Morons

[Nibake 4]

Not a driver's license actually, just a permit. Is that too much too ask? Well I guess so.

We got my wife's SS card shortly after marriage, but the gal insisted that she was only able to issue the card in the maiden name because "immigrations hasn't updated their systems with her married name." So we got the card in her maiden name. She then proceeded to take the permit test and failed four times before we moved.

Now we are in a different state and we had to go to the DMV 3 times, every time they asked for different documentation. Finally on the 3rd trip they allowed her to take the test and she passed on the first try. However, the girl wasn't able to issue a permit in the married name. I didn't really care at that point if the permit said "Donald Duck" on it, as long as it had her picture. She sent us on a suicide mission: go to the SSA. She said if they wouldn't change the name then she would give us the permit in my wife's maiden name.

So we went to the SSA, this time in a different state, and the guy said that he was unable to do the name change until we had A) green card, B) EAD, or C) a stamp from DHS in the passport.

Non plussed but not surprised, we drove across town again to the DMV: The fourth (and hopefully final) trip to the DMV. We skipped the line and found one of the several attendants that recognized us. He checked all our documentation again and then made a funny face. "Oh, no..." I thought to myself. Then we heard those dreaded words again, "She hasn't been updated in immigrations yet." So now what?

He gave us a form and said we have to go to a S.A.V.E. office, which is only open on Weds. Of course, next Wednesday we will already be out of state for Christmas travels. His explanation was, "Since she is not updated, you have to go to S.A.V.E. in person and they will call immigrations and ask why she isn't in the system. Immigrations will reply 'we are backed up' and S.A.V.E. will put a note in so she can come back [for the 5th time] and get her permit."

Meanwhile, when I try to look at our case on USCIS the page says that the receipt number is not valid and nothing comes up. Could this be related? Is it possible that legal immigrants are more likely to develop anti-government sympathies than illegals because of what they are made to go through?? Sheesh...

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

What you experienced is standard procedure. As a K-1 she'll get a SSN in her maiden name most likely not earlier than 10 to 14 days after arrival in the US (meaning until she's in the SAVE database) and not later than with at least 14 days left before her I-94 expires.

Getting a driver license or a SS card in her married name will require that your AOS has been approved. In plain English, she' ll need a Green Card.

And, yes, your frustration with the system is justified.

Edited December 17, 2010 by Just Bob

[YuAndDan 153]

Most states require evidence of legal presence, before issuing a DL, Learner's permit, or State ID.

1. I-94 valid 1 year or longer (K-3 has this)
   
2. EAD Card
   
3. Green-Card
   

[Inky 1,110]

I got my SSN in my married name with my Marriage Certificate they didn't even blink an eye when we went in to get it! Thats so bogus they are doing that stuff to you guys! Hope you can get it all fixed up soon.

[Nibake 4]

I got my SSN in my married name with my Marriage Certificate they didn't even blink an eye when we went in to get it! Thats so bogus they are doing that stuff to you guys! Hope you can get it all fixed up soon.

Yeah, I'm afraid the girl at the SSA didn't have a clue. I guess in the backwoods of MN they don't get too many immigrants. Anyhow, I tried to persuade her to look for a way to figure it out without putting her on the defensive but no luck.

Most states require evidence of legal presence, before issuing a DL, Learner's permit, or State ID.

1. I-94 valid 1 year or longer (K-3 has this)
   
2. EAD Card
   
3. Green-Card
   

In MN the ID alone was sufficient. Here in CO they require the K1, marriage cert, and I-797C

[Dave&Roza 748]

The CO DMV is just as mis-informed about THEIR rules as the SSA. When I came back to CO to live, I asked what I needed in order to get a CO drivers licnse. "You just need your old license if it is from one of the approved states." Which my former state was. When I arrived and waited 1.5 hours, the lady behind the counter starts to tell me that I will have to come back with my birth certificate because she was having problems with my license from the other state. So I promptly give her my passport and asked if that would work. I think she was mad that she was not able to turn me away.

I am really dreading this SSN and drivers license part of this process as I am afraid I am going to go postal on the idiot behind the counter when they start to give us the run around. I think all of us here know the SSA job better than they do, but for what ever reason we let them tell us their lies when we know better. We are just too nice . I am planning to apply for the SSN in her maiden name and we may wait until after she is a USC before changing her last name--that is one of those things we are still discussing. For CO they are SUPPOSE to accept a foreign passpost with the I-94 as the document for everything and the SSC will help with the lawful presence, but you obviously got someone who knows nothing.

I hope you stop getting the run around and can get this completed soon.

Dave

[Adam & May 4]

May and I tried getting the name on her SS card changed after we married but the lady at the SS office stated that can cause a name mismatch as we go to file AOS. She advised to just do it after her green card was issued.

Adam & May

[Inky 1,110]

May and I tried getting the name on her SS card changed after we married but the lady at the SS office stated that can cause a name mismatch as we go to file AOS. She advised to just do it after her green card was issued.

Adam & May

How does it cause a name miss match when you file for AOS in the MARRIED NAME ???? lol

[Krikit 1,164]

Since this isn't an AOS Process issue I'm going to move it the SSN section. You'll find a lot of help there from a user named I Quit. The marriage certificate is the document which legally changes her name. But search I Quit's posts to find the policy documents he posts. Good luck!

Edited to add that I got my SSN in my married name about 2-3 weeks after I arrived on a K-1. But I did have to request it be escalated to a supervisor who knew the rules.

Edited December 18, 2010 by Krikit

[I'm Gone 60]

SSA can change the name on the SSN record, but she can't be issued a card in that name without work authorization. Not sure if that will help with the driver's license issue.

RM 10211.605 Request for a Replacement SSN Card Obtained for a Nonwork Purpose

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211605

A. Correcting Numident data when a replacement card cannot be issued

If the alien does not provide evidence of work authorization or a valid nonwork reason, explain that we cannot issue a replacement card.

1. Alien provides documentation supporting the change

Although the FO cannot issue a replacement card, you may correct the Numident if the alien provides documentation supporting the change (e.g., a name change).

If the alien provides documentation supporting the change, process the replacement card application to update the Numident information but suppress the issuance of a card.

RM 10212.055 Evidence Required to Process a Name Change on the SSN based on Marriage, Civil Union and Domestic Partnership

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110212055

Evidence of the name change event, the new name, and identity is required to process a name change based on a marriage, civil union, or domestic partnership event.

D. Example of acceptable evidence to process a name change based on marriage

Lisa Foster submits evidence of the name change event, her US ceremonial marriage to Bryan Lee-Walsh. She wants to change her surname to a compound surname, Foster Lee, with only part of Bryan’s surname. Since this new name can be derived from the prior names shown on the marriage document, the marriage document is acceptable evidence of the new name. We may also change Lisa’s surname to one of the following if she requests it:

-- WALSH,

-- LEE-WALSH (or reverse, with or without space or hyphen),

-- LEE FOSTER (with or without space or hyphen, Foster Lee could also have a hyphen or not have a space)

-- FOSTER WALSH (or reverse, with or without space or hyphen)

-- FOSTER LEE WALSH (in any order, with or without spaces or hyphens)

The marriage document can also be used as acceptable evidence of identity, if it shows Lisa’s prior name (Lisa Foster) and either her age, birth date, or parents’ names, that matches the data on the Numident, and if the marriage took place within the prior two years.

Once the SSN record is corrected ask for an SSN Verification Printout. Not the same as a card, but will verify the SSN and the name on the record.

Edited December 18, 2010 by I Quit

[Hugglebuggles 60]

This happened to me last year in CO. CO is a nightmare for these things- you aren't the first, or the last. If you go down to the SAVE office in Aurora, be prepared to wait for hours. It is PACKED with people who are experiencing the same problem as you. I ended up leaving and going all the way to Pueblo. Their DMV offers the SAVE service, is much less busy, and the people are actually nice.

Long story short, after multiple trips to the DMV being told the same thing as you (the name on my immigration file and my documentation doesn't match), I gave in and went to the SAVE center (Pueblo). They take your information and send it in for manually verification in some far away land. I waited 10 weeks, and received a letter from them saying they cannot verify my identity. At this point I had my Green Card, and it still wasn't enough. Once you are "flagged" in their system as needing SAVE verification, they won't even touch you until you return with a clearance letter. The DMV would take one look at my file and refuse to even listen to me, since it was flagged. Even a supervisor wouldn't help. I booked an infopass appointment at the Denver USCIS office, brought the SAVE letter, and the nice IO manually updated my immigration file to reflect my married name. I went back to the DMV less than a week later and my name was correct in the system, and I walked out the door with my DL.

So basically, it was a huge ordeal and took forever. Thankfully I was able to drive with my Canadian license during this time, and my license completely transferred over so no tests were needed.

[SunDrop 59]

SSA can change the name on the SSN record, but she can't be issued a card in that name without work authorization.

Very bizarre because I changed my name from my maiden name (bypassing my first married name) to my now married name and received a card. Both my original card (issued in 1996) and my new card have the 'not authorised...' blurb on. All I did was take my birth certificate, my first marriage certificate, my passport and my new marriage certificate to demonstrate my legal name changes.

[I'm Gone 60]

Very bizarre because I changed my name from my maiden name (bypassing my first married name) to my now married name and received a card. Both my original card (issued in 1996) and my new card have the 'not authorised...' blurb on. All I did was take my birth certificate, my first marriage certificate, my passport and my new marriage certificate to demonstrate my legal name changes.

If you were issued a card without work authorization, someone screwed up. SSA has a new system to process SSN applications called SSNAP and I doubt that would happen now.