When To Get SS#

[thirdtimeacharm 1]

Hello to everyone. Well my fiance finally arrived in the U. S, on August 07, 2013 and our plans is to marry on September 15 . I am wondering when is the best time to get her Social Security number . Also she did not get anything back when she entered the United States at Immigration and I am wondering what is the I-94 ? Thanks ..........Terry

[KayDeeCee 4,896]

The I-94 is automated now > https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/request.html

Get her SSN now > http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

~ Moved from K-1 Process to Social Security Numbers ~

[TBoneTX 46,105]

Kay is correct.

Edited September 3, 2013 by TBoneTX

[baron555 934]

Hello to everyone. Well my fiance finally arrived in the U. S, on August 07, 2013 and our plans is to marry on September 15 . I am wondering when is the best time to get her Social Security number . Also she did not get anything back when she entered the United States at Immigration and I am wondering what is the I-94 ? Thanks ..........Terry

2-3 weeks after POE. If you wiat too long, then you have to wait until she has the GC to get a SSN.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hello to everyone. Well my fiance finally arrived in the U. S, on August 07, 2013 and our plans is to marry on September 15 . I am wondering when is the best time to get her Social Security number . Also she did not get anything back when she entered the United States at Immigration and I am wondering what is the I-94 ? Thanks ..........Terry

Like said by others the I-94 is online now.

As for the SSN, my wife waited until after we were married (about a month after POE) before getting her SSN that way she could get it in her married name.

Edited September 3, 2013 by Hank_

[Anna Grant 169]

As for the SSN, my wife waited until after we were married (about a month after POE) before getting her SSN that way she could get it in her married name.

I strongly suggest not waiting until you're married before applying for your SSN - please see my experience here as a warning - http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/442017-ssn-told-i-cant-apply-for-one-as-married-on-k1-visa/

It is a lot more straightforward to apply for your SSN in the same name that is on your visa.

[Hank_ 9,174]

I strongly suggest not waiting until you're married before applying for your SSN - please see my experience here as a warning - http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/442017-ssn-told-i-cant-apply-for-one-as-married-on-k1-visa/

It is a lot more straightforward to apply for your SSN in the same name that is on your visa.

My wife HAS her SSN, applied three days after getting married, and got it in her married name without issue.

Your experience stems from having an idiot behind the counter that doesn't have a clue about the regulations or anything except his/her personal opinion.

[Anna Grant 169]

My wife HAS her SSN, applied three days after getting married, and got it in her married name without issue.

Your experience stems from having an idiot behind the counter that doesn't have a clue about the regulations or anything except his/her personal opinion.

Well. Unfortunately, I encountered 4 idiots before I found someone at another SSA office who knew what they were doing. Had I realized that I was going to waste 5 hours of my life, I would have applied for my SSN before I got married.

[Dave&Roza 748]

My wife HAS her SSN, applied three days after getting married, and got it in her married name without issue.

Your experience stems from having an idiot behind the counter that doesn't have a clue about the regulations or anything except his/her personal opinion.

Well. Unfortunately, I encountered 4 idiots before I found someone at another SSA office who knew what they were doing. Had I realized that I was going to waste 5 hours of my life, I would have applied for my SSN before I got married.

That is why the whole SSN process is so frustrating. Some employees are trained properly like Hank_'s and there are no problems. Then you get those like Anna who do not know their head from a hole in the ground. You are SUPPOSED to be able to go into the SSA office and apply for a SSN using the I-94, K-1 visa, and the marriage certificate and get it in the MARRIED name. But that is not always the case. That is one reason it is recommened to get the SSN in the MAIDEN name first so you at least have the number and then fight it out with the SSA if you have to. What really burns my butt is that these employees make stuff up and you cannot show them they are wrong as they can pull the "You are assualting a federal work" and have you arrested. I wish we could pull the "you are wrong and wasting my time, you are fired" on them.

To the OP: You have from about 2 weeks after POE until about 2 weeks before the I-94 expires to file for the SSN using the K-1 visa. After that you have to wait for EAD (Employment authorization document) or the GC (green card). Which name you apply in depends on how the employees are trained at your local office. You can get married and try getting the SSC in the married name and if that does not work, leave and come back a few days later and get the SSC in the VISA name. There is no way they know you are married. Even if married, there is no law that says the wife HAS to take the husband's name. Just apply for the SSC in the MAIDEN name (VISA name) and do not mention anything about marriage.

Good luck,

Dave

[vbtwo 54]

It's not just SSA workers that are incompetent and don't know what they are talking about. When I went to apply for my passport after my mother became a naturalized citizen before I turned 18, the worker at my local post office would not let me apply telling me I needed to get my own naturalization certificate. There was nothing I could show her to prove that she is making stuff up and that I meet all requirements. I had to go some other place, where the guy pulled out a guidebook that had precise instructions on what was needed and I received my passport a few weeks later.

It's extremely frustrating dealing with these people who pull stuff out of their backsides and then act like they know what they're talking about and you are an idiot for even coming there.