when to get a social security number

[azar 0]

Fiancee is here in the states..... the K 1 flow chart says....get your social security number before getting married and then change the name after marriage. Our local SS office said we can't get a SS number until after we marry on a K 1 visa.... Hows correct?? and Why get before marriage?

Thanks

[Kathy and Jesse 16]

Every state has different requirements.. you can get ssn before or after marriage as long as her I-94 is valid.. I applied for my SSN after our marriage so that we don't have to come twice at SS office.. We saved time and gas.. Lol!!

[feli114 65]

You can get one before marriage, but since there is a name change involved, I would do it after marriage. Just make sure you wait at least 2 weeks after POE so that she will be in the system.

[ca_babe 129]

I got mine the same day I arrived in US and before I got married. Then, I went back after I got married to change my name. Then, I went back when I got my green card. Then, I went back after I became a citizen. They turned me down as well during my first try but I had printed a page from the Social Security website saying that I only needed an I-94 and a passport so she went to go talked to her supervisor. Five minutes later, she continued processing my social security card. Try printing this, http://www.ssa.gov/immigration/visa.htm and this http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/576/~/request-an-original-social-security-number-with-k-1-status. If it fails, try another social security office.

Non-citizen

Social Security will ask to see evidence of your current immigration status. Acceptable documents include:

• Form I-551 (includes machine-readable immigrant visa) with unexpired foreign passport
• I-94 with unexpired foreign passport
• I-766 work permit from DHS

[Tahoma 2,292]

Our local SS office said we can't get a SS number until after we marry on a K 1 visa...

Why get a Social Security number before marriage?

The clerk at the Social Security office is wrong. Speak to their supervisor, or go to another office. Print this out and take it with you.

Getting a SS number before marriage gives you a head start on laying the groundwork for adjusting your status.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Every state has different requirements.. you can get ssn before or after marriage as long as her I-94 is valid.. I applied for my SSN after our marriage so that we don't have to come twice at SS office.. We saved time and gas.. Lol!!

Every state? Its Federal. If guy/gal behind the counter has a different opinion its because they actually don't have a clue what the regulations states.

Edited October 10, 2012 by Hank_

[Hank_ 9,174]

Fiancee is here in the states..... the K 1 flow chart says....get your social security number before getting married and then change the name after marriage. Our local SS office said we can't get a SS number until after we marry on a K 1 visa.... Hows correct?? and Why get before marriage?

Thanks

My wife waited until after we were married and got it in her married name... less dicking around. Of course we were married within a month of getting home. Don't see the connection with AOS as you don't need your SSI number to start that process.

BTW the person you talked to at your local office is an under-educated idiot, that doesn't know the requirements.

Edited October 10, 2012 by Hank_

[neodragon0l 6]

I got mine the same day I arrived in US and before I got married. Then, I went back after I got married to change my name. Then, I went back when I got my green card. Then, I went back after I became a citizen. They turned me down as well during my first try but I had printed a page from the Social Security website saying that I only needed an I-94 and a passport so she went to go talked to her supervisor. Five minutes later, she continued processing my social security card. Try printing this, http://www.ssa.gov/immigration/visa.htm and this http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/576/~/request-an-original-social-security-number-with-k-1-status. If it fails, try another social security office.

Non-citizen

Social Security will ask to see evidence of your current immigration status. Acceptable documents include:

• Form I-551 (includes machine-readable immigrant visa) with unexpired foreign passport
• I-94 with unexpired foreign passport
• I-766 work permit from DHS

I worked for a law firm before doing social security claims. The person you spoke to is like the office's first level. She probably did not know anything yet or a new hire. The front desk is usually a training ground. Good call about bring the necessary requirements.

I agree with others, I plan to do after marriage since it is a waste of time to keep going back. It's not like you will need SS immediately. It is best when you are about to look for a job in my opinion.

Edited October 10, 2012 by neodragon0l

[ca_babe 129]

I worked for a law firm before doing social security claims. The person you spoke to is like the office's first level. She probably did not know anything yet or a new hire. The front desk is usually a training ground. Good call about bring the necessary requirements.

I agree with others, I plan to do after marriage since it is a waste of time to keep going back. It's not like you will need SS immediately. It is best when you are about to look for a job in my opinion.

I needed a social security number so that my husband could add me to his bank accounts so we planned to get one right away. We both knew that I wouldn't be able to get a job for a few months since I had to wait for my EAD. So, I had lots of time. Most people would probably think I'm weird but I enjoyed going to the Social Security Office, DMV, banks and Philippine Embassy (amended passport to married name), spent several hours reading the tax code while waiting for my EAD. I felt I was assimilating and getting used to the way things are done here. It was good to have everything taken care of because once I had a job there wasn't any time to do anything else. My credit score was over 700 within 4 months of my arrival. I got my first credit card offer in the mail within 4 months. So, the best time to get a social security number would depend on what the OP is planning to do with it.

[neodragon0l 6]

I needed a social security number so that my husband could add me to his bank accounts so we planned to get one right away. We both knew that I wouldn't be able to get a job for a few months since I had to wait for my EAD. So, I had lots of time. Most people would probably think I'm weird but I enjoyed going to the Social Security Office, DMV, banks and Philippine Embassy (amended passport to married name), spent several hours reading the tax code while waiting for my EAD. I felt I was assimilating and getting used to the way things are done here. It was good to have everything taken care of because once I had a job there wasn't any time to do anything else. My credit score was over 700 within 4 months of my arrival. I got my first credit card offer in the mail within 4 months. So, the best time to get a social security number would depend on what the OP is planning to do with it.

Hehe, it's actually not weird at all. That's like knowing how U.S. works and lets you get adjust into the country. I know someone who would walk around the block the first week he arrived the U.S. and then moved towards two blocks. Then taking the bus. Everybody adjusts to their environment differently.

By any chance, are you an accountant? The attorneys I work with say that the U.S. tax code is like a big can of worms once you start analyzing it. I am not so sure who read the tax code for leisure. hehe

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Fiancee is here in the states..... the K 1 flow chart says....get your social security number before getting married and then change the name after marriage. Our local SS office said we can't get a SS number until after we marry on a K 1 visa.... Hows correct?? and Why get before marriage?

Thanks

We got married about 6 weeks after she got here. I did not really see any point in getting it before we got married then having to make another trip to the SS office. Nothing much to be gained by doing it before your married other than feeling like your one step further along the journey. You can open bank accounts etc with a Taxpayer Id number.

You don't need your SSN to start your AOS, and getting it before you get married is not going to help speed up your AOS>

My companies insurance company BBS tried to refuse sign up without a SSN. After a very tersely worried E-mail explaining the law the caved in.

Edited October 10, 2012 by Run Herschel Run

[ca_babe 129]

Hehe, it's actually not weird at all. That's like knowing how U.S. works and lets you get adjust into the country. I know someone who would walk around the block the first week he arrived the U.S. and then moved towards two blocks. Then taking the bus. Everybody adjusts to their environment differently.

By any chance, are you an accountant? The attorneys I work with say that the U.S. tax code is like a big can of worms once you start analyzing it. I am not so sure who read the tax code for leisure. hehe

I am an Engineer. I believe in Pareto principle which states that, for many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. If I spend the same amount of time reading the tax code versus scrounging the net for coupons, I'd save more money learning about tax deductions and credits than getting a dollar off or here on grocery items. Lots of rich people have lower income rate than average people like us because they have accountants who know the system. I cannot afford to hire multitude of accountants so I just read them myself.