SSN after wedding

[CrazyLittleThingCalledLove 0]

Hello All,

Let me begin by saying that I am a huge fan of this site, although this is my first message posting I've reffered to this site often and it's been a huge help throughout the process. That having been set let me get down to the matter at hand:

My wife and I were married here in the States on June 3rd and we then filed for advance parole to allow us to travel to Mexico for a religious wedding and the reception. We're now back in the states and as I try to get her on my bank account, credit cards, etc, I find that we need a social security number. Well. . . .we didn't apply when she got her K-1 visa and now they don't want to accept our documents at the Social Security office. (We have the passport with the K-1 and an I-94 valid until Sept. 2007)

Did I miss the boat by not applying for the SSN within the first 90 days? Do we really have to wait for the green card now? If so, any suggestions on how to add her to my bank account?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Mike

[Eveline 9]

Unfortunately you did miss the boat on that. AS far as I know you can only apply for the SSN until two weeks prior to the expiration of the K1 OR have to wait for EAD or the actual Greencard. Sorry about that. Can't you just get her on your credit card without a SSN? I think some banks do that but I am not sure. All the best.

[kaffykat 0]

In a word, yes.

Same thing happened to me, we missed it by two days and now have to wait til I get my green card before I can get a SSN.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Once you get an EAD you can get a SSN....

Kezzie

[I'm Gone 60]

Did I miss the boat by not applying for the SSN within the first 90 days? Do we really have to wait for the green card now?

As you stand on the dock waving to the boat disappearing into the sunset, your spouse will now need an EAD card or I-551 stamp or card to be assigned an SSN.

[CrazyLittleThingCalledLove 0]

So poetic, and yet, so frustrating all at once.

Well, how about this. At one point I remember reading on this site about a tax id number. Is there any chance that this can be used for the bank? Also, if anyone can point me to that posting so I can read up on the subject that would be great.

[globetrotter 0]

I managed to get an account from Wachovia without SS #. They just wanted to see my visa. Good luck!!

[I'm Gone 60]

So poetic, and yet, so frustrating all at once.

Well, how about this. At one point I remember reading on this site about a tax id number. Is there any chance that this can be used for the bank? Also, if anyone can point me to that posting so I can read up on the subject that would be great.

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 or a card issued due to the applicant not having provided authorization to work in the U.S. or evidence of a valid nonwork reason for needing an SSN.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) assigns individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITIN) 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 ITIN.

You can download a form W-7 from the IRS Website at:

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

You may also contact the IRS ITIN office by calling 1-215-516-4846.

You can find additional information on the IRS Website at:

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

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

Just be sure to contact IRS once an SSN is assign so that the ITIN can be voided.

[CrazyLittleThingCalledLove 0]

Very helpful, THANKS!

[Yodrak 7]

Mike,

She needed to apply within the first 76 days.

She should not need to have a SSN to become a joint owner of your bank account, unless by the bank's own rules. Find a different bank.

Yodrak

....

My wife and I were married here in the States on June 3rd and we then filed for advance parole to allow us to travel to Mexico for a religious wedding and the reception. We're now back in the states and as I try to get her on my bank account, credit cards, etc, I find that we need a social security number. Well. . . .we didn't apply when she got her K-1 visa and now they don't want to accept our documents at the Social Security office. (We have the passport with the K-1 and an I-94 valid until Sept. 2007)

Did I miss the boat by not applying for the SSN within the first 90 days? .... If so, any suggestions on how to add her to my bank account?

....

Mike

[ad798 0]

Go to commerce bank of New York - not sure if they have branches in the State where you live.

I added my new wife to my bank account without any problems even with no SS# and she didn't even ask for the marriage certificate - i just had my marriage licence.

Good luck to all !!

[sillygirl 0]

Mike,

She needed to apply within the first 76 days.

She should not need to have a SSN to become a joint owner of your bank account, unless by the bank's own rules. Find a different bank.

Yodrak

When is it advisable to get an SSN? When we first get here and apply under our maiden name or wait until after the marriage?

[globetrotter 0]

When is it advisable to get an SSN? When we first get here and apply under our maiden name or wait until after the marriage?

Depends how quickly you need it.............

[Yodrak 7]

sillygirl,

Before marriage, because there have been reports that some SSA districts will not issue a SS card after marriage (if they know there has been a marriage) and even if they will there is the issue, for a woman, of applying under a surname that is different from the name on record with the USCIS.

Look for posts on the subject by mdyoung, he explains correctly and authoritatively.

Yodrak

When is it advisable to get an SSN? When we first get here and apply under our maiden name or wait until after the marriage?

[I'm Gone 60]

When is it advisable to get an SSN? When we first get here and apply under our maiden name or wait until after the marriage?

If you are asking me I would say do it as soon as possible after you get here with your maiden name and then worry about the name change after you are married. Now if you want wait 10 to 14 days after you get here to hopefully allow for your info to entered into the SAVE system before applying, that's not going to hurt you, but it's not required and I wouldn't wait any longer than that before applying.

The reason being SSA will not assign an SSN or issue a card if your status is expired or within 14 days of expiring. The K-1 status is only good for 90 days, so that cuts it down to 76 days to allow you to be assigned an SSN based on the I-94 with K-1 status.

One of the other reasons is you never know what kind of bonehead you might get to wait on you at the SSA office and some people have made up their own procedure, i.e. now that you are married you are no longer a K-1 and need to apply for a K-3.

OK so here the whole 9 yards of what needs to be done.

An individual with K-1 status applying for a work authorized SSN must present evidence 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.

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.

RM 00202.115 Form SS-5 Item 3 — Citizenship:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100202115

B. PROCEDURE - ANSWER TO ITEM 3

2. Legal Alien Allowed to Work

The applicant should check this block if he/she alleges to be a lawfully admitted alien with work authorization.

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.

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

Suggest that individuals apply for a corrected SSN card to update the SSN record when there has been a name change due to marriage.

Only the marriage document (foreign or domestic) is needed 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: State law must also allow the type of name change wishing to be made

-- The marriage occurred within the past two years

-- The marriage document shows sufficient identifying information, e.g., biographical data such as age, date of birth or parent's names, and

-- The identifying information matches the information on his/her current Social Security number record.

The applicant will need to submit an identity document in the old name along with the marriage document if:

-- The marriage occurred within the last two years and has biographical information, e.g., age, date of birth or parent's names which does not match our records, e.g., the SSN record.

-- The marriage occurred within the last two years, but does not show biographical information, or

-- The marriage occurred over two years ago (with or without biographical information.)

The identity document used to establish the old name must match the name on the current SSN record. The identity document is acceptable even if over two years old or expired.

When issuing immigration documents, the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security issue them in the person’s legal name. The legal name is also generally the name in which the foreign passport was issued.

When an alien applies for an SSN card, SSA presumes the name on the immigration document is the legal name unless the applicant presents evidence of a legal name change (e.g., marriage) that occurred after the immigration document was issued.

This is in addition to proof of current lawful employment authorized status.

You can find detailed information regarding changing SSN record (Numident) data on the SSA Website at:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203210

http://tinyurl.com/f7s8l

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

“If the applicant has no immediate need for the SSN and the translation can be done promptly or the foreign language document is the only evidence available; have the document translated by an authorized translator and use the document as evidence.”

“If the applicant has a pressing need for an SSN, and evidence other than the foreign language document is available; request other evidence and process the application without the foreign language document.”

RM 00203.040 Reviewing SSN Evidence:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203040#B3

GN 00301.340 Authorized Translators Defined:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0200301340

If a foreign-born person has the foreign birth certificate (BC) in his/her possession or can easily obtain a copy, he or she must submit it as proof of age. When a person is foreign-born, a BC may not exist, may not have been recorded shortly after birth, or the probative value of the document may not be high. In these situations, SSA can accept alternative evidence of age in order of probative value. The alternative evidence of age may be less than a year old, e.g., a DHS document or passport.

You can find detailed information regarding evidence that establishes age on the SSA Website at:

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 probative value of documents.

Any document used to establish identity must meet the following criteria:

-- The document provides information the reviewer can compare with the data on the form SS-5 (e.g., the person's name, as well as age, date of birth, or parents' names) and/or

-- The document provides information the reviewer can compare with the applicant (e.g., physical description, photograph).

NOTE: A non-picture identity document should have the person's name as well as information that can be compared to the SSN record, the applicant or other documents submitted (e.g., age, date of birth, or parents' names).

However, the acceptability of an identity document must be evaluated on a case by case basis by the office processing the application, taking into consideration the applicant's situation and exploring what evidence is available for the person.

You can find detailed information regarding evidence that establishes identity on the SSA Website at:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203200#E6

SSA will not accept an application filing receipt or notice of action as proof of current lawful employment authorized status.

Take the required documents, to the nearest Social Security office. Individuals age 12 or older applying for an original SSN and card must apply in person at one of our offices.

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 at:

http://www.ssa.gov/locator

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

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