Do I have to apply for SSN before getting a Marriage Cert?

[Scott & LC 3]

Hi all....

I am now in the US, for 3 weeks now. I would like to know if it is necessary for me to apply for Social Security Number before applying for a marriage certificate? I was admitted into the US on 20th November, and we're thinking of registering our marriage on the 5th of January... my 90 day visa expires on the 18th February... is there enough time to file for AOS?? I am 24 years old by the way. I hope someone could help me out with this.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

LC

[ladyinpink 1]

Hi all....

I am now in the US, for 3 weeks now. I would like to know if it is necessary for me to apply for Social Security Number before applying for a marriage certificate? I was admitted into the US on 20th November, and we're thinking of registering our marriage on the 5th of January... my 90 day visa expires on the 18th February... is there enough time to file for AOS?? I am 24 years old by the way. I hope someone could help me out with this.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

LC

you cant apply your ssn before or after your married

my thoughts to you apply your ssn now and your state id

before your married my experince i apply ssn and state id 3 days i arrive in the us

[Inky 1,110]

age doesnt matter =)

you may want to get your SSN soon as you can, you might need it to get put on his bank account and things like that for proof in the AOS packet. SSN helps you get medical coverage etc too.

[HeatDeath 430]

Hi all....

I am now in the US, for 3 weeks now. I would like to know if it is necessary for me to apply for Social Security Number before applying for a marriage certificate? I was admitted into the US on 20th November, and we're thinking of registering our marriage on the 5th of January... my 90 day visa expires on the 18th February... is there enough time to file for AOS?? I am 24 years old by the way. I hope someone could help me out with this.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

LC

Some background:

K1 visa holders, unusually for nonimmigrants, are listed in Social Security guidelines as "aliens allowed to work" for Social Security purposes. This is because K1 visa holders are allowed and encouraged to apply for social security cards very shortly after they arrive [You should apply approximately 2 weeks after you arrive, and no later than 2 weeks before your I-94 expires]. The reason for this has to do with some poorly worded federal legislation that requires anyone applying for a state "license" to have a social security number. The intent of this legislation was to make social security numbers necessary for getting a driver's license. But different states have interpreted this in different ways. Some interpreted it to mean that a social security number was necessary to get a marriage license, as well.

Because some states require a social security number to get a marriage license, the K-1 visa, when it was designed, had to include the capacity to get a social security number, otherwise it would be useless for people living in those states.

So in some states, yes, you DO need to get a social security number before applying for a marriage license. You need to call your local county marriage license office to get the precise local requirements, as they vary quite a bit from state to state, and even sometimes from county to county. Be sure to ask a person, because sometimes their websites and written material [which are usually written with citizens, not recent immigrants, in mind] strongly imply that a SS number is necessary, but they don't actually require one if you don't have one yet.

[Note: "for social security purposes" is the ONLY circumstance under which K-1 visa holders can even pretend to be allowed to work. In the real world, outside the social security office, you cannot work without an EAD card in your hand, no matter what you put on your social security card application.]

In answer to your second question, if you register your marriage on the 5th of January, you'll have lots of time to file your AOS. One thing you should start doing now is preparing your AOS packet, gathering photocopies of documents and filling out forms. Just date all of your forms for the day after your marriage, even if you fill them out before. That way you can have the whole packet, except for the marriage certificate, ready to go before you even get married. Then when you get the marriage certificate, just put it in the packet and mail the thing.

We got married on September 12. I had all of my forms ready to go, all dated September 13. Of course, all of the information on them was accurate and truthful as of that date. After we got back from our honeymoon on the 21st, we registered our marriage with the county office on the 23rd, got our certificate right away, and mailed off the packet on the 25th. My I-94 expired October 3. Your timeframe is looser than mine was, so it should be no problem, especially if you have your forms ready to go before your wedding day [which is a really good idea anyways, because you won't want to do them after ].

One more piece of advice, as stated in the Guides:

You can get your marriage certificate back much faster if, instead of letting the officiant mail your license to the county, you keep it and bring it back to the county office yourself and register your marriage in person. In many places, if you do this you can get your marriage certificate for the AOS packet right then, with no delay. When you apply for your license, make sure you find out if you can do this, some places won't let you. If the county will let you do this, make sure you talk to your officiant so he or she knows not to take the filled-in license with them when they leave your ceremony.

[Scott & LC 3]

Hi everyone

Thank you soooo much for your replies. Right now, I'm trying to fill up the SSN application. I would like to know a few things below:

1. Do I need any other documents other than my Passport with I-94? (I have printed out the RM 00203.500 and EM-00154 as suggested in the guide)

2. How do I fill out the Question No. 5 on SSN application regarding CITIZENSHIP. Do I put a check on "Legal Alien Allowed to Work"??

I hope someone can shed some light here.

Thank you sooo much again

Sincerely,

LC

[HeatDeath 430]

Hi everyone

Thank you soooo much for your replies. Right now, I'm trying to fill up the SSN application. I would like to know a few things below:

1. Do I need any other documents other than my Passport with I-94? (I have printed out the RM 00203.500 and EM-00154 as suggested in the guide)

2. How do I fill out the Question No. 5 on SSN application regarding CITIZENSHIP. Do I put a check on "Legal Alien Allowed to Work"??

I hope someone can shed some light here.

Thank you sooo much again

Sincerely,

LC

1) I'm pretty sure your passport with I-94 is enough, as it contains 2 photo ids (the bio page, issued by your government, and the k1 visa itself, issued by the US). Just in case you need another form of id, it might be a good idea to also bring your (translated if necessary) birth certificate, just to save you a trip, but I don't think you need it.

2) Yes. You check "Legal alien allowed to work" as indicated in RM 00203.500. It might also be a good idea to highlight the line in that document that specifies that K-1 visa holders are included in the "Aliens authorized to work without specific DHS approval" section.

Worked for me, anyways.

[NCWife 0]

I think in order to apply for a marriage license in NC, you need a SSN.

When I applied for my SSC, the clerk was just looking at my passport, visa, I-94 and my marriage certificate. I had my birth certificate with translation with me, you know just in case.

Are you in Charlotte?

Cheers..

Hi everyone

Thank you soooo much for your replies. Right now, I'm trying to fill up the SSN application. I would like to know a few things below:

1. Do I need any other documents other than my Passport with I-94? (I have printed out the RM 00203.500 and EM-00154 as suggested in the guide)

2. How do I fill out the Question No. 5 on SSN application regarding CITIZENSHIP. Do I put a check on "Legal Alien Allowed to Work"??

I hope someone can shed some light here.

Thank you sooo much again

Sincerely,

LC

[Jolex 0]

I think in order to apply for a marriage license in NC, you need a SSN.

When I applied for my SSC, the clerk was just looking at my passport, visa, I-94 and my marriage certificate. I had my birth certificate with translation with me, you know just in case.

Are you in Charlotte?

Cheers..

Hi everyone

Thank you soooo much for your replies. Right now, I'm trying to fill up the SSN application. I would like to know a few things below:

1. Do I need any other documents other than my Passport with I-94? (I have printed out the RM 00203.500 and EM-00154 as suggested in the guide)

2. How do I fill out the Question No. 5 on SSN application regarding CITIZENSHIP. Do I put a check on "Legal Alien Allowed to Work"??

I hope someone can shed some light here.

Thank you sooo much again

Sincerely,

LC

My hubby got in the country on 11/28/09

Got Married 12/4, civil Ceremony and got Marriage License

Change my name same day 12/4

Applied for SSN on 12/10 but already went there 12/2 but told us to wait till he gets in the system

We are are still waiting for the SSN in the mail hopefully during this week sometimes, they said it takes a week.

We got our license before we are getting the SSN

All the Best

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hi all....

I am now in the US, for 3 weeks now. I would like to know if it is necessary for me to apply for Social Security Number before applying for a marriage certificate? I was admitted into the US on 20th November, and we're thinking of registering our marriage on the 5th of January... my 90 day visa expires on the 18th February... is there enough time to file for AOS?? I am 24 years old by the way. I hope someone could help me out with this.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

LC

You do not need an SSN to get married or file for AOS but I suggest you get one ASAP. You WILL need it for bank accounts, insurance and lots of other things. My wife got hers 16 hours after she arrived. I suggest you get it before you unpack your bags.

Get the card in your maiden name (exactly as in your passport) change it later if you want. Do not leave until they process your application. As a K-1 you ARE entitled to an SSN from the moment you arrive until 14 days before your I-94 expires and you do not have to be married or anything else first. If you have any trouble at the SS office, ask for a superviosr.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I think in order to apply for a marriage license in NC, you need a SSN.

When I applied for my SSC, the clerk was just looking at my passport, visa, I-94 and my marriage certificate. I had my birth certificate with translation with me, you know just in case.

Are you in Charlotte?

Cheers..

Hi everyone

Thank you soooo much for your replies. Right now, I'm trying to fill up the SSN application. I would like to know a few things below:

1. Do I need any other documents other than my Passport with I-94? (I have printed out the RM 00203.500 and EM-00154 as suggested in the guide)

2. How do I fill out the Question No. 5 on SSN application regarding CITIZENSHIP. Do I put a check on "Legal Alien Allowed to Work"??

I hope someone can shed some light here.

Thank you sooo much again

Sincerely,

LC

No. States cannot require you to thave an SSN. They can ASK for one but cannnot require it. If you have none, answer "none" they cannot refuse a marriage license for lack of SSN

[Scott & LC 3]

Hi all

My fiance took me to the SSA office today... I applied for the SSN and there weren't any problem. I asked the officer how long it'll take, she told me, 4-6 weeks but sometimes it'll be shorter than that. She said that they have to check my records first and all that. Hopefully, things go alright in their office. I guess if I don't get it, I will apply for the marriage license/cert first...

I have a few more questions:

1. Can I check the SSN status on the SSA website?

2. What are the differences between marriage license and certificate? Which one should I go thru with first? Thank you.

Thank you all so much for the support

Really do appreciate it!

P/S: NCWife... I'm not in Charlotte... I'm in Cary/Raleigh area.... are you in Charlotte??

[Leo&Farah 0]

Hi there fellow Malaysian.

Wow, lots of Malaysians in NC. I managed to get my SS done two weeks after I arrived and they asked for my passport. BC was not required. I got it in the mail 7 days later.

They said we needed a SS# to apply for marriage license as well but the lady also mentioned that you can sign a waiver if you cannot or are not entitled to one. Anyway, thats moot now you have your SS# on the way.

License comes first, you fill it up with a register of deeds or county clerk.

http://www.weddingvendors.com/marriage-lic...north-carolina/

Find out your county and call a number on that list there. Ours was Burke county since we're in Morganton, NC. You can ask all the questions to your hearts desire there. Usually its 60 bucks for a marriage license. You fill up stuff like name of you and your future hubby, parents name and address and education level. Bring along your passports, drivers license, birth certificate and translation and social security card for identification. The entire process of getting our license took all of 10 minutes, however long it took to fill up the form ourselves.

When you get married, you need to have two witnesses to sign the certificate along with the person marrying you. After its all said and done and signed, bring back to the certificate to the register of deeds (where you originally got it from) and ask for a copy of your marriage license.

We got ours on the spot for 10 bucks each. Our certificate of marriage has an embossed seal on it and is green in color. Not sure if that's the standard but I'm pretty sure that takes care of all that is needed to flaunt youre married to the government when needed.

[Scott & LC 3]

Thank you Leo&Farah for the reply! Now, I'm more well versed in all these marriage mumbo-jumbo thing! Ah then I guess we should've gotten our marriage license yesterday since my fiance took 1/2 day off. Oh well, maybe we will only get it in the morning of the day we're gonna get married. It's gonna be interesting alright Heh... a totally new journey ahead! Thank you again I hope things are going good for you! Oh, we're in Wake County by the way

Enjoy your married life! Celebrate!

[Darnell 8,478]

you cant apply your ssn before or after your married

This is wrong.

Perhaps you meant

you can apply your ssn before or after your married

[Darnell 8,478]

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re: waiting 4 to 6 weeks.

YIKES - this is wrong.

This tells me the person that dealt with you, is a moron.

You have to be 'found' in the SAVE database, then if the names match, is immediate approval, with 1 to 7 day turn around. A properly trained clerk with know that, and do that, in real time, with you at the window.

Suggest you go back, get a supervisor at that office, have him check status of your case (face to face, not use telephone ) .