SSN before AOS Complete - Maiden name only?

[Brad and Vika 129]

Kentucky requires immigrants to get something called a "blue letter" to certify that they are legal to take a drivers license test. We discovered yesterday that a prerequisite for this letter is a Social Security Card (the card itself, not a record of applying). When we went to the Social Security office with Vika's passport, visa, and a copy of our marriage certificate - the office was unable to verify her status using her married name. Apparently the answer is that she will get her card in her maiden name, and then we will have to change it after her green card arrives. We waited to get the SSN until we were married specifically so she could get one with her married name on it - pretty frustrating.

Any one with experience in this area? Is there some way to get Homeland Security to verify the identity and status of a K-1 holder under her married name?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

We were told at our SS office (and I realize all offices tell different stories depending on their training/experience) that the card had to be issued in the name exactly as it appeared on the I-94 because that's they way it is entered in the database. Our name issue was Nick put his first and middle name on the application and she said he couldn't get the card issued that way. Most K1s have the least difficulty getting the initial SSN in the maiden name, then changing when they go back with the green card to get the work restriction stamp removed.

Perhaps showing her SS card with maiden name and your marriage certificate to explain the name change will satisfy the driver's license people.

Edited April 8, 2009 by Nich-Nick

[Brad and Vika 129]

We were told at our SS office (and I realize all offices tell different stories depending on their training/experience) that the card had to be issued in the name exactly as it appeared on the I-94 because that's they way it is entered in the database. Our name issue was Nick put his first and middle name on the application and she said he couldn't get the card issued that way.

Perhaps showing her SS card with maiden name and your marriage certificate to explain the name change will satisfy the driver's license people.

Looks that way, and we will now also need our NOA1 for AOS (we don't have it yet) if the date we ask for the blue letter is beyond the K-1 expiration. Then all the hassle of changing the name attached to the SSN

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Kentucky requires immigrants to get something called a "blue letter" to certify that they are legal to take a drivers license test. We discovered yesterday that a prerequisite for this letter is a Social Security Card (the card itself, not a record of applying). When we went to the Social Security office with Vika's passport, visa, and a copy of our marriage certificate - the office was unable to verify her status using her married name. Apparently the answer is that she will get her card in her maiden name, and then we will have to change it after her green card arrives. We waited to get the SSN until we were married specifically so she could get one with her married name on it - pretty frustrating.

Any one with experience in this area? Is there some way to get Homeland Security to verify the identity and status of a K-1 holder under her married name?

This is why Alla applied for her SSN 16 hours after her plane landed. The SS administration goes into convulsions over changing the name and nothing else, so why bother? Get one in her maiden name 15 minutes after she arrives and be done with it. Then when you change the name, you already have her card. hhehehe, now the joke's on them. I really don't care about SS adminstration infarctions as long as they don't affect me.

Brad, her K-1 and I-94 will get her a SS card in her maiden name. You can always show the Drivers License office your marriage lisence and get the DL in her married name. Then go back to the SS administration, change her name and smile while they convulse.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

We were told at our SS office (and I realize all offices tell different stories depending on their training/experience) that the card had to be issued in the name exactly as it appeared on the I-94 because that's they way it is entered in the database. Our name issue was Nick put his first and middle name on the application and she said he couldn't get the card issued that way. Most K1s have the least difficulty getting the initial SSN in the maiden name, then changing when they go back with the green card to get the work restriction stamp removed.

Perhaps showing her SS card with maiden name and your marriage certificate to explain the name change will satisfy the driver's license people.

Good advice. The "work restriction stamp" isn't important to have removed. Alla will not be changing her name and we have no intention of going back to have the stamp removed. Of course they will after you get a green card and change the name, but it isn't important. It says "Not valid for work without DHS authorization" or something to that affect. When you have your EAD and/or Green Card, you have that authorization. Truth be told, NO SS card is "valid for work" without some other "authorization" even for a native citizen. So don't worry too much about that

[Brad and Vika 129]

Kentucky requires immigrants to get something called a "blue letter" to certify that they are legal to take a drivers license test. We discovered yesterday that a prerequisite for this letter is a Social Security Card (the card itself, not a record of applying). When we went to the Social Security office with Vika's passport, visa, and a copy of our marriage certificate - the office was unable to verify her status using her married name. Apparently the answer is that she will get her card in her maiden name, and then we will have to change it after her green card arrives. We waited to get the SSN until we were married specifically so she could get one with her married name on it - pretty frustrating.

Any one with experience in this area? Is there some way to get Homeland Security to verify the identity and status of a K-1 holder under her married name?

This is why Alla applied for her SSN 16 hours after her plane landed. The SS administration goes into convulsions over changing the name and nothing else, so why bother? Get one in her maiden name 15 minutes after she arrives and be done with it. Then when you change the name, you already have her card. hhehehe, now the joke's on them. I really don't care about SS adminstration infarctions as long as they don't affect me.

Brad, her K-1 and I-94 will get her a SS card in her maiden name. You can always show the Drivers License office your marriage lisence and get the DL in her married name. Then go back to the SS administration, change her name and smile while they convulse.

I understood that Gary - thanks. I read here somewhere that by waiting until we had a marriage certificate we could get her new name on the card though. Apparently not

[Krikit 1,165]

Holy #######, Brad. Your post is nearly impossible to read properly with all the side-by-side pics in your siggy! (Scrolls waaaaay beyond the screen.)

Let me get back to you after I've had 5 minutes to decipher it.

[Krikit 1,165]

I applied for my SSN in my married name. I ended up with an employee who 1) tried to tell me I couldn't have an SSN; and 2) tried to tell me I couldn't have one in my married name. I showed them their own policy document and insisted on speaking with a supervisor. Fortunately, the supervisor was not only level-headed, but someone who had experience with K-1 visa holders.

I'm going to move your thread to the "Working" forum (which includes the SSN topic) to draw the attention of I_Quit. If you do a search for his posts you will be able to find a number of helpful threads on the matter.

Good luck.

Edited April 8, 2009 by Krikit

[I'm Gone 60]

When we went to the Social Security office with Vika's passport, visa, and a copy of our marriage certificate - the office was unable to verify her status using her married name. Apparently the answer is that she will get her card in her maiden name, and then we will have to change it after her green card arrives. We waited to get the SSN until we were married specifically so she could get one with her married name on it - pretty frustrating.

Any one with experience in this area? Is there some way to get Homeland Security to verify the identity and status of a K-1 holder under her married name?

If she hasn't been in the U.S. 76 days, the SSA office is incorrect.

RM 00203.210 C. Procedure - Immigration Document as Evidence of Legal Name:

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, which occurred after the immigration document was issued.

In cases where an alien applies for a replacement SSN card and submits an immigration document showing a name that is different from the name on the prior Numident record, accept the immigration document as evidence of the legal name. In these cases, the prior SSN card may have been issued in a name that was not the number holder’s legal name.

RM 00203.210 Changing Numident Name Data:

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

However, when an alien requests an SSN or replacement card, we must verify his or her documents/current status with the appropriate Bureau of the Department of Homeland Security. If the initial online verification is not possible through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system, we may need to send a Form G-845 to the appropriate Bureau of the Department of Homeland Security for manual verification.

Social Security field offices can submit an additional electronic online verification, which in the majority of applications eliminates the need to send a Form G-845 along with copies of the applicant’s immigration documents.

However, some applications still require a copy of the immigration document(s) being verified to be sent at the request of the Department of Homeland Security along with the Form G-845 for manual verification.

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.

[Brad and Vika 129]

When we went to the Social Security office with Vika's passport, visa, and a copy of our marriage certificate - the office was unable to verify her status using her married name. Apparently the answer is that she will get her card in her maiden name, and then we will have to change it after her green card arrives. We waited to get the SSN until we were married specifically so she could get one with her married name on it - pretty frustrating.

Any one with experience in this area? Is there some way to get Homeland Security to verify the identity and status of a K-1 holder under her married name?

If she hasn't been in the U.S. 76 days, the SSA office is incorrect.

RM 00203.210 C. Procedure - Immigration Document as Evidence of Legal Name:

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, which occurred after the immigration document was issued.

In cases where an alien applies for a replacement SSN card and submits an immigration document showing a name that is different from the name on the prior Numident record, accept the immigration document as evidence of the legal name. In these cases, the prior SSN card may have been issued in a name that was not the number holder’s legal name.

RM 00203.210 Changing Numident Name Data:

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

However, when an alien requests an SSN or replacement card, we must verify his or her documents/current status with the appropriate Bureau of the Department of Homeland Security. If the initial online verification is not possible through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system, we may need to send a Form G-845 to the appropriate Bureau of the Department of Homeland Security for manual verification.

Social Security field offices can submit an additional electronic online verification, which in the majority of applications eliminates the need to send a Form G-845 along with copies of the applicant’s immigration documents.

However, some applications still require a copy of the immigration document(s) being verified to be sent at the request of the Department of Homeland Security along with the Form G-845 for manual verification.

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.

Thanks - and I wrote them at the address you PMed me too. One way or another it will eventually work out. Will emailing them actually change the process if the on-site worker decided to submit in maiden name? She even said that her supervisor would sign off on the switch from the application name (married name) and Vika need do nothing.

Holy #######, Brad. Your post is nearly impossible to read properly with all the side-by-side pics in your siggy! (Scrolls waaaaay beyond the screen.)

Let me get back to you after I've had 5 minutes to decipher it.

Krikit, I can't figure this out. Everyhting fits on my screen just fine. When I put pics on top of each other, folks complained about how it took forever to scroll through it.

[Krikit 1,165]

Krikit, I can't figure this out. Everyhting fits on my screen just fine. When I put pics on top of each other, folks complained about how it took forever to scroll through it.

*scrolling scrolling scrolling right*

*scrolling scrolling scrolling left*

Oh. That's what you said!

I have no clue. I do know that the official unofficial maximum standard is 2-3 images of a smallish size and you have one... two.... three.... . Quick! Where's that report button?!

[Brad and Vika 129]

Krikit, I can't figure this out. Everyhting fits on my screen just fine. When I put pics on top of each other, folks complained about how it took forever to scroll through it.

*scrolling scrolling scrolling right*

*scrolling scrolling scrolling left*

Oh. That's what you said!

I have no clue. I do know that the official unofficial maximum standard is 2-3 images of a smallish size and you have one... two.... three.... . Quick! Where's that report button?!

On my screen, my pics each look about the size of the cartoon in your siggy!

[Krikit 1,165]

Krikit, I can't figure this out. Everyhting fits on my screen just fine. When I put pics on top of each other, folks complained about how it took forever to scroll through it.

*scrolling scrolling scrolling right*

*scrolling scrolling scrolling left*

Oh. That's what you said!

I have no clue. I do know that the official unofficial maximum standard is 2-3 images of a smallish size and you have one... two.... three.... . Quick! Where's that report button?!

On my screen, my pics each look about the size of the cartoon in your siggy!

Yep, they do to me too. What size screen do you have?!

[Brad and Vika 129]

Krikit, I can't figure this out. Everyhting fits on my screen just fine. When I put pics on top of each other, folks complained about how it took forever to scroll through it.

*scrolling scrolling scrolling right*

*scrolling scrolling scrolling left*

Oh. That's what you said!

I have no clue. I do know that the official unofficial maximum standard is 2-3 images of a smallish size and you have one... two.... three.... . Quick! Where's that report button?!

On my screen, my pics each look about the size of the cartoon in your siggy!

Yep, they do to me too. What size screen do you have?!

14 incher - all the pics and text appear on the screen w/o scrolling.

[I'm Gone 60]

Thanks - and I wrote them at the address you PMed me too. One way or another it will eventually work out. Will emailing them actually change the process if the on-site worker decided to submit in maiden name? She even said that her supervisor would sign off on the switch from the application name (married name) and Vika need do nothing.

You said they would not allow her to apply with her maiden name, so what are you talking about the supervisor signing off on the name change?