

to DHS and requested to have his/her immigration record changed to show

the new name.

When the SAVE query response shows the old name that is shown on the

immigration document presented and not the new name on the identity

document presented, do not consider this a name discrepancy for

enumeration purposes. See RM 00203.200 when the applicant presents an

identity document in the new name that is more recent than the

immigration document to determine if the identity document is

acceptable. Tell the applicant he/she must report the name change to DHS

so that DHS can update its records.

NOTE FROM ME: Procedure tells the SSA office to tell you to report the

name change to DHS, not that the applicant can't be processed.

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

This is for a name change, but still applies in your case.

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

RM 00203.210 Changing Numident Data

a. 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.

Marriage document or marriage record to be acceptable as an identity document it must show, in addition to the new name, the person’s age or DOB or parents’ names

C. Procedure - Immigration Document as Evidence of Legal 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, 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.

[Clarax 0]

I went into the SS office to get the name changed on my card to my married name and they would only do it once I had changed my name on something else already. (i.e drivers license).

So, I had to wait to get a drivers license before they would issue me another card in my married name.

Of course you cant change your bank cards until you have a form of id with your married name otherwise if a shop needs to see id along with your bank card they will not match up.

Its so annoying!!

[I'm Gone 60]

I went into the SS office to get the name changed on my card to my married name and they would only do it once I had changed my name on something else already. (i.e drivers license).

Does your marriage certificate have your age or date of birth? With most states verifing the DL application info against the SSN record it's hard to change the DL name until you have changed the SSN record.

Edited June 18, 2006 by mdyoung

[Jaylen Brit 0]

OK so if I understand correctly its probably best to apply for SSN# as soon as possible after I arrive, and before we get married, get the SSN# in the same name as the immigration doc and THEN go and change it after marriage (and no we don't need the SSN# to get married, as far as we can work out from the state info about it, and the nfo my other half got)

Thanks for the replies, that's been helpful

[Cassie 8]

We got married 6 days after I arrived in the US, so no getting the SSN for me until after the wedding. I actually didn't go to the SSN office until a month or so after our wedding. I took my form, my documents, and my back up printout (courtesy of mdyoung!), and I had no problems at all. Received my card just over a week later. I understand my experience is probably in the minority!

[I'm Gone 60]

OK so if I understand correctly its probably best to apply for SSN# as soon as possible after I arrive, and before we get married, get the SSN# in the same name as the immigration doc and THEN go and change it after marriage (and no we don't need the SSN# to get married, as far as we can work out from the state info about it, and the nfo my other half got)

That's the way I would do it, except for maybe waiting a week after getting here to apply.

[Jaylen Brit 0]

So, arrive, wait a week, apply for SSN#, and let it cook (lol), then do my thing and wait til I get the SSN (however long that is) then go change it to the new name - gotcha - I will do what you suggest as you're the man when it comes to this stuff. Thanks once again

[canadalaura 0]

This is anecdotal at best, but we got married 2 days after I arrived then in a few weeks I got my SSN in my married name, no issues whatsoever!