changing wife's name on SS card, confusing

[Kirkland 0]

Hello, forgive me if this is the wrong forum for exactly this topic, but I'm just getting started, and I know I'll be hanging around this area a lot.

My wife first came to America on a J-1 Au Pair visa, and was issued a social security card/number. Later, she became on an F-1 student visa, which she still is on. We got married recently, and she is changing her name, and so we are trying to get this updated everywhere applicable, including the SS card. However, as she is currently on a student visa, she is not authorized to work, and would not be eligible for a SS card. It's the same form whether you are applying for one for the first time, or changing some information on it, and that form (SS-5) has a 'Citizenship' question, with options of Citizen, Alien allowed to work, Alien not allowed to work, and Other. If you are not in those first two categories, you need to provide evidence of some "need" for a SS card. As a student, I don't think (am I wrong?) that she would be eligible to get her first SS card, if that's what she was applying for.

So how would we fill this out, when we just want to change the name? Or do we not do it at all, and wait until she IS authorized to work? I'm concerned because I've told that if her last name on the marriage certificate doesn't line up with all other "official" papers, then there could be trouble with the immigration process.

Thanks kindly,

Kirkland

[KIMCORENE 0]

Wait until she has received the EAD- SSA will require documentation from USCIS with her new name in conjunction with the marriage certificate in order to change it.

[payxibka 10,047]

unless currently authorized/eligible you cannot be issued or even re-issued a card even for a simple name change

[Kirkland 0]

Thanks both of you for your help!

Kirkland

[^KK^ 3]

I wish you the best Kirkland