how to get social security number

[mercymike 0]

Hi everyone! I have been here in the US for 2 weeks under k1 visa and i want to get my social security number but i dont know the requirements needed and where to go. We are getting married on May 1st, do i have to get the ssn after our wedding or can i get it now? Can somebody help us? thank you so much.

[Jewel-8 21]

Hi everyone! I have been here in the US for 2 weeks under k1 visa and i want to get my social security number but i dont know the requirements needed and where to go. We are getting married on May 1st, do i have to get the ssn after our wedding or can i get it now? Can somebody help us? thank you so much.

We walked in 10 days after he got here. The application for a new card was sitting on the counter, but we couldn't find a pen. When we got to the counter and explained to situation the man apologized for not having pens, but said it was unnecessary to for us to even fill out the app because we had the K1.

He entered the information from the K1 and I94 in the passport. He asked for the names of my husbands parents. He couldn't understand my husband's accent, so I had to tell him my mother-in-law's first and maiden name.

Hope that helps!!!

[Adil & Jeanne 296]

We walked in 10 days after he got here. The application for a new card was sitting on the counter, but we couldn't find a pen. When we got to the counter and explained to situation the man apologized for not having pens, but said it was unnecessary to for us to even fill out the app because we had the K1.

He entered the information from the K1 and I94 in the passport. He asked for the names of my husbands parents. He couldn't understand my husband's accent, so I had to tell him my mother-in-law's first and maiden name.

Hope that helps!!!

[Lona.C. 16]

you can go to your local social security office ( your fiance should know where that is )

bring your passport with the K1 and I 94 in it you will have to apply in your maiden name

( but you can change it once you get your GC if your a woman and you take your husbands name after marriage )

jewel gave a good explanation on the process

[Jewel-8 21]

Find your local office at ssa.gov

I heard it takes awhile for DHS to get you in the system, but it was actually 8 days after POE when we went to the office. We had just been to the courthouse and gotten our marriage license an hour before that.

[Adil & Jeanne 296]

you can apply on the social security website! they will send email or mail to tell you what they need

you will have to have cerified copy in English of birth certificate and within the 90 days the marriage papers

or you can visit social security office: be sure you leave lots of time for this as they will be busy

jeanne

i am in morocco to marry so wish me luck

[TracyTN 237]

Moving thread from K1 process forum to working & traveling forum - also, see this link:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...om&page=ssn

[I'm Gone 60]

you can apply on the social security website!

You cannot apply for an SSN online. Applicants age 12 or older applying applying for an original SSN must apply in person at a Social Secuity office or Card Center. The only exception is people assigned an SSN through Enumeration At Entry.

[I'm Gone 60]

We are getting married on May 1st, do i have to get the ssn after our wedding or can i get it now?

If you have been in the U.S. ten days or more, you can go apply now.

An individual that entered the United States with K-1 status applying for a work authorized Social Security number (SSN) must present evidence at one of our offices 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.

Example: If the immigration document, for example, Form I-94, Form I-551, Form I-766, is used to establish work authorization and identity, the alien must provide another document to establish age.

We 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 that entered the United States with K-1 status has been in the United States 76 days he or she will need another document, for example, Form I-551, Form 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

Note: Marriage does not affect an individual with K-1 status's eligibility to be assigned an SSN, or issued a card.

The marriage document establishes the name change if it meets the following criteria:

-- The new name can be derived from the marriage document, i.e. bride

takes the groom’s last name, groom takes bride’s last name, compound

name (with or without hyphen) of each spouse’s original name for

either or both parties.

Note: The type of name change requested must also be allowable under state law, for example, groom taking bride’s last name.

-- The marriage occurred within the past two years

-- The marriage document shows sufficient identifying information, for

example, biographical data such as age, date of birth or parent's

names).

Generally, a foreign-born person’s legal name is the name shown on his or her immigration document, for example, Form I-766.

When the name shown on the immigration document differs from the name shown on other evidence submitted for an SSN, we process the application in the name on the immigration document as long as the name can be derived from the other evidence, for example, a foreign passport.

If the required documents show clearly different names, we cannot accept the evidence to process the application. In these situations, the applicant must submit evidence showing the same name, or submit evidence of a name change that occurred after the immigration document was issued.

RM 10212.001 Defining the Legal Name for an SSN:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110212001

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

If a foreign-born person has the foreign birth certificate in his/her possession or can easily obtain a copy, he or she must submit it as proof of age. In some situations SSA can accept alternative evidence of age. The alternative evidence of age may be less than a year old, for example, foreign passport.

You can find detailed information regarding evidence that establishes age on the SSA Web site:

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 value of documents.

Primary Identity Evidence for an alien:

-- Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (includes temporary I-551

Stamp in combination with an unexpired foreign passport when the I-

551 Permanent Resident Card has not yet been issued)

-- Form I-94, Arrival/departure Record in combination with an unexpired

foreign passport

-- Form I-766, Employment Authorization card

Note: Document must be unexpired

Secondary Identity Evidence for an alien:

-- Unexpired valid U.S. driver’s license (excludes licenses known to be

suspended or revoked)

-- U.S. State issued non-driver identity card (issued by the same State

agency which issues driver’s licenses/State-level agency with

issuing authority over the State’s identity card and not expired)

-- Marriage document showing in addition to the applicant’s name

either the applicant’s date of birth (DOB) or age

-- Certified copy of medical record (clinic, doctor, or hospital) or

letter providing extract data from the medical record showing in

addition to the applicant’s name, the applicant’s DOB or age

-- Health insurance or Medicaid card showing, in addition to the

person’s name, either a photograph of the person or his/her DOB

-- School identity card or record (for current school year) showing, in

addition to the applicant’s name, either a photograph of the

applicant or the applicant’s DOB

-- Life insurance policy for the person showing his/her age or DOB.

However, the acceptability of an identity document must be evaluated on a case by case basis by the office processing the application.

You can find detailed information regarding evidence that establishes identity on the SSA Web site:

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

SSA cannot accept an application filing receipt or notice of action as evidence of an immigration document.

Take the required documents to the nearest Social Security office or Card Center. Individuals age 12 or older applying for an original SSN and card must apply in person.

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:

http://www.ssa.gov/locator

Applicants who live or receive mail in the Brooklyn, NY, Queens, NY, Phoenix, AZ, Orlando, FL, Sacramento, CA, or Las Vegas, NV area should apply at their local Social Security Card Center.

Individuals residing in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN area should apply at the Twin Cities Card Center.

Card Center Information:

http://www.ssa.gov/cardcenters/cardcenterinfo.html

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

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

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

However, some applications still require a copy of the immigration document(s) to be mailed to the appropriate bureau of DHS along with Form G-845 for manual verification.

Note: If the applicant has changed his/her name after an immigration document, for example, Form I-94, was issued, for example, 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, that is, 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.

SSA offices can also assist applicants by issuing a notice acknowledging the SSN application while documents are being verified.

RM 10205.215 Acknowledgement Requested for an Application for an SSN Card:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110205215

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

You can find SSN and employment information on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Web site:

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

If ineligible to be assigned an SSN, Social Security offices can provide written notice using Form SSA-L676 to explain that an SSN cannot be assigned due to your not having provided authorization to work in the United States for SSN purposes, or evidence of a valid nonwork reason for needing an SSN.

Needing an SSN for school aid or enrollment, tax purposes, private health insurance, banking, credit cards, loans, or to be issued a state professional or driver’s license are NOT valid non work reasons for needing an SSN.

RM 10211.610 Valid Reasons to Assign an SSN for Nonwork Purposes:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211610

RM 10211.615 Invalid Nonwork Reasons for SSN Assignment:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211615

The IRS assigns Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers to aliens for tax purposes who are not eligible to be assigned an SSN. A Form W-7, “Application for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number,” needs to be submitted to receive an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

You can download a form W-7 from the IRS Web site:

http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/index.html

You can contact the IRS ITIN office by calling 1-800-908-9982.

You can find additional information on the IRS Web site:

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96287,00.html

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1915.pdf

When am I legally required to provide my Social Security number:

http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cf....php?p_faqid=78

[gary9891 10]

Hi everyone! I have been here in the US for 2 weeks under k1 visa and i want to get my social security number but i dont know the requirements needed and where to go. We are getting married on May 1st, do i have to get the ssn after our wedding or can i get it now? Can somebody help us? thank you so much.

I recommend you get a card now. It will be much easier on you later to have it.

You will need passport with I 94 inside and your birth certificate (in english). Ours took 15 minutes to do and 6 days it was in our mailbox. Your card will be in your MAIDEN name.

After your wedding, go back with your marriage license and simply do a name change, takes 5 minutes. Your SSN card will have the same number just new married name.

[DainandVicky 4]

It's simple and it doesn't cost any money, definitely do it before getting married.

Bring your passport (with I-94) and birth certificate. You can download the application online or from this site under the "guides" section, or like others have said you can pick it up at the counter at the social security office. Some people print out the paper that says you are allowed a card in case they tell you you aren't. We didn't need it.

Having a SSN will allow you to open a bank account (or be added to your fiance's account) and be added to the utility bills that you will need later to show residency and get a state ID. After getting a utility bill or a bank statement after 30 days you can apply for a state-issued ID, and then can apply for a driving permit. So, even though you can't use it to work until after you marry, apply for AOS and EAD, and receive an EAD, it's still a useful thing to get.

[galenjr 1]

I'm confused...do I have to show a valid reason or not? I want to get the SS Card for my fiancee after she arrives but we want to get married. Please help.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

We are getting married on May 1st, do i have to get the ssn after our wedding or can i get it now? Can somebody help us?

You entered the US with a K-1 visa and you are getting married on May 1st?

[Nik+Heather 121]

You entered the US with a K-1 visa and you are getting married on May 1st?

It's a zombie thread, Bob. I almost made the same mistake myself!

I'm confused...do I have to show a valid reason or not? I want to get the SS Card for my fiancee after she arrives but we want to get married. Please help.

No, you don't have to show a valid reason. They don't ask you WHY you want a SSN, you just show that you are eligible (your unexpired I-94 from the K-1 entry)

Edited September 15, 2010 by Nik+Heather

[Mal and Meg 12]

Thanks for the info i need to wait another week or so until i can go get my card