Name on SSN Card

[neptune970 0]

Months and monthsa go I posted on the K-1 forum my concern over my fiance's last name. He uses his mother's last name for everything but in his national identity card his name is listed as "father's last name, mother's last name" cuz as we all know most latin american countries if not all use both last names. I was told repeatedly when I posted that when he enters the US and on his application he can continue to just use his mother's last name because in the US we only have one. I thought it was strange that we could just "choose" which one to use. But anyway, I went forth with the K-1 process just using his mother's last name. Now lo and behold when he went to get his Social Security card, they wouldn't accept his mother's last name. They said that only his father's last name will do. Can they do that?? How can they choose which last name is valid and which is not valid?? I couldn't go with him to the SS office so my brother took him so they just accepted it. And I'm too afraid to call thinking they might put the process on hold until it's worked out. They did say to him that he can legally change it afterwards...yeah for around $200. I really don't understand this....

[I'm Gone 60]

https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100202105

RM 00202.105 Form SS-5 Item 1 — Name

NOTE: The name in line 1 must agree with the name shown on the document submitted as evidence of identity, allowing for the applicant's option to use initials rather than a full first and/or middle name.

https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203200#E

RM 00203.200 Evidence of Identity for an SSN Card

ALIEN: Adult Age 18 and older

1. Primary Evidence

Request a current U.S. immigration document and an unexpired foreign passport.

-- Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (includes temporary I-551 stamp/machine readable immigrant visa (MRIV) 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

-- Form I-688B, Employment Authorization card

[neptune970 0]

https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100202105

RM 00202.105 Form SS-5 Item 1 — Name

NOTE: The name in line 1 must agree with the name shown on the document submitted as evidence of identity, allowing for the applicant's option to use initials rather than a full first and/or middle name.

https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203200#E

RM 00203.200 Evidence of Identity for an SSN Card

ALIEN: Adult Age 18 and older

1. Primary Evidence

Request a current U.S. immigration document and an unexpired foreign passport.

-- Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (includes temporary I-551 stamp/machine readable immigrant visa (MRIV) 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

-- Form I-688B, Employment Authorization card

Government talk confuses me. His passport says both names, his visa says both names, his i-194 says his mother's last name....

[I'm Gone 60]

https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100202105

RM 00202.105 Form SS-5 Item 1 — Name

NOTE: The name in line 1 must agree with the name shown on the document submitted as evidence of identity, allowing for the applicant's option to use initials rather than a full first and/or middle name.

https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203200#E

RM 00203.200 Evidence of Identity for an SSN Card

ALIEN: Adult Age 18 and older

1. Primary Evidence

Request a current U.S. immigration document and an unexpired foreign passport.

-- Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (includes temporary I-551 stamp/machine readable immigrant visa (MRIV) 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

-- Form I-688B, Employment Authorization card

Government talk confuses me. His passport says both names, his visa says both names, his i-194 says his mother's last name....

[neptune970 0]

okay so now my question is would you wait to get the card in the mail and call them to make the correction or would you call them now and see if they'd change it over the phone?

[tomica52 0]

Wait for the greencard, once you get it it should be easy to change his name on SS card.

[I'm Gone 60]

okay so now my question is would you wait to get the card in the mail and call them to make the correction or would you call them now and see if they'd change it over the phone?

Any corrections/changes would have to be done in the SSA office, since they need to see the document(s). If the name you want is what's on the I-94 I would get it corrected now.

[seldi 1]

They usually automatically drop the second last name. My naturalization certificate and my passport have both of my last names, but my SSN card only has one....so confusing. I kind of wanted to keep both last names, but I was never given a choice, they chose for me!

[neptune970 0]

They usually automatically drop the second last name. My naturalization certificate and my passport have both of my last names, but my SSN card only has one....so confusing. I kind of wanted to keep both last names, but I was never given a choice, they chose for me!

Which one does your SSN have? Your dad's?

[neptune970 0]

Any corrections/changes would have to be done in the SSA office, since they need to see the document(s). If the name you want is what's on the I-94 I would get it corrected now.

A million thanks mdyoung for your help. I went in there with print outs of the links you posted and fully armed with the information on there...and she quickly made the change, and told us the new SS card will be in the mail shortly. The whole thing took less than 5 minutes. AWESOME!!