waiting for a social security number in order to get marriage license

[globetrotter 0]

Not sure where to post this as it is after the embassy stage and before AOS... that in limbo waiting to get married phase.

I know this is not relevant to all states but it is certainly true of NC that you are required to have your social security number in order to get your marriage certificate. I applied for the SS# 2 weeks ago and it has still not arrived and the wedding is a week on saturday (21 October). I have tried calling the national SS helpline who say I have to get in touch with my local office. The local office gives you an automated system with the option of leaving a message on their answering machine... only that is always full. I will call round to the office in person on Monday morning. In the mean time I was wondering if anyone else marrying on a K1 visa had had this situation?

K1 in hand, in the countyr, family and friends start arriving in the USA as from tomorrow, piper, flowers, cake, dress, kilt for groom, BandB where we will all be staying and holding the wedding booked, caterers set up, minister on board (even though the one we had originally pulled out on us for health reasons last weekend!)... and not this SS# drama... could do without it really.

Maggie

[allynella 0]

Try calling your local office first thing every morning. Try to get to the option to speak to a live person (or go there in person ever so often, since it seems this option is not available to you). Ask if the number is now available (explain just like you did here). If number is available (they will not give number over the phone - just confirm that it is there), go to the office right after and ask for written verification. Next option, is to continue waiting. Hope this works! All the best....

Edited October 14, 2006 by allynella

[sjoefl01 1]

Are you sure about the social security number requirement? That doesn't sound right. Sometimes people at the desk in these various offices do not understand that every space on certain forms do not have to be filled.

If this is actually the case and the SS number is required then I would complain very loudly. What they are saying is that they will not let you marry anybody who has not been cleared to work. The SS has nothing to do with marriage.I don't see why the marraige license folks are becoming invloved with immigration enforcement.

[payxibka 10,045]

Are you sure about the social security number requirement? That doesn't sound right. Sometimes people at the desk in these various offices do not understand that every space on certain forms do not have to be filled.

If this is actually the case and the SS number is required then I would complain very loudly. What they are saying is that they will not let you marry anybody who has not been cleared to work. The SS has nothing to do with marriage.I don't see why the marraige license folks are becoming invloved with immigration enforcement.

Have you checked to see if there is an exception for foreign nationals? They have to understnd a foreign national may not have a SSN.

[allynella 0]

True...

NJ does not require SSN from the foreigner, but I have noticed that some states can be a real pain, especially if employees are not aware. OP can diplomatically try arguing point...

[mybackpages 0]

Even if you do not have the SS card, in North Carolina you can show something official with the number on it. Can your local office provide you with a letter that you have the number until the card arrives?

Edited October 14, 2006 by mybackpages

[sjoefl01 1]

With us the SS folks screwed areound until they reached the point where the I94 was expired and Lucero could not get an SS number until she had EAD or green card. You really can't count on SS#. There is a very small window to get one.

If North Carolina truly does not allow people to marry that are not cleared in the country I would go to another state and get the license. Remember that you only have 90 days. If you go past that you cause a lot of problems for yourself.

[Miranda&James 8]

With us the SS folks screwed areound until they reached the point where the I94 was expired and Lucero could not get an SS number until she had EAD or green card. You really can't count on SS#. There is a very small window to get one.

If North Carolina truly does not allow people to marry that are not cleared in the country I would go to another state and get the license. Remember that you only have 90 days. If you go past that you cause a lot of problems for yourself.

We also got screwed over. We applied a good while after James had been here so he would be in SAVE but with plenty of time to issue a card. He wasn't in save though, and we kept calling back all the time and he was always told don't call us, we'll call you, or ended up on hold forever and would get cut off, or no one would answer at all. Needless to say, no SSN before his 90 days were up. Now that we got the EAD we are going in there for some serious answers because I am PISSED about how we got treated by our office.

[I'm Gone 60]

I applied for the SS# 2 weeks ago and it has still not arrived and the wedding is a week on saturday (21 October). I have tried calling the national SS helpline who say I have to get in touch with my local office. The local office gives you an automated system with the option of leaving a message on their answering machine... only that is always full. I will call round to the office in person on Monday morning. In the mean time I was wondering if anyone else marrying on a K1 visa had had this situation?

For this you need to go into the office. If you were assigned an SSN they aren't going to tell it to you over the phone and you can only be given an SSN Verification Printout inperson if you want some proof of your assigned SSN until you can be issued another card if the original card has got lost in the mail.

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

SSA 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 with K-1 status has been in the United States 76 days he or she will need another document, i.e. I-551, I-688B or I-766 to establish employment authorized status for SSN purposes.

When an alien requests an SSN or replacement/corrected SSN card, SSA will verify his or her documents and current status with the appropriate Bureau of the Department of Homeland Security. If verification is not available through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system, SSA will send Form G-845 for manual verification.

RM 00203.720 Verifying Immigration Documents:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203720

Note: If the applicant has changed his/her name after an immigration document, i.e. I-94, was issued, e.g., 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, i.e. 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.

If the SSA office does send the G-845, suggest that you go back to the SSA office no more that once week with your documents to (1) ask them to check SAVE again (2) ask if they sent a G-845 (3) if yes, did it come back (4) after 30 days ask if they have followed up on the G-845 by calling or sending another mark “second request.”

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203735

RM 00203.735 Requesting Online (Primary) Verification By SAVE

You can try calling the SSA Regional Office if you have waited at least 30 days and your local SSA office doesn't seem to be concerned about following up on the G-845

http://www.ssa.gov/otherssasites/

Refer them to:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203740

RM 00203.740 Requesting Additional (Manual) Verification By DHS

Step 6

DHS should respond to SSA within 15 federal work days after receiving the Form G-845. If DHS does not respond within 15 federal work days from the receipt of the G-845 from SSA, follow-up with the DHS, USCIS Immigration Status office. (Allow 15 days plus five additional federal work days of mail time for the G-845 to be received at and returned from DHS. Follow local practice to follow-up with DHS.

Some SSA offices have an arrangement with the DHS, USCIS office to telephone for the follow-up contact; other SSA offices send a copy of the original G-845 annotated “second request.”) If the DHS response is still not received within 15 federal work days after the follow-up contact (if the follow-up is by mail allow five additional federal work days of mail time for the G-845 to be received at and returned from DHS), make a second follow-up contact. If the DHS response is not received within 15 federal workdays (again, if the follow-up is by mail, allow five additional federal work days of mail time for the G-845 to be received at and returned from DHS), after two follow-ups, contact the Regional Office (RO). Also report to the RO any trend that shows a serious deviation by DHS from the above time frames. The RO will consult with central office.

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

You may find additional SSN and employment information on the Internal Revenue Service Website at:

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

[Aymerlu 3]

You have already checked with the recorders office to make sure a social security number is REALLY needed? I know it varies state to state.

[jmurray 0]

i would contact your congressman, we were in the same situation but we ended up not needing the social. our congressman's office was, however, very helpful in contacting immigration for us, etc. it's worth a try

good luck!

[Kez/JWolf 6]

In most states if you go and talk to the recorders office most dont need a SSN from a foreign national you just need a valid passport....

Go and talk to them....

Kezzie

[Eveline 9]

According to this link http://usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_st...north_carolina/ you don't need the SSN for a marriage licence. An international birth certificate and a passport should do just fine.

[amwo 0]

Hi Maggie,

You do not need a SS# to marry.

(If one did, we would not be in as bad a marital immigration system as we are [i.e. foreigners marrying USCs solely to get a green card.])

Go to the city/town hall with all necessary documents and print outs of legal not-needing-SS# info for back up in case you get a know-it-all-but-don't-really-know and have to prove it. They shouldn't deny you. (You wouldn't believe what I went through just to get a dump pass from my town hall. I swear there's something in the water!)

As your date is approaching rapidly, time is of the essence, so if you get resistance and they try to deny you, ask for a supervisor and, if need be, demand they make a call to find out the facts. If still resistant, call your congresspeople, or go directly to their office(s).

I wish you all the best. Your wedding sounds like it is going to be absolutely beautiful!!!!!!

Cheers!

amwo

p.s. no undies under the kilt, ok?

[William33 110]

We just applied for a marriage license yesterday, they had my Fiance sign an affidavit stating that she has never been issued a SSN (the affidavit was notarized on the spot by another person in that office).

Our thought is, better to apply for the SSN after marriage, so she can apply with her married name. This method will save the hassle of changing the name afterwards. This surmises of course, that the Fiance is female and wants to carry the married name.

Either way, you may want to explore the possibility of the notarized affidavit, in place of the not yet issued SSN.